The Detroit times., 1910-10-20
D. B. HILL DIES
IN NEW YORK
Former United States Senator Passes
Away at His Home, Wolferts
Roost, Early Today.

ALBANY, N. Y. Oct. 20.-Ex.Uni-
ted States Senator David b. Hill. died
at his residence, Wolferts Roost, at
345 this morning.
For two weeks he had been Ill with
cold and complications. Last week
the senator's condition became seri-
GUS, but he had seemed to improve
this week, and yesterday was In good
spirits.
Mr.. HIPS age and the tax upon his
vitality, however. brought about
sudden change during the night The
only person present at the time OF his
death was the senator's nurse.
David Bennett Hill was the last OF
the old-line politicians who made
Democratic history in New York state
when that party secured control OF
the state government following the
famous stalwart and half-breed Re-
publican fight which Involved Presi-
dent Arthur and Roscoe Conkling. He
was for years In absolute control OF
the Democratic party organization in
the state and his bitter conflicts with
the Grover Cleveland organization
finally eliminated in Cleveland
abandoning New York state as his
home. AS fighter Hill had no super
Tor and as In the case OF all men OF
his stripe his enemies were implac-
able haters while his friends were
worshippers.
Hill, in the very height of his sway
In this state, was characterized by
the close followers of President
Cleveland as a peanut politician"
and the country at large accepted
this expression as representing the
man for many years. Since he retired
from active participation in political
affairs, Hill has been better under
stood and there has been disposi-
ton to give him the place his talents
earned for him. AS a lawyer Hill had
few equals and he received large fees
in many Of the cases he was called
into, notably the Molineaux and the
Franchise tax appeals.
Born in Havana. n. Y, on Aug 30,
1S4s, young Hill received an academic
education and then moved to Elmira,
where he studied law. Admitted to
the bar In 1864 he at once took an in
terest in politics and that very same
year he was made city attorney of
Elmira. He was a delegate to the
Democratic national convention of
1877 and from that time until 1900
he was conspicuous figure at the
big gatherings of his party.
Hill was elected mayor of Elmira
In 1882 and In the fall OF 1893 he was
given second place on the state
ticket headed by Grover Cleveland.
AS governor and acknowledgement,
Cleveland and Hill frequently clashed
At the election OF 1884 Cleveland was
chosen president OF the United States
and when he resigned as governor,
Hill under the constitution became
governor Previous TO that time Hill
had been the permanent chairman
OF the national Democratic conven-
tons OF 1877 and 1881 and IL was no
secret among his intimates that he
was even then laying plans TO be
elected president OF the United States.
All through his career this was the
one ambition OF Hill.
II was that ambition that brought
about the rupture between Cleveland
and Hill. After succeeding to the gov
ernorship. Hill seized the party
machine in the state. After Cleve-
land was defeated in 1888 the fight
between the Hill and Cleveland forces
for delegates from New York to the
national convention of 1892 was wag-
ed in the most bitter fashion for the
following three years. The fight has
been classed as the Albany conven-
ton Of 1892 Hill got the delegates
to the Minneapolis convention.
He then made combination with
Arthur Pue German Of Maryland,
whereby they were to join forces and
defeat Cleveland. When the conven-
ton assembled, however, 1t was
found that Daniel Lamont and west
ern friends OF Cleveland had made a
combination, whereby Cleveland had
the votes and German deserted Hill.
This act Of 'treachery" as he charac-
terized II embittered Hill and he and
Croker delegated Bourke Cochran to
make a speech nominating Hill and
denouncing Cleveland"
The oratory was lost. however, and
Cleveland was nominated and elected
Hill served as governor of New
York from 1885 to 1891. when he was
selected United States senator and
served in the latter position until
1897. Although he fought Bryan In
the convention of 1896 and retired to
his Albany home during that cam
paign saying: II am a Democrat still,
very still" He seconded the nominal
ton of Bryan in 1900.
After the defeat OF Bird s. Golfer
for governor in 1902, Hill said he was
through with politics. Since that time
he has attended tn his practica of Ia w