The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-04-13
HONEST FL p CTIONS
DYING THOUGHT or
EDITOR w. r. NELSON
OF Kansas City Star as Fun
damental for Democratic
Government.
[Hr ASSOCIATES pnEEa,

VII
tAr ASSOCIATES rnEss,
KANSAS CITY. April ] 8. Funer-
al arrangements for William H. Mel
son. editor OF the Star who died this
morning. were being completed by
the family today Mr. Nelson had
been unconscious since Thursday
last. Death was due to uraemic pois.
.oning.
Mr.. Nelson's last conference with
his associates took place in his bed
room the day before he became un-
conscious. 1t pertainrd to the neces-
sity Of keeping up the fight for hon
est elections. That is fundamental
for democratic government" he said.
II may not be here to see the fight
won But the Star will light on with
all its resources until the present
rotten system Is broken down. - l
William Rockhill Nelson was;
founder. owner and editor of the
Kansas City Star. Although he did
not enter the newspaper business I'M
til he was nearly 40 years old. he
brought to it such originality, ability
and energy that he built UP one OF
the greatest newspapers of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Nelson was born in Fort
Wayne. Ind, March Z, 1871. He
came OF two centuries OF American
ancestors. His maternal grandfather,
William Rockhill, settled In Indiana
when that state was wilde rness in
1919. and was the first farmer in
America to plant thousand acres
of corn. His father, Isaac DeGroff
Nelson, was identified with the up-
building of the state and took an ac-
tive part in its political life
William Rockhill Nelson was edu-
Gated at Notre Dame University. AZ
ter a short experience as a youngster
in cotton growing in Georgia just at
ter the war, he returned to Indiana
and became a general contractor He
engaged in the building of roads,
pavements and bridges. and was as
ISOLATED In contract for the CON
struction OF the southern Illinois
state penitentiary-
Intense admiration for the reform
work OF Samuel J. Tilden brought
him into contact with that great
Democrat and when only 3 4 years
old, he became Tilden's Indiana cam
ical- leadership made him turn to
work as the best way to
influence men in the mass. He
bought an lnterest5in the Fort Wayne
Sentinel and a business reverse de-
termined him to devote all his time
to journalism.
He soon became convinced that the
opportunities in Fort Wayne were too
small, and after looking the field
over. he decided on Kansas City as
the most promising city of the conn-
try He persuaded his Fort Wayne
partner. Samuel e. Morss. to make
the venture with him. They sold
their Fort Wayne interests, went to
Kansas City. and started the Evening
Star as little. four page afternoon
on September Is. 1880.
Mr. Morss withdrew from the enter.
prise after few months on account
of i'll health. and Mr. Nelson contin-
ued as sole owner an editor-in-chief.
Essentially a builder. he took an:
in the Development OF the
city. Almost from the first issue the
Star urged the necessity of paving
The streets OF getting a park system.
OF building attractive houses, of
shrubbery and trees. Mr..
Nelson himself had the trees set
along the first Kansas City boulevard
He was constantly iastigating move
ments for city betterment.
One of his achievements was the
residence district which he laid out
near his home as an example Of what
could be done todward city beautifi-
cation. He built nearly hundred
houses along roads which he
lined WithEston-SWa1ls covered with
honeysuckles and crimson ramblers.
He was intensely interested In fine
pictures and he made a collection or
Of European master
pieces done by the best artists who
could be found. which he gave to
Kansas City
In politics he was, as he often said.
but never neutral
BUT he would never consider any
elective orappointive position Early
In President Taft's administrationtth the
suggestion, was made In newspaper
reports that he might be appointed
ambassad or to France. He comment
ed editorially as follows: The edi-
tor of@the Star is amply occupied,
and satisfied with his pres
ent Job. Hesregards himself as hold
ing a place Of greater responsibility
and usefulness than any within the
gift OF the president or the elector-
ate Not only has he never been a
candidate active or receptive. for any
Office. but he never has ask ed for the
appointmentsof any one else
In i s81 Mr.. Nelson married Miss
Ida Houston. Their one child. q
aughter. Mrs. Irwin r. Kirkwood,
lives In Kansas City.
I. = i. q i. .. i.
Il. 4.
: BIG 8 WAR VAR ORDER. ].
$500 ----- 1870 $500 81 4.
]. NEW ORLEANS. April La.
= Carranza agents have pIac- 8