New-York tribune., 1910-09-24
GEN. c. R. BRAYTON DEAD.
ssBIind Boss" of Rhode Island
Republicans Passes Away.
NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN
Party in State Left Without
Acknowledged Head for First
Time in Forty Years.

.,-,e fn more than forty years. General
Charles Ray Brayton, the Blind BOSS
Thode Islands representative on the he
r,,,tl,can National Committee and the con-
trolling force IN the party's destinies IN THIS
state since the Civil War. having dieo mere
.o-dav- Senator Nelson ". Aldrich, for
many wears a national figure, has an
uounced his withdrawal from active poia-
cal life. and Hunter c. White. Sherih OF
p-oz,sdence. and General Brayton's intimate
.rsens trusted rolitical ally and possible
successor. died less than a month ago.
7, the opinion Of shrewd political OBJ
server. there is no one in the state VINO
VIII OCCUPY the position held by Genera
Rravton for 81 long. Nhlle tneie arc
many prominen Republican workers' there
&c SAID 70 be no one who can command the
rover and influence enjoyed by the biho
reas,- as he was called by friend ana zoe
slfke-
Accident Hasters Death.
cs~., pnavton's death WAS due to COM
,-,,-s.,o-s resulting from an accident sus-
-ssr-ed on August %. The general VINO
vss blind. fell while moving about his Of
4ce and broke his hip. The fracture was
nct considered a serious one al the nrne'
NJ. sc the age OF the patient wHs seventy
,~r-s some anxiety was felt on that ac-
rnynt Favorable progress was reported
,--tsi day or two ago. when symptoms OF
diabetes were noted, and death came ol-
rectIv from that cause to-day
The first indication of General Brayton's IS
u.-a,osned physicaI condition came during
che summer. when he collapsed while pa
-.s,,r With his old regiment Within
sew days. however. he was able to be about
again. HIS last public appearance was on
sunday August 2s, when he came up from
rs. e,,r7roer home at Watch Hill 70 attend
she funeral of Hunter c. White. The next
So, he met the accident which hastened MS
death.
General Brayton had often been bitterly
attacked by political enemies. and his dom
,,a-5on labelled by the Democratic party
as aBraytonisIn,'' frequently had been a
cs-nnairn issue, but both Democrats anu
Reuublicans speaking of the matter to-day
sasa that the generals position as leaoer
was as strong up TO the hour Of his death
to-day as & ever had been
The funeral viii be held at Grace Epis-
,,,,sl Church on Monday afternoon at
,c.c,ock. The Rev Charles e. Ever. COM
-,snser Of the Rhode Island Department.
Grand Army OF the Republic, Will offlclaee'
r,-,s-si Charles r. Brayton, VINO not
,,r4sl 1896 became a member OF the Ma
-,onar Republican Committee from Rhooo
rsiand. had since the Civil War been 'he
,,o;,ttcai Warwick Of his native state De
.,ste many prophecies Of overthrow ana
.he afHiction OF blindness which hanoi-
canned bis old age. he retained that lead
,r-sstp 10 the end, He was often called the
dean of the nations political bosses Ger
.a.n II IS that no more picturesque hgure
ever ruled IN party affairs
Nor cid those unusual interregnums when
.ne Democrats named the Governor loosen
che hold OF the 'Blind Boss" He never
rcst his grip on the Legislature. and 10 the
sest fought successfully all attempts 10
.nend the constitution so as TO give the
Bhos. Island Chief Executive the veto
power.
rps. after coming back from the war
x.~neral Brayton began his career OF po-
r.scal influence with an active part IN one
OF Senator Henry B. Anthony's campaigns
.rr re-elsction TO the upper house OF Con-
x-rcss. His adroit and successful manipula-
stcu surprised all the oldtimers. About that
time he saw opportunities Of greater activ-
sty In Providence and, leaving Kent ne
5ook I'D his abode in the capital city. He
was soon appointed postmaster OF Provi-
denoe, and held that Office until he was
eucceeded by Henry W. Gardner It was
during these early years in Providence that
he became past master OF hhode Island
,,olitical affairs. He extended his acquaint-
snceship into other states, and soon be-
came a power IN the party at large
Preferred TO Keep in Background.
-r,f-tx-esgilt years ago he began TO at
,end national conventions. and at any time
he could have been elected a member OF
she national committee, but he always pre-
-.r-es IN keen as much as possible in the
eackrround. where, in his own peculiar
way. be was able 20 exert the greatest
a-,ount of influence. At the time of the
choice of the delegation 10 the national
convention IA 1896. however. the members
held a meeting and insisted that General
T9-avton should be the member from Rhode
island. He was also urged TO take the
-lace BY many strong and influential
friends. lie finally acquiesceo.
General Frayton cared even less for pub
10 office than he did for party committee
.hips- The .yovernorship OF his state he
held IN particular contempt On one oc-
oss,or. when the Democrats had captured
that Office. the leaders were inclined 10 be
sJbilant
What are they blowing so hard about II
for?- snorted the general They've only
rot n Governor, who can't do anything but
t.en commissions for notaries, and Lieu
tenant Governor, Eho can't do anything.
In the campaign Of 1895 Ex-Governor ID.
Russell Brown q Rhode Island aspired to
che Republican nomination for the Vice
Presidency. A friend Of his saw General
Brayton about It
Cant you do something 10 help BroFnT 2
,xj1ed the enlissary.
DO YOU see that long row OF Rhoce ISL
and nnanuels?~ asked the general in reply,
roiuting 20 a set OF legislative ANIMALS
orronoiogically arranged on a top shelf
well, after I put 'em up there l never
take 'em down. It's the same way with
ex-C5overnors. don't need 'em and don't
want EN-"
Admitted to the Bar In 1891.
General Brayton was admitted 70 the bar
as a full fledged lawyer IN 1891. lie had
icen for many years fully equipped with
LEGAL knowledge. and few. If any, laws or
amendments were passed by the General
Assembly that he did not fully understand.
After entering the legal profession Ger
era lsrayIon undertook some big cases,
and he was notably the successful counsel
-yi1l Of Iu1rA Eli