The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-05

At his bedside were his wife, his
daughter, Katherine, and four sons.
David, Richard. Stephen and Blaine,
and the physicians. Death was due TO
blood poisoning. He was conscious until
within a half hour of death
Senator EIkins became i'll in the early
summer at his home at ElHns, w Va.
He was kept in strict confinement there
and only the members of his immediate
family were allowed to see him. On
November 9, when he was removed to
Washington in a private car, he was
reported considerably improved. Physi-
clans declared he might possibly De
able to take his seat in the senate 1T
the opening of congress.
Last week it was reported that open
air treatment had been advised and
that a room on the roof of his home
would be arranged for him.
According to the physicians in at
tendance, the senator died from a COM
plication of diseases arising from blood
poison.
Life and Character.
Geniality and practicability were the
predominating traits in Senator Elkins'
character. He seldom was without a
smile and his prevailing manner was
courteous and sympathetic. A man Of
vast affairs outside the senate and re-
sponsible there for important legisla-
v
ton to the wants of his constituents
or his friends.
During a large part of the time of his
service in the senate, Mr.. Elkins was
chairman of the important committee
on interstate commerce. AS the head
of this committee, he had charge of
the Hepburn rate regulation bill of 1907
and of the administration bill of 1910.
A railroad builder and owner himself,
Mr. Ellxins had intimate knowledge of
h. 4I,4- -
lation.
He was outspoken champion of the
bill of 1910 and, as such fought for it's
passage night and day for many
months. Probably the longest speech
ever delivered by the West Virginia
senator was made in its support.
He was one of the first movers for
an investigation into the high cost of
living, which was inaugurated in the
second session of the Sixty-first con-
gress, and when the controlling powers
| in the senate decreed he should not be
| pointed to make the inquiry, he was
| ceeply chagrined.
| He aspired to a place on the commit
| tee on finance, and his failure to attain
such position probably was the great
| est disappointment that came to him
during his senatorial career. The COM
mittee on finance deals with the tariff
and Mr.. Elkins made open protest
against the action of the senate in
overlooking the Republicans Of the
south in filling the committee
His Work in Congress.
Among the achievements standing tt
Senator Elkins' credit is the passage
of the Elkins antitrust bill, soon afte1
| he entered the senate; legislation pro-
viding for many important improve.
ments of the Ohio, Kanawha and Bis
| Sandy rivers, innumerable amendments
| to the railroad bills of 1907 and 1917
| and many notifications of the tariff
| He was the first to suggest the use o.
| the army engineers in building the
| Panama canal
| Mr.. Elkins was born in Ohio in 1841
| While still very young, he went will
| his fathers family to Missouri. HI
| was one of the first graduates from tn.
1864 went to New Mexico, where h,
| lived for several years, becoming il
succession attorney general Unitet
States district attorney, territorial sen
ator and delegate in congress from tina
territory.
While serving as delegate in congress
Mr. Elkins married the eldest daugh
ter of Henry GaSSaway Davis, thel
senator from West Virginia. Soon af
| ter his marriage he established hi
home in that state and there built u
great fortune, largely through tn
the state He came into possession o
extensive coal and timber areas an
was most active in putting their prod
ucts on the market
The Republican party in West Vir
ginia owes much to Mr.. Elkins. H
became chairman of the Republica
national committee, which elected Ben
janin Harrison to the presidency an
became Mr.. Harrison's secretary {