The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
EX-SENATOR TELLER
DIES AT ElGHTY-FOUR
Served Colorado in the Upper
House as Republican,
Then as Democrat.
WAS IN ARTHUR's CABINET
Led Silver Forces in COnven ton
Of '98, and Left the Hall
and the Party.

DENVER. Col. Feb. 33.-Henry M.
Teller. United States Senator from Colorado
for thirty years and Secretary Of the In
terror in the Cabinet Of President Arthur
from March. 1852. until March. 1855.
died at ~ rs o'clock this morning in his
eighty-fourth year. He had been In poor
health nearly two years. Death was
ascribed to heart disease and infirmities
incident to old age.
Ex-senator Henry NJ. Teller, long one
Of the most striking political figures Of his
adopted West, began his service at the
national capital on March 4. 1876. when
Colorado was admitted into tho Union
One Of the early members Of the Repub-
Its councils until the national convention
Of 1895. when he bolted because OF the
adoption Of tho gold standard plank and
walked out OF the hall with a score Of
others who believed with him in the Bryan
doctrine Of the free coinage Of silver At
tho ratio Of ls to 1.
Becomes . Democrat.
In the following year he was reelected
to the United States Senate as an In
dependent silver Republican and when his
term expired six years later uso3) he
was returned AZ Democrat He never
went back to the political faith he held
for forty years and rejoiced over the re-
suits OF the national election OF 1910,
which swept the Republicans out Of
power.
Il was born and brought up a Demo-
crat," he said Immediately after the cleo
ton OF President Wilson. but acted with
the Republican party until 1t got so bad
had to get out Of It."
MI Teller was born at Granger,
AileSany county. New York. on
days were over, he was teacher
several years. He studied law, was
admitted to the bar at Binehamton.
N. r.. In 1856. and practised in
Illinois from 1855 until 1861. when he went
to Colorado and hung out his shingle. The
following year he was married TO Miss
Harriet NJ. Bruce OF Cuba, n. Y, the
young pair spending their honeymoon in
prairie schooner crossing the plains to
their new home at Central City. MIR. and
Mrs. Teller celebrated their golden wedding
At their daughters home In Denver on
June s. 1912.
Mr.. Teller began to be interested In the
silver question In 1850 and did much In
and out OF Congress In favor Of bimetal-
Republicans TO make a declaration for BIZ
metallism at the 1892 nat onal convention
and took a leading part In the long fight
In the Senate against the uncond itional
repeal OF the Bland silver act
AZ the Coavestion Of 1900.
HIS stand on the money question made
him the Acknowledged leader OF the silver
Republicans. who strove In vain at the
nAtlt0lal convention pf oh
William A. Mckinley was nominated. TO
commit the Republican party to William
Jennings Bryan's free silver doctrine.
lie was member OF the resolutions
committee. and although the silver men
knew tina; their proposition was doomed
TO he bea;en he fought to the last ditch
throughout all the preliminaries for the
adoption by the committee OF free silver
plank. On behalf OF the minority he pre-
scented substitute report for the financial
plank declaring as follows: THE Repub-
iican party authorizes the use OF both gold
and silver as an equal standard money
ana pledges Its power to secure the free
and unlimited coinage OF gold and silver
at our minis ~ the ratio Of lS parts OF
silver to Of gold
Mr.. Teller then made in defence OF his
measure what turned out to be his fare
well address In the Republican party
When the substitute had been overwheln-
insly voted down and the majority report
had been adopted Senator Teller with
tears streaming down his cheeks walked
out or the convention hall. followed by
Senator Cannon OF Utah and number OF
his free silver supporters
Some weeks later Colorado friends Of
MI Teller. realizing that he was not well
supplied with worldly goods. got up purse
OF $4,000. which they proposed TO present
10 MN in appreciation of his services for
the free silver cause. When he heard OF
II he refused TO touch penny OF the
money. saying he appreciated their mo-
tives but guessed he would he able to get
along, He couldn't take what he hadn't
earned. he said. and he didn't
Mr.. Bryan dedicated his The First
Rattle TO ex-senator Teller, RicharS r.
Hand OF Missouri and Gen. James b.
Weaver OF Iowa, who. he said. might
BE considered the foremost champions OF
In their respective part!es"