The evening times., 1911-08-09
SENATOR FRYE
/. ANSWERED THE
!. LAST ROLL CALL
Has Been Member of United
States Senate For Thirty
Years

Death CAME after LONG
But NOT SERIOUS ILLNESS
He Was the Friend and Disciple Of
Blaine Whom He Succeeded In the
Senate, Having Previously Served
in the House.
Lewiston, Me-, Aug. 9-The state Of
Maine lost it's senior United States
senator and an almost lifelong faith
full servant when William Pierce
Frye died late yesterday at the home
Of his daughter, Mrs. Helen White,
in this city. The end came at 3:55
p. m. At his bedside we're Mrs. White
and his other daughter, Mrs. Alice
Briggs, who also resides in Lewis
ton. Although he had been i'll for a
long time, death came suddenly.
At the opening last April of
the present special session of con-
gress, although he retained his men,
bership in the senate, Senator Frye
soon afterward made his last journey
to the city which always had been
his home. For several weeks his
condition was not considered neces-
sarily dangerous. Up to last week
he rested in comparative comfort,
spending much of his time in read
ing or having some member OF his
family read to him.
Last week the senator's illness took
serious turn but again he rallied
and this week his physicians express
ed the hope that he might recover. AS
late as 3:15 yesterday afternoon he
appeared to be In comfortable con-
dition. Shortly afterward 1t was
seen that he was sinking rapidly and
at 1856 o'clock he died.
A general breakdown, due to his
age and his extremely arduous ca
reer, is ascribed by Senator Frye's
physicians as the cause of death.
His Career
William Pitt Frye, United States
senator from Maine and the Oldest
member in point of service OF the up
per- branch Of congress, was born In
Lewiston. Me-, Sept. 2. 1881. He
came from English ancestors who had
settled in New England two centuries
ago. His father, being man OF
means, sent him to Bowdoin college,
from which he graduated in 1850. He
then took up the study Of law and
after a few years passed his examina-
ton and was admitted to the bar.
Young Frye entered the political
arena when quite young and was first
elected to the legislature Of his state
in 1861: He was reelected the fol-
lowing year and in 1864 was chosen
presidential elector. Two years later
, he was honored by being elected
mayor of Lewiston, which position he
filled with great ability. He was
again elected to the legislature in
1867 and in the same year was made
attorney general Of the state of Maine,
which Office he filled for one term.
He became a member Of the national
Republican executive committee in
1872 and 1876 and again in 1890.
He began his career in congress in
the Forty-second congress and was
reelected to the Forty-fourth, the
Forty-fifth, the Forty-sixth and the
Forty-seventh congress, serving with
great ability and marked distinction.
When James G. Blaine was called to
President Garfield's cabinet in 1881,
Mr.. Frye was made Blaine's success
sor to fill the latter's unexpired term
in the United States senate. Mr.. Frye
took his seat in the senate on March
IS, 1881, and remained a member of
that body to the time of his death.
When Mr.. Frye took his seat. in
congress, Mr.. Blaine was the speak
er. Melley and Garfield led the ma
jority, and Kerr and Randall the min
ority Mr.. Frye soon became dis
tinguished man and one Of the first
public speakers of the house. He had
splendid voice, clear, ringing and
Of great carrying power. From the
first time he addressed the house to
his promotion to the senate he never
took the floor without instantly COM
manding attention from both sides of
the chamber. He was chairman of
+, the library committee and member
of the judiciary and the ways and
means committees. He would. un-
doubtedly, have been elected speaker
of the Forty-seventh congress, had he
! remained in the lower house.
Mr.. Frye succeeded Mr.. Blaine not
only in the United States senate, but
also as chairman of the Republican
state committee of Maine and ever
since then was the leader Of the Re
publican party in his native state.
He first met Mr., Blaine when both
were members of the state legisla-
ture, and from that day he was the
devoted follower Of that brilliant
statesman and orator, He never fal-
tered for moment in his loyalty. He
always considered Mr., Blaine the
greatest man in his party and
staunchly stood by him in good for
tune and In adversity. 1t was into
his hands that Blaine placed the
famous "Mulligan letters and it was