The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-05
SENATOR ELK||VS DEAD
AF TER LONG ILLNESS
Pioneer of West in Frontier
Days, and Represented New
Mexico in Congress.
Concluded From Page One.

against the action OF the senate in over
looking the Republicans OF the south in
flllng the committee - ..
Senator ElkinSs credit is the passage
OF the clkins ant-rebete bill. soon after
he entered the senate: LEGISLATION pro-
vjding for many important improveme
OF the Ohio. kanawha and Big Sandy
rivers: lnnummersbe material amend :
mcuts TO the railroad bills OF 1907 and
1910. and many notifications OF tho
tariff. He was the first to suggest tho
use Of army engineers in building the
Panama canal.
While still very young he went with his
fathers family To Missouri Hc was one
OF the first graduates from the Cniver- :
sity of Missouri and as early 1864
went to New Mexico, where he lived for
attorney general United States ,dIsId district i
TO congress from that territory.
Extensive Coal Operator.
While serving AS delegate In congress.
Mr.. Elkins married the eldest daughter
OF Henry Gassaway Davis. then senator
from West Virginia. The following year
nsa ns See Sn bis 5 bone large in that or,aae snss
largely through the DEVELOPMENT OF the
natural resources OF the state. He came
into possession OF extensive. coal and
ting their products on the market.
The Republican party In West Vir-
ginia owes much TO Mr.. Elkins, He be-
came chairman OF the Republican ma
tional committee, which elected Benja-
min Harrison TO the presidency. and be-
came Mr.. Harrison's secretary OF war.
His first election to the senate took
place in 1895.
While residing in Missouri. Mr.. Elkins
taught school and to this circumstance
owed his escape from one of the most
thrilling events OF his life. Riding one
day, toward the close OF the Civil war,
along lonely road In the western part
of the state. he was seized by squad
from the band OF the Confederate guer-
rilla Quantrcll He was charged with
being spy and the penalty WAS death.
Fortunately for him. he was placed in
the care OF two brothers who recognized
the young man as their former teacher.
Approaching his peril, they contr!ved
his escape. The senator's new-found
friends were Jim and Cole Younger. who
noted OF the daring band of outlaws led
by the James brothers. When tho
founGers were captured and sent 10
prison on life sentence for robbing a
their Kindness to him He exerted his
influence TO procure their release, and ul-
timately succeeded.
Life on Frontier.
On moro than one occasion in the SEN
ate Mr.. Elkins referred feclingly TO his
life on tho frontier.
y notable instance was in connection
with the railroad fight OF 1910. Accused
by Senator Bristow OF Kansas with hav-
ing said that if the inland residents were
dissatisfied with the railroad rates &c
their homes they could get out and re-
move to the scaboard. the West Virginia
senator strenuously protested his sym
pathy in the interior country.
The senator from Kansas does not
love his state any more than I love it.
he said. II knew Kansas long before
he knew II. | passed all of my boy
hood days on its borders. ] knew il in
deed before II was a territory and when
II was the home only OF wild animals and
Indians. | knew the state, therefore, and
! appreciate IL for its great worth"
Mr. Elliins was consistent advocate
OF statehood for New Mexico and came
very near having the territory admitted
in 1876.