The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-10-25
Was One of the Foremost
Statesmen of His Gen.
Grafton.
HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY
Great Author of Pure Food Law
Dies Standing a. He Lived. Up
right-Great Fighter and Authority
on Constitution-State and Nation
Greatly Mourn the Loss.


city at 10 minutes OF 8 o'clock Thurs
day evening of last week. Disease OF
the heart complicated with kidney
trouble is the cause assigned by attend
ing physicians. While his death came
as surprise to the public, as his true
condition had been concealed through
out his long illness, which began in
August, has family and physicians had
been aware for some time that he
probably could not survive.
In Poor Health For Months.
For more than year Senator Hey
burn has been in poor health and in
that time has suffered several physi-
cal collapses. The last occurred on
August "a, when he was opposing the
Penrose- Archibald investigation reso-
luton. Since that date Senator Hey
burn has never been we'll, though his
condition has varied from time to
time.
For several days after his last col
lapse his condition was critical.
though that fact was not allowed to
become public until he had partially
recovered and was able to 60 to his
old home in Pennsylvania. There he
brought back to Washington, but
again rallied under medical care, only
to again collapse several days before
his death.
Weldon Brinton Hepburn was born
in Delaware county. Pa, May Is,
1882 His parents. John Brinton Hey
burn and Sarah Gilpin Hepburn. were
Quarkers of English descent His
fathers family came over from
| Northumberland, England, and set
tied in Pennsylvania in 1860. His
mothers ancestors accompanied Viii
liam Penn from Kent, England. He
received an academic education and
studied largely under private tutors.
He was admitted to the bar shortly
after reaching his majority and prac-
ticed law up to the time he was elect
ed United States senator in 1908.
Senator Hepburn came to Idaho in
1883 and settled in Shoshone county.
where he resided at the time OF his
election to the senate. He married
Gheretein Yeatman, daughter of John
Marshall Yeatman and Lavinia Pass
more Yeatman
i He was a member of the conven.
ton which framed the constitution OF
the state of Idaho and was chairman
of the judiciary committee OF that
body. He was elected delegate to
the Republican national conventions
in 1888, 1892, 1900 and 1904. He was
Republican national committeeman
| for Idaho from 1904 to 1908, when he
was succeeded by Senator w. E. Be-
rah. He was the nominee OF his
party for congress on 1898. but was
defeated by a fusion ticket OF Demo
Gratis. Populists and Silver Republi-
cans. He has also been candidate
| for presidential elector upon the Re
publican ticket three times.
Senator Hepburn was first elected
!. to the United States senate in l9O3 &c
, succeed Henry Heitfelt. the Their
democratic Senator from this state
On January 9, 1908, the legislature II
Al Joint session cast a majority vote fol
him for United States senator. A
= that time there were four senatorial
= candidates in the feld-W. E. Borah
elW. E. Hepburn, D. w. Standrod an'
d George L. Shoup. At the caucus Q
the Republican legislators on Januar!
I8, 1908, he received % votes to x to
IW. E. Borah and was declared tn
vI choice of the RepuDrcan party tor tn
senate. The next day he was elected
I'll Senator Hepburn was reelected Z
- serve a term of six years on Januar
Ills. 1909. His term would have ex
;. oired on March 4, 1915. At the tim
i of his last election there was some op
), position developed against him b
i persons who attempted to deadloe
X the legislature. =,
Senator Hepburn. while in tn
- United States senate. made one OF tn
!. most enviable records of any senate
from the west He was always know
as a shrewd debator and man {
y strong convictions. In the senate b
:. tried his steel with the brainest me
- Of the country without having to n
Is treat from the position he had take
~ His likes and dislikes were stron
81 and at times his public utteranc'
~ upon the same caused country-wit
~ comment. While in the senate he II
: troduced many bills which were
=. benefit not only to Idaho. but to Il
IS nation at large. He fostered the pu
=, food bill, which passed the congre
-. of the United States in 1906 AZ
CONTINUED on page five)