The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-08-29
Man Who Sent Famous War
Message to Commodore
George Dewey Expires

+ BINGHAM, Mass, Aug. 2S-J onni
d. Long, former secretary of the
navy and former governor of Massa-
chusetts, died at his home here to-
night
Mr.. Longs death was generally
unexpected Hei returned from
trip to Maine two days ago, suffer
which he had been afflicted fer sew
eral years He was ordered to resi-
by his physicians but reports that his
was critical we denied.
John d. Long was secretary of the
navy during the Spanish-American
war 1t was he VINO IS on record as
having despatched the famous mes
sage Of April 25.. 1898. to CONNIE
dore George Dewey, commanding
tile Asfatic squadron. then awaiting
orders at Hong Kong. The message
read:
War has commenced between
ceed at once to. the Philippine HANDS
and capture or destroy the Spanish
ships. Use the utmost endeavor.
II was on the sixth day after the
receipt of these orders that Dewey
reported his great victory in the bat
tie Of Manila bay AS to the mes
sare which had thus sent the heet
into action, Secretary Long once
said:
my name was at the bottom
Glorious dispatch. should ratneE
like to nave sne Great orlt. put y
was not Amine ] directed Chlel
Crcwnishield Of the Bureau OF Nay y
igation. to have such q dtspase %
made ready. But Crowlnshfeldg did
not write it. Who prepared II!
some subordinate clerk in his pu-
reau who? God only knows. az
for me. should not have used the
1ycrd .commenced. should have
said: the war has begun Aside
from that, it is a mighty good eIn .ss.
sage / think we can pardon = n El:as
word. The dispatch came In TO ms ~
II took 1T to the president saylng ~ y
ought to go. He said: All T1gn gnu
MIR. Long was called to head the
navy department when Presidens
1icISinley took Office In March $50 s!9l,,
I'D also served. a year in the cabinet
Oh President Roosevelt.
Rumors OF his resignation We're
frequent during the Sampson-ScnleS
controversy. when Mr.. Long was az
-cused of unduly favoring Schley, put
Ne declared he would not resign
aCer lire SAuU =
ton until 1902, when he was mncn
AFFECTED by the death of his daugn-
ter and his own i'll health. In &C.
ceptlng his resignation, Prosld en ~
Roosevelt wrote:
sit has never been my good Tor
tune to be associated N&9 any pub
lie man more single-mipded In MS
devotion to the public interest
In addition to directing the navy
during the war with Spain, the OF
ficial acts of Secretary Long include
the placinR of thousands Of navy
employees under the civil service
rules, and the Prohibition Of the eale
OF beer on naval vessels.
John Davis Long was born In
BuckAeld, Ne, in 1888. the son OF =
Dros porous business man. but MS
own prediction was for law. and
.,o,,tIcs. He settled In Boston after
n.a rraduations from Harvard, ne
serred four terms in the state legs.
faf,,Te: was three terms speaker OF
fns House: was lieutenant-governo or;
AMI IN Il 59 DEBATED General BenJa-
min =. Butler. the emocrattc candl.
date for governor. by plurality Of
IA 900. He was twice re-etcIIe e !
with large pluralittes and sent so
Gonaress for three terms. There he
formed q warm personal regard dol
president Mckinley.
In 1884 he made strong speecn
nomsnating senatoE seTss 81 see a