Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-05

I his home. 1926 X street northwest.
held by Mexicans. as well as many 9TH
ers, were given their liberty.
j He was elected to Congress from New
Mexico in 1873, beating his opponent, a
native Mexican, by 1900 majority. He
was again nominated and elected to the
rope at the time.
! New Mexico never had a more ardent
champion of her right TO statehood than
he. While in Congress as her delegate
he was untiring in his efforts TO secure
her admission as state, and his speech
at the time, setting forth the natural
resources and treaty claims of the terri
! tory, won him national reputation as a
reasOner and debater of the first rank,
Logical, ardent and impassoned. it Is
said to have swept aside all opposition
and quoted opposing argument, and as
result the enabling act then before
Congress was passed in tne House by a
itwo-thirds majority. 1t failed, however,
ultimately, because Of a Senate amend
Tlent which was not concurred IN
Success in National Politics.
During Mr.. Elkins' first term in Con-
gress he was made a member Of the re-
! publican national committee and served
| as such through three presidential cam
! paigns. He was a close personal friend
! Of James G. Blaine, and, it is said, was
! largely instrumental in securing his NOM
! nation for the presidency in 1884 He
/ also did much in the same way to bring
| about the nomination of Benjamin Harr1-
/ son in 1883, who chose him as one of the
| 1894, he was elected United States sena-
! tor from West Virginia to succeed john
| son y. Camden. the legislature OH joint
ballot giving Linn a majority OF forty: He
| al ", {v,
! and had he lived, his term would have
! expired March 3. 1913.
| Mr.. Elkins' success, however, was not
; confined to politics and congressional
executire 0 abiity a For years o he vas
president of the First National Bank of
Santa Fe, one of the most successful
financial institutions IN the west. In
important business negotiations, he was
highly regarded by business men In the
leading ranks of life.
While living in New Mexico, Mr.. ElkinS
became one OF the largest landowners In
the country. He also became the owner
Of considerable mining property in Colo
RADIO. His later, and perhaps greatest
enterprises. have been in West Virginia.
where he devoted himself to the develop
| ment Of the resources Of the state. He was
vice president of the West Virginia Cen
trail and Pittsburg Railway Company
since its organization and also vice presi-
uent Oh luC 1lSuIuOI1C anu NsuInUcEldnQ
Railway Company. His country seat,
"Halliehurst," at Elkins, w. Va, which he
founded and is named In his honor. is Of
great beauty and one of the handsomest
homes in the country. 1t contains over
ninety rooms and is said to DO one of the
wonders Of modern architecture.
Senator Elkins' Personality.
! Mr.. Elkins was conspicuous for his
physical as we'll as for his intellectual
strength. OF pronounced western type.
he stood more than six feet in height,
with well rounded figure, broad, deep
chest and a large head set upon power
full shoulders. His manner was pleasing
and popular, such as to gain friends by
/ the score and his tastes were scholarly
and refined. He was a great reader and
kept his Latin and Greek books close at
hand. His habits were domestic rather
| than social. and he generally shrank
from social functions. save when he
deemed his duty demanded otherwise.
| Notwithstanding his domesticity. the
! Elkins family has been prominent in the
| social life of Washington for many years
They entered it at the time Mr.. Elkins
became secretary OF War. His home on
ington as United States senator, has been
the scene of many Brilliant social func-
tons.
| oSAA&4UtOS VI x3lS 3OIIUOo.
Although his business connections in
Washington and the near vicinity were
not known to be numerous, Senator
Elktns was considered a powerful factor
In local financial circles, and his advice
was constantly and benefcially sought
by many. His fortune was various!y es-
timated as between $15,OOO.OOO and $780,
OOO.OO0 about $2.OOO,OOO of which was
tod 1,-I rl~,
| Although not one of the founders Of
the American National Bank, Mr.. Elkins.
who came in about two years after its
organization, was one of the largest
board by his eldest son, David. himself
a large stakeholder, and by his former
secretary, c. II. Livingston, the vice
president of the bank.
! Mr.. Elkins was heavily Interested in
practically everything in which Mr.. Liy-
ingstOn held an interest. With John r.
Mclean and Mr.. Livingston. the senator
owned the Old Dominion railway, which.
under the guidance of the three. at
tanned an enviable financial condition.
Mr.. Elkins also was a heavy stock
holder in the Potomac and Chesapeake
Steamboat Company, of which Mr.. Liv-
ingston is president. and in the Colo
NAL Beach Company. Beyond his home
on X street. which he built himself. he
had no real estate holdings in the Dis
ltrict as far as in known.
In western and eastern financial cir
Icles Mr.. Elkins. with his vast interests
was a quiet leader. In New York he
was strongly connected with a number
OF banks and was on several director
iates. represented by his son, Stephen,
jr.
With Mr. Livingston and a number
of other financiers Mr.. Elkins founded
the Cuban National Bank in Havana.
J Although so extensively connecte ed
Throughout the country. Mr.. Ell1ins was
a quiet operator in the financial world
and did little active work along these
lines himself His corps of managers,
advisers and representatives included
some of the ablest financial experts In
this country. and TO these he left tho
i larger OF the OneratiOUS.