Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01

THOMAS c. DAWSON.
| Thomas c. Dawson, resident diplomatic
officer of the State Department. died at
| his home. 1916 10Th street, about o'clock
| this morning from a complication of dis
eases. Mr.. Dawson was taken ill about
two months ago and was removed to Fort
| Monroe Va. in the hope that a change
of climate and scene would benefit him.
| There was no special Improvement in
his condition. however. and he was
brought back to his Washington home
about five weeks ago. In spite Of the
best of care and treatment, he steadily
declined in health, and passed away this
| morning. His wife and two children were
constantly in attendance at his bedside
Funeral services will be held at the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev.
Dr. Radcliffe, the rector, officiating In
torment will be made privately at Rock
Creek cemetery.
Flag at Half-Mast.
The flag over the Pan American Union
building was placed at half-staff by
order of Director Barrett, Immediately
upon receiving notice of the death of
Minister Dawson. That honor is rarely
bestowed except in the case of death
of the head of one of the American
republics. but was extended this time
in view of Mr.. Dawson's long service
in Latin American countries and the
high esteem in which he was held by
the diplomatic representatives of those
countries now in Washington.
Director Barrett will move resolutions
of coincidence at the next meeting of the
governing board of the Pan-Amerfcan
Union and he will represent that organi-
| cation as a pallbearer at the funeral to-
morrow afternoon.
Acting Secretary Of State Huntington
Wilson paid this tribute to the deceased
minister: by the death of Thomas
Cleland Dawson the American diplomatic
service has lost one who has dstin-
guished record of long and efficient serv-
ice and his colleagues in the department
and the foreign service will greatly miss
man whose fine qualities were so much
appreciated
Dawson Highly Esteemed.
Thomas Cleland Dawson was highly
esteemed by all of America. He
did much to compose quarrels between
| ambitious leaders, to cool their passions
and to bring them into friendly relations.
For that peculiar class of work he was
admirably fitted. His newspaper career
| taught him to avoid strict adherence to
the austere formalities of international
law and to appeal to the understanding
of the common people, and that he was
| able to do with greater effect by reason
of his acquaintance with the Spanish
language. So it happened In Panama, in
the troublesome days following the sepa-
| ration: in Colombia, when the very name
of the United States was inhibited as a
result of Panama's secession; in Nicara-
h.
| revolution. and finally, in Santo Domingo,
| where he rescued the republic from the
| clutches of foreign usurers and gave new
cast to the Monroe doctrine by asserting
| the interest of the United States in the
| financial welfare of the Latin-American
| republics. The name of Thomas G.. DaW-
son became part Of the history of those
countries.
Born in Wisconsin.
Mr.. Dawson was born in Hudson, Wis,
July 80 1860. He studied for time at
Harvard, but before graduating he re-
moved to Indiana and received his degree
| from Hanover College. He was admitted
| to the bar upon completing course of
law in the Cincinnati Law School,, His
journalistic career began In 1882, when
he started a newspaper at Enterprise.
| Fla. After two years at the editors desk
he tried his hand again at law, practicing
| in Iowa from 1856 to 1889. Then followed
period of rapid alterations between the
| law and Journalism. For a time he was
city editor of the Iowa Daily Register,
| but, tempted by politics. he became assist
ant attorney general of Iowa from 1891
| to 1894, residing meanwhile at Council
Bluffs.
/ FIR. Dawson's Diplomatic Career.
Mr.. Dawson's diplomatic career began
in 1897. when he was appointed secretary
Of the American Legation at Rio. He be-
came full-fledged minister resident in
1904. being located at Santo Domingo
Three years service there fitted him for
the discharge Of the duties Of minister
to Colombia. which post he filled in 1907
Two years later he was minister to Chile
land finally came to Washington as resi-
dent diplomatic officer and chief of the
division of Latin-American affairs. Ex-
traordinary developments in Panama
made II necessary to detach him from
that office in June, 1910, and as soon as
ne had composed the difficulties there
he was designated as special agent of the
United States to the provisional govern
ment of Nicaragua. In 1911 he was
special peace commissioner to Honduras
and in June Of that year represented
this country as special ambassador at the
Venezuelan centennial celebration. He
resumed his old post OF resident diplo-
matte officer in the State Department
June q. 1911. and was largely instru-
mental in framing the new financial ar
rangements and treaties with Nicaragua
and Honduras.
April 5. 1900. Mr.. Dawson. then secre-
tary to the legation at Brazil, married
In London Luisa Guerra Duval, a member
of a distinguished family of Brazil. her
father being leading banker Of Rio
Janeiro. To the union three children
were born-Allan, aged nine years: Lilita,
aged six years. and FREDERICK, who died
last August at the age Of four years.
Mr.. Dawson. although possessed Of re-