The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-28
THOMAS ]. PENCE,
WILSON MAN, DIES
Secretary Of Democratic COM
mittce Ono of Presidents
Stanch Supporters.
REFUSED A POLITICAL JOB

wAsHuNGroN. March 27.--Thomas J.
Pence. secretary OF the Democratic Ma
tionai Committee and one Of the original
Wilson men. died at his homo here to-
day of pneumonia after An illness OK
several months.
Mr.. Pence. for years a Washington
correspondent. did more to make Wood
row Wilson President Of the United
States thar the general public knew.
He probably had as extensive an ac-
quaintance with Democratic politicians
as any man In the country. After the
President was elected several important
posts were offered to Mr.. Pence. but he
refused them all. accepting only the
position OF secretary Of the Democratic
headquarters In Washington.
President Wi,so gave out tho fol-
lowing statement this afternoon:
THE death OF Tom Pence has brought
to all who n him and to all whom
he 50 Loyalty and earnestly served not
only the deepest grief but a sense OF ir-
reparuble loss. Few finer spirits have
ever connected themselves with public
service. lie had very great ability and
he devoted that ability to the promo.
ton OF the things he thought were
right with a singular devotion and self
forgetfulness. | feel that every man
who desired the public good has lost q
partner and that the Democratic party.
In losing him as secretary or It's ma
.ionai committee. has suffered n loss
which II nay not be possible to repair
at all"
Just before the train bearing the re-
mains Of Mr.. Pence to his old home in
Raleigh. y. C.. left Washington tonight
Ipraail.pt Wilson ,vant IN the meDt
where the body lay and paid his last
tribute of respect to his old friend.
The honorary pallbearers az the
funeral TO be held in Raleigh at II o'clock
tomorrow morning include Joseph H.
Tumulty, Dr. Cary T. Grayson. Senator
James. Senator Hughes. Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels. otto Carmichael.
Richard V. Oulahan and Gov. craig OF
North Carolina.
Mr.. Pence was born in North Caro-.
Ina for,y-,wo years ago. lie was grad
uatcd from Wake Forest college and
then became "A rcpsf,ar on the Raleigh
Post. Ten yeas ago he went TO Wash
.ug;on AS correspondent FOR that paper
Later he was employed by the Raleigf
Nous and Observer and afterward be-
! came connected with the Washington
bureau OF THE sun.
Long before he me, tho President MI
Pence WAS Wilson man. In the pre-
convention nghi. when funds were low
"a. gave up aIs woYh ia devote AL .; h!
time 10 furthcrii.- Mr.. Wilson'S cam
aigu lie went among senators "hon
he had known for many years ana con
verified them 10 the Wilson cause. Ever
" hen he led Ia cut down his stan an'
work practically alone he never los
fa!iN in the Wilson star.
Washington seldom u eve.' had seer
such devotion Ia a cause coupled VIII
such s.if-sacyiiice. The President ap
r-e,ia;cd Mr. Fences work IN his be
half. and since the election Mr.. PeiI,'
and the president had been "a ireduen
/ communication. Joe Tumulty. the Pres
idcui's secretary. and Mr.. Pence Ncr'
daily companions With the aid a."
I'ostmAs:ei.,ien,ri BIrlc>ou th"' ha'
directed an the political WORK OF IA
administration s...., the l-cs.dcnt too
q office.