The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-02-17
SENATOR BACON PASSES
DISTINGUISHED GEORGIAN DIED
IN WASHINGTON SATURDAY.
State Funeral Will Be Held in Senate
Chamber This Afternoon. Body
Will Be Brought to Macon.


Will Be Brought to Macon.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. IA
Augustus Octavius Bacon, United
States senator from Georgia for near
ly 10 years and chairman of the for
eign relations committee since the
ascendancy of the democratic party
March 4, 1918, died today in the
Garfield hospital here after an illness
of ten days. He was the first United
States senator elected by direct vote
of the people under the seventeenth
amendment
Though Senator Bacon had been
seriously i'll with kidney trouble and
complications developing from bro
ken rib his death was unexpected.
It came suddenly at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, and news of the END Tell
upon the senate as a shock While 1t
was in executive session.
The immediate cause of the sena-
tors death was a blood clOt in the
heart. Throughout the morning he
had been in good spirits and 1t was
announced to his colleagues that he
was feeling better than for several
days.
Physicians had determined that an
operation. which had been contem-
plated. was unnecessary. Despite
his rs wears it appeared that the af-
fiction which he suffered was of re-
cent origin, and specialists believed
,o1l - frno t1O1n
conclusion relieved considerably the
anxiety of his friends and associates
in congress.
Mrs. Sparks at Bedside.
Half an hour before his death the
senator talked with is daughter, Mrs.
w. B. Sparks, of Georgia. She had
lust left the room when he raised
himself in bed AS Mrs Sparks re-
entered the room her father fell back
in collapse and never regained con-
sciusness.
In the absence of Senator Smith of
Georgia Senator Overman was notl-
fed, and proceedings in the senate
were abruptly halted when the North
Carolina senator announced the
death. A brief resolution of respect
was adopted, and the senate ad-.
journed.
Public Funeral Tuesday.
For several minutes the senators,
shocked at he sudden tidings, re-
NAMED in the chamber discussing
what should be done, but later ar
rangements were made for public
funeral in the senate chamber next
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock, to be
attended by the senate and house,
the president and his cabinet, JUS
tees of the supreme court, members
of the diplomatic corps, the admiral
of the navy and chief of staff OF the
army.
The scene on the floor of the SEN
ate was unusual. Not only had the
death of their colleague shocked the
senators, but the effect of his loss at
a time when important foreign rela-
lions measure were pending at once
impressed itself upon the minds OF
leaders.
In informing the senate of Senator
Bacon's death Senator Overman
said: I'm absence of the senator
from Georgia, Mr.. Smith, it becomes
nv painful duty to announce to the
senate the death of Senator Bacon at
2 o'clock this afternoon in this city.
The sudden passing away OF this
great senator, who came to this
chamber with all the hOnors his ma
tive state could bestow upon him,
and who repaid that trust by his
long, honorable and industrious ca
reer in this body, is an irreparable
loss not only to the senate, but to
the people of his state and also to the
country at large"
A resolution of respect then was
sent to the vice-president's desk, and
adjournment followed.
Senator Bacon was speaker OF the
Georgia house of representatives
fourteen years, and had served near
ly twenty years in the United States
senate.
Unusual Honors For Bacon.
On few occasions in recent years
have public funerals been held in
the senate, but Senator Bacon's dis
tinguished public career led his col
leagues unanimously to determine
that this extraordinary mark OF re-
spect should be shown him,
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