Evening star., 1909-04-23
v. N. STEWART DEAD.
Former Senator Expires After
an Operation.
FAMOUS SILVER ADVOCATE
For Many Years q Prominent Figure
in National Affairs.
ILLNESS BEGAN MONTH AGO
Body Will Be Taken to Nevada for
Burial-Funeral Services Here
Probably on Sunday.
ILLNESS BEGAN MONTH AGO

Nevada died at the Georgetown Hospital
here this morning following an operation.
The body will be taken ito Nevada Sum
day.
Mr. Stewart had been at the hospital
since March 80. March 81 he underwent
an operation, the nature Of which the
physicians have not made public. About
a week ago his condition became worse.
and he sank steadily until this morning.
when at 7:O5 o'clock he passed away. His
wife was at the bedside when the end
came. Arrangements for the funeral,
which will probably be held Sunday aft
ernoon. are being made today.
Mr. Stewart was eighty-two years old
and had been familiar figure in this city
during the better part OF the last half
century. For a score Of years. altogether,
he represented Nevada in the Senate.
lapse between 1875 and 1887 intervening
to prevent a continuous service record
from 1865 to 1905.
Stewart Castle, his former home on
Dupont circle. in this city, was long one
of the landmarks of the national capital,
but 1t Is today, in the center of the fash
ionable residence section, bare lot. with
only the cellar excavation telling the
story of the pulling down of that historic
structure Senator William A. Clark of
Montana planned to build palatial
structure on the site, but after the razing
of the old residence and disagreement
over the plans never replaced IL. and
built the Clark home in New York city
instead.
Had Many Business Interests.
Senator Stewart divided his time between
Washington. where he had many inter-
ests during his life of fluctuating fortune,
and his farm in Virginia and the west,
where at his old home at Bullfrog. New,
and elsewhere he had varied mining IN
terests and experiences.
Senator Stewards first wife was MISS
Annie E. Foote, daughter of ex-Gov. ana
ex-senator Foote of Mississippi. His sur
yivins wife was in her girlhood Miss May
Agnes Atchison of the old Maryland fam
ily of that name She married Col. Theo-
dore Cone of Georgia. and nine years
after his death married Senator Stewart.
She is described as beautlful woman
and a devoted wife. One daughter, MISS
Vera Cone, Is now being educated at the
home Of her aunt, Mrs. BhluDs. at Madl-
son, Ga.
Senator Stewart had practiced law in
the District since the close of his last
term as senator, ana ndQ dlSO uCSH oi6Ciy
interested in real estate matters, with
offices at 4O8 Corcoran building.
Almost all of the old residents OF
Washington and many OF the new knew
Mr.. Stewart either personally or by sight,
for his tall figure, topped with a wide
brimmed soft hat. and his long. white
beard and his complexion as clear as a
Youths were conspicuous on the streets
of the city.
Born in New York State.
William Morris Stewart was born in
Lyons. Wayne county y. Y. August o,
1927. When bu. little boy he was taken
by his parents to Mesopotamia township.
in Trumbull county. Ohio. During his
early manhood he was teacher of math-
ematics, and later through the assistance
of James c. Smith, one of the Judges OF
the supreme court of New York. he en-
tered Yale Colleges where he remained un-
til the winter of 1890. At that time ne
was attracted by the geld discoveries In
California, and went to San FRANCISCO III
May, 1850 -
Mr. Stewart went to work at once with
pick and shovel al gold mining. and sue
ceeded in accommodating some money. In
the spring of 1852 he commenced the
study OF law under John r. Mcconnell.
and in December following was appointed
district attorney. and was elected 10 that
office at the general elections the next
year. In 1901 he was appoillteu dttoihes
general of California.
He removed TO Virginia county, New.
in 1850. and became engaged i'm early
mining litigation In that state and I'm the
DEVELOPMENT of the COmstOck lode. He
was chosen member of the territorial
council in 1851 and in 1853 was chosen
a member of the constitutional conven-
ton. In 1854 he was elected United
States senator and reelected in 1859 Re-
Suming the practice of law in Nevada,
De-. fo-
he remained in private life until in 1887.
he was again chosen TO come to the
Senate as a republican. succeeding James
G. Fair. democrat. He was reelected
in 1888. and his term of service expired
in 1889 Since that time he has lived
most of the time in this city.
Free Silver Coinage Champion.
Overshadowing all else in Senator Stew
arts career was his persistent and in
sistent advocacy of the free coinage of
silver. He never desisted moment from
loyalty to that policy and tought for it
in season and out of season. THE crime
of 10. as he termed the demonstration
Of the white metal. was a subject of
which he never tired of discussing, and
his printed remarks on his favorite topic
if collected would make volumes of the
Congressional Record.
In the old days. when silver was the is
sue. Senator Stewart has occdpied the
iioor of the Senate for days at time. i'm
continuing remarks. 1t made no differ
ence to him If the galleries We're sparsely
filled and the Senate chamber al times
depleted, he had his say. His speeches on
the silver question began in the earl est
days of his service and continued from
time to time as long as he remained in
the Senate.
There is no question that he had a great
mind and that he knew his hobby from
every point of view. He was big in Drawn
as he was in brain and he had wonder
full power of endurance. While silver was
the subject he loved best to descant upon
he entered freely into all the debates of
.ne Senate and took special interest in
questions relating to public lands and TO
Indian affairs.
When. in the second Cleveland admin
istration. the repeal of the Sherman act
was undertaken and effected Senator
Senator Stewart had many field day.
He lined up with Harris of Tennessee and
the democrats. although he was a repub-
IIcan. and he was relied upon to furnish
a great deal OF the ammunition Of debate.
Sena or Stewards only heresy from re-
publics nism. however, was his advocacy
Of free silver coinage. He was stout re-
publican o i'erwisa. and was always a
CONTINUED on Second Pa2e)