The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-20
Famous Former Scion From
New York Succumbs to
Brief Illness
i%ss+A4
WAS SICK TWO WEEKS;
DEATH NOT EXPECTED
Age and Tax on Vitality Brought
Sudden Change in Con-
dition-Sketch of His
Career.

al&bAN) j, " l., oCl <V.--LA1@Nsa
United States Senator David B. Hin
died at hts residence Woolfert's Roost, !.
at As this morning
For two weeks he had been i'll with
a cold and complications. Last week
the senator's condition was serious, but
he had seemed to improve this week.
and yesterday was in good spirits.
Mr.. HIS age and the tax upon his ri
vitality. however. brought about a sud-
den change during the night The only 4
person Ia attendance at the time OF hts 4
death was the senator's nurse.
Last of Old Line.
David Bennett Hill was the last % 81
the old line politicians who made n
Democratic history In New York State 81
when that party secured control a IL
the State government following the fa~ks
NOUS stalwart and half breed Republt~S
can fight which involved President
Chester A. Arthur and Senator Roscoos
conklin. He was for years In absolut4%a
control of'the Democratic party orEaIt-ga
izatien in the State. and his bitter con-
ficts with the Grover Cleveland Or
ganizatton finally eliminated In Cieve-
land abandoning New York State ~
his home. AS fighter Hill had no Il
superior. and as In the case Of III
men of his stripe his enemies wer0
mpiaeabe haters while his friends
were idol worshippers. Hill In the
very height OF his sway in this state
was characterized by the close follow
ers of President Cleveland as a '.peA-
nut politician and the country II Il
large accepted this expression as rep
resenting the man for many years.
Since he retired from active paTttcfpa-@
ton in political affairs. however. Hht
has been better understood and there I
/ has been disposition to give him
TIE place his talents earned for him.
/ As lawyer Hill had few equals. an1ga
I he received large fees In many OF the
cases he was called into. notably the
MoiineauX and the franchise tax ap~
/ peals
| Born In Havana. y. Y. on August
! %. 1913, young Hill received m
I academic education and then moved
/ to Elmira, where he studied law. Adj
rnitted to the bar in 1864. he at once
took an interest In politics. and that
/ very same year he was made city at
toruey OF Elmira. He was a delegAtA
4 to the Democratic national convcnttoms
of 1877, and from that time until 1e0ea
he was conspicuous figure at the bic
gatherings OF his party.
Mayor of Elmira-
/ Hill was elected mayor Of Elmira r.
1882, and in the fall Of 1893 no waQ
given second place on the State tick
ct. headed by Grover Cleveland. AT
governor and lieutenant govern04s
Cleveland an1Hili frequently clashed.
/ At the election OF 1884 Cleveland Wuo
chosen President Of the United Stase
l.
Hill under the constitution becAxnMs
governor. Nss
Previous to that time Hill had beous
the permanent chairman Of the De1n.
scratie national conventions OF 18Th
and 1881, and 1t was no secret am0n0i
his intimates that he was even tibA1
laying plans TO be elected Rres10en4s
of tho United States. All through NJ
career this was the one ambition -
Hill.
1t was this ambition that brou9l44
about the rupture between ClevG~3
land and Hill, After succeeding e0
the governorship Hill at once sst144
the party machine in the State. Ate
Cleveland Was defeated in 1883. Hi4a
told his friends that this was the oSsl4s
Of Cleveland contest, and the lig6fa
between Hin and Cleveland forces fsEs
the delegates from New York to tM4s
national convention Of 1892 was wa9@4'
in the most bitter fashion for the
following three years. By means 90
what has since been classed an TN
Albany snap convention Of I891,s4ss
Hill got the delegates to the Chic29os
convention. He then made cOmb441
nation with Arthur Poe German, az
Maryland, whereby they were TO joa1s
forces and defeat Cleveland. Whe&
the convention assembled, however,. IL
was found that Daniel Lamont aMM
the Western friends or Cleveland hqEs
made a combination whereby CleN0
land had the votes needed 70 uosU$S
nate and German deserted Hill tn
act Of "treachery." as he charActeri14
It, emhittered Hill. and ne and CrokG
delegated Bourke Cochran to makes
ing Cleveland. sS
Vain EIOquence. ss
The oratory was lost however, aHNF
Cleveland was nominated and elGoR
ed. sa$
Hill served as governor OF Nos
York from 1855 to 1891, wnen
was elected United States senator. ni
served in the latter position until l101&
!, Although he fought Bryan in the c.
vention Of 1895. and retired TO
Albany home during that campaA
, saving: II am a Democrat stilIS
STILL he seconded the nominatf0n
Bryan in 1900.
After the defeat Of Bird 8. c.
for governor IN seq. Hin said M
through with politics. Since that O.
he has attended to his practice AZ
and lived quiet life At mis- c0uM
home here
7 n S3l@I