The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
EX-SENATOR MILLS
CALLED BY DEATH
Former Texas Scion Dies at
COrsicana Home.

Corsicana, Tex. Sept 2-Former United
States Senator Roger Q. Mills, Of Texas,
died at his home here to-day He had
been Ill for a long time.
Roger Quarles Mills has for many
years been but a memory in Washington.
His name was identified with the Mills
bill, Democratic tariff measure which
was framed under his direction when he
was at the head OF the Ways and Means
Committee in a Democratic House in
the first Cleveland administration. Mr.
Mills represented a big Texas district.
He was the logical successor to VIII
lam z. Morrison as the leader OF the
low tariff movement IN Congress. After
Col. Morrison was defeated in the Re-
publican landslide Of 1856, the mantle OF
Col Morrison fell upon Mr.. Mills
shoulders, and the Mills bill followed
logically upon the heels Of the Morrison
horizontal reduction biIl'' in the evolu-
ton Of the Democratic tariff policy.
Was Lawyer at Twenty.
Roger Q. Mills was a picturesque char
acter in Washington. He was a native
Of Kentucky, but had lived in Texas
most OF his life. He was admitted to the
bar in Texas as the result of an act
Of the legislature which removed the
at the age Of twenty. He practiced law
at Corsicana, which remained his home
continuously up to the time Of his death.
He served with conspicuous gallantry in
the Confederate army and arose from
a private to be a brigade commander.
His political career included service in
the Texas legislature before the civil
war and as a member Of the United
States House OF Representatives from
20 TIa al IN ha
States Senate in 1892 to fill an unexpired
term and was reelected for the full term
which ended in 1899.
Senator Mills, after his retirement from
Congress, gave up his interests in poll
tics and became interested in the oil in
dustry in Texas. Oil was discovered on
land he owned. and he became very
wealthy from the proceeds.
In 1891, the Democrats having carried
the House Of Representatives by an
overwhelming majority, Mr.. Mills. who
had been Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, announced himself as
candidate for Speaker. His friends
believed that he was entitled to the
honor because of his position OF lead
ership Of the party in the House. which
had given his name to the last tariff bill
brought forward by the Democrats. But
opposition sprang up.
Friends wept at Defeat.
Mr. Mills had devoted followers, some
OF whom wept when he lost the fight to
Charles F. Crisp, Of Georgia. The Texas
statesman started in the race for the
speakership with such prestige that very
few people doubted that he would be the
choice. But many Democrats believed
that his tariff views were too radical
Many OF the members Of the House had
come to Congress to serve their first
term and were not personally acquainted
with Mr.. Mills. 1t was easy to manip-
ulate them. Furthermore, the Texan
had an imperious manner and suffered
in comparison with his opponent, Mr..
Crisp, as a mixer" Besides, Mr..
Mills managers were rather intolerant
and dictatorial and proceeded on the as
sumption that he was entitled to the
office and that it was presumption for
other candidates to offer for the place.
Mr.. Crisp's interests were in the hands Of
such astute politicians as Arthur P.
Georgia.
Senator Mills never entirely recovered
from his defeat. William NJ. Springer,
Of Illinois, took the place at the head of
the Ways and Means Committee and Mr..
Mills went to the head of less impor-
tant committee. Within a short time
thereafter he got an opportunity to ap-
peal to his State for vindication, and he
appealed successfully and was elected to
the Senate. In that body he commanded
respect and made a profound impression
during his service of seven years.