The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-15
End Comes Unexpect-
edly in Hospital at
Washington.
COLLEAGUES PLAN
UNUSUAL TRIBUTE
Will Hold Public Funeral in
Senate Chamber on Tuesday
With Family Consent-Dead
Statesman Of Great Help
to President in Mexi-
can Situation.

washington, February 14.-Augustus
Octavius Bacon. United States Senator
from Georgia. for nearly nineteen years
and chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee since the a-scendancy Of tho
Democratic party on March A. 1913,
to-day died In a hospital here after an
illness OF ten days. He was the first
United States Senator elected by direct
vote of the people under tho seven
teenth constitutional amendment.
Though Senator Bacon had been
seriously i'll with kidney trouble and
complications developing from a broken
rib. his death was unexpected. II
came suddenly at . o'clock in tho at
ternoon, and news OF the end fell upon
the Senate as a shock while Il was in
executive session.
The immediate cause of the Senator'S
death was diagnosed as a blood clot
in the heart. Throughout the morning
nc had been In good spirits. and 1t
was announced to his colleagues that
he was feeling better than for sew
eral days. Physicians had determined
that an operation, which had been con-
temDlated. was unnecessary. Despite
his seventy-five years. it appeared that
the atfiiction which he suffered was OF
recent origin. and specialists believed
II would yield to treatment. This con-
clusion relieved considerably the
!
Congress.
Half an hour before his death, the
Senator talked with his daughter Mrs.
W. b. Sparks, OF Georgia. She had
just left the room when he raised him
self In bed AS Mrs. Sparks re-entered
the room. her father fell back in col
lapse and never regained consciousness.
overmau Announces Death.
In the absence OF Senator Hoke
St,,it I,
was notified and proceedings in the
Senate We're abruptly halted when the
North Carolina Senator announced the
death. a. brief resolution of respect
was adopted and the Senate adjourned.
For several minutes. the Senator's,
shocked at the sudden tidings remain
cd in the chamber discussing what
should be done, but later arrangements
were made for public funeral in the
Senate chamber next Tuesday after
noon at o'clock. to be attended by the
Senate and the House of Representa-
tives. the President Of the United States
and his Cabinet justices of the Su-
prefne Court, members of the diplomatic
corps. the admiral OF the navy, and
chief OF stan OF the army
The scene on the floor Of the Senate
was an unusual one Not only had the
death of their colleague shocked the
Senator'S, but the effect OF his loss ut
al tilnS when r0la-
tons measures were pending at once
Impressed itself upon the minds of
Democratic and Republican leaders
Informing the Senate OF Senator Ba-
cons death, Senator Overman said:
In the absence of the Senator from
Georgia, Mr.. Smith. it becomes my pain
tul duty to announce to the Senate the
leath OF Senator BACON. The sudden
passing away of this great Senator.
who came to this chamber with all the
honors which his native State could
confer upon him, and who repaid that
trust by his long. honorable and in
dustrious career in this body. is an
ate. but to the people OF his State and
also to the country mt large"
Senate AdJourns.
4 resolution of respect was then sent
to the ce-Presldent's desk and ad-
journInent followed.
\ Senate committee was informally
appointed To consult with the dead
Senator's daughter as to her wishes, 1t
being the hope. of his colleagues that
Il state funeral could be held in keep
ing with the high position Senator
Bacon held In the service of the nation.
Vice-President Marshall Senators
Kern. Overman, Swanson and Salisbury
hurried to the hospital and after con-
ferring announced that the funeral
would be held on Tuesday In the Senate
chamber. Tho Senate will appoint q
committee on arrangements on Monday
when cards OF invitation will be sent
to the President. members of the Cabl-
net and diplomatic corps.
The services viii be conducted by tho
Rev. Forrest G. Prettyman. chaplain or
the Senate, assisted by an Episcopal
rector to be selected by the family
Announcement of Senator Bacon's death
was made in the House later in the
afternoon. and resolutions of respect
presented by Representative Bartlett,
of Georgia. were adopted. Speaker
Clark appointed as special committee
of the House to cooperate with Il
Senate committee for the funeral, the
members of the Georgia delegation and
Representatives Ferris, Wills. Mann,
Payne, Gardner. Anthony, Dyer and
Prouty. The House then adjourned
Unusual Tribute.
a public funeral in the Senate Is an
unusual tribute. In recent years only
n few such occasions have marked the
demise OF distinguished lawmakers
Among these were the funerals Of
Senator's Isham q. Harris and William
B. Bate both of Tennessee
Senator Bacon's demise comos at. n
time when general arbitration treaties
with foreign nations are to be taken
up for disposition. the treaties with
Great Britain and Japan being Of
principal concern to tho administers.
tion. Only n few weeks ago Senator
Bacon and his colleagues on the COM
mittee conferred with the President,
and 1t was agreed that these treaties
should be pressed in tho Senate for
confirmation. Just before he was
taken sick. Senator Bacon reported
eight Of these treaties to the Senate.
with the recommends lion that they be-
ratified. and the committee later 6esig-
~ ~ IL,
upon which discussion should begin in
49, ~ :. 49,.