South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-04
FAMOUS BRITISH
STATESMAN, Ill
FOR YEARS, DIES
Right Honorable Joseph Cham
berIain, 70, Conspicuous in
Public Life for Nearly Half
Century, SuCCumbS.

LONDON, July 3.-Joseph Cham
berlain. the famous British states
man, died at his London residence at
1915 o'clock last night after ar ill
ness Of several years. He was IS
years old. and for nearly half cen
fury he was a conspicuous figure in
British public life. Although there
Mr.. Chamberlain's death was not
made public until today. On official
bulletin was issued in the forenoon
which said:
The right Hon. Joseph Chamber
lain died peacefully at his London
residence at 1915 last night"
Mr.. Chamberlain suffered a stroke
OF paralysis several years ago and since
then divided his time between his
London and Birmingham residences
and the Rivera Last Tuesday he
was stricken with heart failure and
never recovered from the attack.
Physicians we're in constant attend
ance up TO the hour OF his death.
All the members OF the Chamber
lain family were at the bedside. News
of MIR. Chamberlain's death was tele-
graphed to his lifelong friends in
his political constituency in Birming-
ham.
Causes Widespread Grief.
Although Mr.. Chamberlain death
has been expected for a long time,
the news caused widespread grief in
the city where he had lived so long.
Mr.. Chamberlain had represented
the parliamentary district of West
Birmingham in the house of COM
mons since 1885. and it was only re-
Gently that he announced his retire
ment from public life. Although the
aged statesman had been unable to
attend TO his parliamentary duties
fer some time he had become so
endeared 10 his constituency through
long and intimate association that
they were willing to return him TO
the commons until death overlook
him.
ON Nov. 16, 1883, Mr.. Chamber
lain was married in Washington, d.
g, to Miss Mary EndicOtt, daughter
of Judge W. G. Endicott, Of the SUI
preme court Of Massachusetts. She
was his third wife. the former two
being English women.
Got Support Of Two Parties.
Mr.. Chamberlain was supported by
both the liberal and uniOnist parties.
He was a member of the liberal cab
met headed by Gladstone, but his
independence led him at times TO
advOcats measures of the unionists.
Chamberlain first became a great fig
ure in international politics in 1884
at a time When pressure was being
brought TO bear upon the liberal gov
eminent TO establish protectorate
over Egypt, a proposition which the
Birmingham statesman opposed Wig
OrOusly.
Mr.. Chamberlain was a very relig-
ious man and with the exception Of
Gladstone was the only cabinet min
lister England ever had who taught
Sunday school class. Mr.. Cham
berlain was a non-confOrmist and
taught a class in the Birmingham
Methodist church.
Mr.. Chamberlain was three times
mayor of Birmingham, from 1880 to
1885 he was president OF the local
government board; from 1895 to 1903
he was colonial minister. He was a
man Of great learning. and served
for a time as lord rector of the elias
gov university. He was the holder
OF many degrees and was a fellow
of the royal society.
Praise Mrs. Chamberlain.
In the extensive obituaries pub
lished in the evening papers the most
felicitouS references are made to Mrs.
Chamberlain, to whose unceasing
care and devotion is attributed to
the fact that the statesman sur
vived so long after his general health
became impaired.
Tariff reform was a hobby with
Mr.. Chamberlain and he was the
sponsor for the tariff policy OF the
uniOniSts. Political enemies charged
into war with the Beers.