The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-08-03
SEN, WASHBJRN
DIES AFTER A
HARD FIGHT
DEATH COMES EIGHT DAYS AZ.
TER RACE FROM EUROPE TO
REACH "FAIR OAKS"
LAST WISH is GRANTED.
Able to See Family Dwelling Again.
Lapses Into Coma After Bidding
Wife FareweIi.-Staniey
Still Missing.

inneapolis.-William Drew Wash
burn, former United States sen.
ator from Minnesota and pioneer mill
er, lumberman and railway builder,
is dead at Fair Oaks" his Minneapo.
lis home. Death was attributed to all.
ments due to old age, superinduced by
a cancerous growth on his left side.
He was 81 years old.
For SO hours Mr.. Washburn lay in
an unconscious state prior to his
death. He died without recognizing
the members of his family, who were
present, excepting Stanley Washburn,
a son. Stanley is still in the noun
tains Of British Columbia, it is pre-
sumed, as no communication has been
received from him.
The former senator's death came
after suspense Of eight days fol-
lowing his arrival home from Europe
on Sunday, July 81, during which no
hope has been held out for his recov-
cry. Doctors said the mans remark
able vitality had prolonged his life for
almost week longer than they had
expected.
While making the Journey from
Quebec to Minneapolis, Mr.. Washburn
began to sink rapidly. He had ex-
pressed wish to die at Fair Oaks"
q. G. Washburn, who had Joined his
parents in Canada telegraphed to W.
10. Wash urn, Jr., telling him of his
fathers request. Arrangements were
made for special train to bring the
| former senator to Minneapolis over
the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault
! Ste. Marie railroad, which Mr.. Wash
burn himself had founded.
At the senator's bedside, besides his
widow were c. E. Washburn Mr.. and
Mrs. William D. Washburn, Jr.. of
Minneapolis, Cadwallader Washbul Of
Mexico City, Mexico. Mr.. and MS.
Albert Baldwin of Lakewood, N. j.,
| Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton Wright of
Washington, D. c., and Mrs. Stanley
Washburn. Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs.
Wright are daughters.
Mr.. Washburn, known best through
/ out much of his long residence in
Minneapolis as General" and "Sen-
Ator." had been one Of the pioneer
builders OF the city.
/ Stricken III In Europe.
He was taken suddenly ill nearly q
month ago while travelling with his
wife in Europe. They left Minneapolis
last February for Europe, principally
in the interest of Mrs. Washburn's
health whic was poor at the time.
After visit in Naples they travelled
to Carlsbad.
Mr.. Washburn was taken i'll at Carls-
bad and consulted physicians there.
they advised him to hasten home He
and his wife went Immediately to Eng
land and sailed on steamer over the
shorter northern route for Quebec.
Mr.. Washburn's official and political
relations had been varied and impor-
tant, eliminating in the highest off,
cial position below the presidency, in
the nation-that Of senator of the
United States. He had a taste for pol
itics like all his brothers and belong
ed to the radical wing of the Repub-
lican party. Strongly anti-slavery in
the ante bellum days, when that was
an engrossing political question, siren
nous for the rights of the freemen,
he yet tempered his sympathies by q
regard for practical craftsmanship.
He was protectionist in theory, and
yet recognized the need of practical
views in the arrangement Of tariff
schedules. In short, he subordinated
strong sympathetic impulses to prac.
tical measures in craftsmanship.
As early as 1858 he was elected to
the lower house of the Minnesota leg.
islature, but the members elected that
year never took their seats owing to
change Of apportionment. In 1870
he was again elected to the same po
sition and served through the impor'
tant session Of 1871, giving his influ'
ence and vote in favor of subjectina
the railroads to public authority. He
served on the school board of Mime
apolis for two terms beginning with
j, 1866.
In 1873 Mr.. Washburn was elected
to congress, carrying the district by
some 5000 majority. He was reflect
ed in 1880 by $4,000 majority, and
again in 1882, serving three consecu
tive terms. He was an influential and
much respected member. Through his
influence the government erected the
present postofflce building and under
took the system of reservoirs at the
sources of the Mississippi river.
Dixon Takes Issue With Hiiies.
. New York, N. Y. - Senator Dixon
chairman of the National Progressive
co! lmittee, issued a statement II