New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-18
SENATOR HEPBURN DEAD
succl,mbs to Lingering Illness
in Washington.
NINE YEARS IN U. S. SENATE
Hard Fight Against Tariff
Tinkering in Last Session
fastened His End.

.,or Weldon BTlnlOh htS D"iH' VI iN"''"'
go at his apartments here tonight after
III lingering illness He was sixty years
"a and had been in the Senate nine
years. .-.- ~.
-. vas received with little surprise by
-, colleagues who are in Washington and
".sors who are familiar with his condi-
.,on and activities during the last session
Of Congress
ryr,ng the last few months Of Congress
senator Hepburn was so indisposed, as
.osrlt OF lesion of the brain, that his
.hys,cIaDs inslsteutly urged that he give
=, his active duties, warning him that 10
oo,t,,ue his work would be at the risk
- his life. Because of his almost abnor-
nal sense Of duty in public life, he only
partly needed the warning.
Senator Hepburn left the capital for a
Few weeks TO recuperate, but returned
shortly before the adjournment Of Con-
eress and plunged actively into his work
again. He was almost constantly in his
seat or walking about the Senate cham
her taking an earnest part in the debates
m most OF the important measures and
sxerting himself to the extreme. His con-
alton was such that sometimes his @ol-
leagues feared that he would collapse in
the midst Of a speech, as he exerted him
self far beyond his strength
Particularly on the tariff question SEN
ator Hepburn was energetic in Ms work,
AGAINST the expostulatons Of his friends,
insisting that It was his duty not 10 per-
init bills under consideration to pass with
out sounding a warning OF the disaster
that he believed would follow indiscrimi-
nate tariff tinkerlng. This fight ne waged
unaaggingly up to the close of Congress,
and unquestionably it dlsspated his
strength and FASTENED his death.
Exhausted by speeohmakins.
Being a ready speaker and alert 10 op-
pose what he believed TO be unsound
legislation, Senator Hepburn held the
floor much Of the time during the last
days of his conspicuous career In the
Senate, thus exhausting himself physi-
oaly BY his speechmaking. His speeches
10 the last were Enthusiastically force
ful and full Of the oldtime VIM that made
him famous as a vigorous speaker. Some
Of his last efforts We're tinged with pathOs,
as it was obvious that they were almost
mountaineering from q man toying
with death.
stanch protectionist, Senator Hey
burn frankly classed himself as
"s,andpatter," and was proud Of the dis
tnction In addition, ne regarded him
e he oil
the practices Of which he fought sturdily
to the end, as against the so-calied Pro-
gressiye measures and theories.
Weldon Brinton Hepburn had been a
striking figure in the United States Senate
for the last nine years. He was the draft
er Of the pure food law, and more recent
" was the chief promoter Of the bill TO
regulate cold storage. He held the un-
usual distinction Of being chairman Of
two big ommittees-Manufactu and
the Revision of the Laws Of the United
States
Was a "Peppery Debater.'
He was by temperament fighter Of the
explosive type. His colleagues knew him
as a "peppery" debater. When not de-
batting he sat watchful in his front seat
in the Senate, ready at the slightest
provocation TO strike a verbal blow at a
fellow member, or with a word 70 silence
the exuberance Of an irreverent gallery.
Nor were all his fights verbal. He car
ried gun during the Leadville strikes.
and sent good many men to the peniten-
tiary for their conduct in Che CGur
d'Alene riots. II is said that $500 was
voted at that time as q reward for the
man who would Kill Hepburn on sight
The prospective assassin and victim met
face TO face. but the reward wasn't
earned.
In February, 1910, he aroused much OPP
position BY a fiery sectional speech In the
Senate against a resolution authorizing
the Secretary Of War 10 lend certain
tents, saddles and brides for use at
Confederate reunion.
He was an active opponent Of President
Tatts reciprocity treaty and OF the arbi-
traion treaties AS chairman OF the sub
committee charged with the investigation
Of the election Of Senator Stephenson. In
January OF this year, ne won general
praise for his handling Of the case. His
work resulted in unanimous report ex-
onerating Senator Stephenson.
Came Of Quaker Stock.
Senator Hepburn was born in 1852, in
Delaware County, Penn, on the site of
the battle Of Brandywine. The Hepburns
and Heyburns belong to the same family.
The Senator's ancestors were English
Quakers. Among his early relatives was
James Hepburn fourth Earl OF Boutwell,,
husband Of Mary Queen Of Scots.
Young Hepburn received an academic
education was admitted 10 the bar in
4ab and practised law from that time.
In the winter Of 1924 he moved to
shoshone County, Idaho. where he had
Kept his residence ever since. He was
member Of the convention which framed
The constitution Of the State Of Idaho and
chairman Of the judiciary committee in
that body.
nj. Hepburn always voted and support
eo the Republican ticket He was q dele
sa'e to the Republican national conven-
lions OF 1888, 1892, 1900 and 1904 and national
committeeman for Idaho from 1904 10 1908
ne was the nominee Of the Republican
party OF Idaho for Congress in 1898. but
vas defeated by a fusion Of the Demo-
td'S' Populists and Silver Republicans.
ne was elected to the United states Sen
ave on January 70. 1903, receiving the en-
ure Republican vote OF the Legislature,
~ succeed Henry Heitfeld. Democrat, for
'Ao Term beginning March 4 1903 and was