New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-03
EX-REPRESENTATIVE
LITTLEFIELD DEAD
Former Maine Legislator,
Once Carpenter, Dies
Here After Operation.
AS COUNSEL, AIDED
CHARLES w. MORSE
Led Fight to Abolish Army Can.
teen, and Fought for Webb
Liquor Law.

Charles Edgar Littlefeld, Of Maine, a
man who through MS own efforts rose
from carpenters job TO be a powerful
figure in Congress, died yesterday
morning after an operation in the Post
Graduate Hospital. At the Littlefeld
home, $50 West Ninety-frst Street, il
was announced last night that the body
will be taken to Rockland. Ne, where
the funeral will be held. Burial will be
in Acorn Cemetery there.
Mr.. Littlefeld leaves a wife, daugh-
ter, Caroline, and his son, Charles W.
Littlefeld. with whom he formed law
partnership after his resignation from
Congress in March, 1908. lie was born
June q. 1851, at Lebanon, Me. He re-
ceived his elementary education in the
common schools. with two years at Fox
croft Academy, where ne was graduated
when seventeen. For six years there
after he worked al the carpenter ;
b nch. In 1874 he forsook this trade
and read law in the Offices OF Rice 4
Hall, at Rockland.
He was then twenty-three, and two
wears later was admitted 70 the bar.
Soon afterward he distinguished him
self ir the trial of libel suit, and his
reputation as an advocate became firm-
" established. He interested himself
in politics and was often heard from
the stump in advocacy Of Republican
candidates. In 1885 he was elected to
the Legislature, serving a second term
as Speaker of the House. In 1899 he
was elected Attorney General.
Won Way to Congress.
Mr.. Littlefeld was a delegate TO the
Republican national conventions OF 1872
, and 1896, when, as chairman OF the
Maine delegation, he was one OF the
stanchest supporters for the nomina-
ton of Thomas 3. Reed. In 1899 he
was elected 70 the Fifty-sixth Congress
to fill the unexpired term of Nelson
Dingley. who had died suddenly. He
was not the machine choice for this
office, but made an energetic canvass
and won the nomination on his merits.
Instantly he sprang into prominence
by his constitutional arguments IN be-
half of Brigham H. Roberts, the Nor
mon member from Utah. whose right
to hold office was questioned.
In Congress he was prominent in the
fight for the passage Of the Webb
liquor law. and was sponsor for the bill
TO abolish the army canteen.
He served in the Fifty-seventh. Fifty
eighth, Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth Con-
crosses In March. 1908, Mr.. Little
field astonished his friends by sending
his resignation as member OF the
House to Governor Cobb. He gave
as reason for this move his desire 10
resume the practice OF law.
In the Congressional election of 1906
Mr.. Littlefeld was bitterly opposed by
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, because
he voted against labor measures IN the
House. To counteract Gompers's infid-
ence, William Howard Taft. then Sec
rotary Of War; Senator Lodge. Sena.
tor Beveridge and Speaker Cannon
vent on the stump in Littleheld's dis
trict.
Aided Charles W. Nc Je.
Soon after the establishment OF lie
law partnership with his son at 81
Broadway Mr.. Littleheld was engaged
as counsel for Charles ". Morse. ac-
cused Of misappropriation Of the funds
of the National Bank of North Amer
lea. Morse was an early acquaintance
of Mr.. Littlefeld's in Maine.
For the last ten years Mr.. Little
field had served on the board of di-
rectors of the Equitable Life Assur-
ance Society.
The family will leave tonight for
Rockland, where the former Represent
alive maintained home for many
years.