Arizona republican., 1914-12-25
M0URNS
 M. [. CUNN|FF
News of Death Comes as Shock to Many Officials Offices Close and Gov ernor Orders Flag at Half mast for Thirty Days

As mark Of respect to the memory of Hon. M. G. Gunniff who died Wednesday at Grown King, Gov Hunt yesterday ordered the flag on the state house kept at half mast for a period of thirty days All the state offices closed at noon yesterday on account of the funeral, which was held in the afternoon.
 The news of Mr Cunniff's death came as a shock to many in official circles who claimed him as a warm personal friend, and coming just be- fore Christmas cast a gloom over the state house. The governors letter officially notifying the various state departments of the death of the former president of the senate, and paying tribute to his memory, fol- lows:
 December 24 1914. To State Departments,
 State House.
 Phoenix. Arizona,
 Gentlemen:
 It becomes my sorrOwful duty to officially communicate to you the fact that the death of Hon. NJ. C. Cunniff, former member of the Constitutional Convention and President of the First State Senate, occurred at the family residence at Crown King, Arizona. yesterday.
 As you well know, MT. Cunniff was one of the men foremost in bringing about Arizona's successful transition from a Territory to a State, and by virtue of his sterling character, com manding personality and indefatiga l ble labors for the public welfare, had made a host of friends and admirers. who will deeply mourn his untimely | demise. and will feel most genuine sorrow on learning that a citizen so 1 loved. so respected and so public 1 spirited has been prematurely cut off i in the prime of life and in the noon l day of accomplishment.
 l It is in every way fitting that I, 1 as the former president of the Con stitutional Convention in which MT Cunnff rendered such whole hearted service. as Executive of the State
 and as former associate of the de- ceased, should pay such tribute, as l
 may to the memory of the revered 1 friend and statesman who has so 1 suddenly been taken from us, and l should express with the utmost sin cerity but in words which toofaultily serve the occasion, the burden of per sonal and poignant sorrow that the
 reaper has in this instance. laid upon
 me.
 | Without committing the Sacrilege
 of questioning Creations purpose, I
 may record my feeling of dismay in | witnessing such an illustration of 1 the mutablity of worldly conditions
 and transitory character of human
 achievements as is brought home to Jus by MT. Cunniffs death Only our faith in the divine purpose and our belief in the ultimate unveilment of the mystery surrounding human eX- istence can suffice, in this hour. to support our hope and confident con viction that the life so abruptly in terrupted. and the voice of a friend which is stilled., will find q fuller eX- precision in a greater field of service beyond tfe grave.
 As an all too inadequate. but never theless appropriate way of signifyins
 our sorrow a MT Cunniffs death, have ordered the flag on the State house to be kept at half mast foI
 thirty days. and as a further means
 of manifesting our hespect for the
 memory of the deceased, l earnestly
 recommend that all State offices he
 closed this afternoon. when the funera
 servicess will be held over the remains
 of our departed friend and coworker
 Most sincerely yours
 | GEO W. P. HUNT.
 Governor of Arizona.