Evening star., 1916-01-07

CHARLES w. KNAPP.
NEW YORK, January 7.-Charles
Welborne Knapp, formerly editor and
publisher of the ST. Louis Republic,
who became treasurer of the New York
Times Company last Monday. died of
apoplexy yesterday afternoon while
seated at his desk in the Times office.
Less than ten minutes before he had
been in conversation with associates
and apparently was in the best of
health.
He was found dead by his assistant.
who had left the Office only few mo-
ments before. A stenographer was
about to enter his Office to have him
sign letters he had dictated acknowl-
edging messages of congratulations
from friends who wished him success
in his new duties.
Died at His Desk.
Mr.. Knapp, who was sixty-eight
years of age, had been connected for
orty-eight years with~the st. Louis
Republic. which was owned by his
father and his uncle before he sue
ceeded them in control of the property.
Announcement of his retirement from
that paper was made December "a last.
Mr.. Knapp had attended an editorial
council of the Times at $3.50 O'Clock in
the afternoon and went from there I'M
mediately to his office. He evidently
died instantly. The door was open be-
tween his Office and another Office
which was occupied, but no sound from
him was heard. He was found lying
back in his chair, pen in hand: Mr..
Walter Anderton, cousin of Mr..
md he
taken to DIR. Anderton's home. After
the news had been broken to Mrs
Knapp, who was i'll with grip. she was
taken to the Anderton residence MI
Knapp leaves one daughter, the wife
Of DR.. Guthrie Mcconnell of Waterloo,
Iowa, and three sisters, Mrs. Alice Amy
of Washington. d. c.; Mrs. John Dor
rance of Houston. Tex, and Mrs.
George l.. Bloomfield of New Orleans.
Among Founders of A. P.
Mr.. Knapp was member of the
board of directors and of the executive
committee of the Associated Press. of
which he was one of the founders and
incorporators. He was member of
the Western Associated Press, which
was succeeded in 1892 by the Asso-
ciated Press of Illinois. He was a di-
rector and in 1900 president of the lat
ter organization. which later became
the present Associated Press, of which
he was one Of the most active and ef-
ficient officials. He also was one of the
founders and incorporators of the
American Newspaper Publishers Asso-
Citation and was for a time its presi-
dent.
Mr.. Knapp's body will be taken to ST.
Louis for burial, but the funeral ar
Highly Esteemed in St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, January Charles Wei
borne Knapp was the last newspaper
man in the famous Knapp family that
progress of American journalism since
1897. He was born in st. Louis Janu
ary %. 1S4S, the son of Jonn and Nir-
ginia CWright) Knapp. When yet a boy
his father began breaking him in"
and he spent the whole of his life
thereafter in active newspaper wor&.
He was graduated from st. Louis
University when eighteen years Old,
and two years later received the A. NJ.
degree at the same institution and an
LII B. from the University of Ken
tucky. In the same year he entered
the service of the Republic as a re-
porter, and. a few years later became
editor of the Weekly Republican. In
1887 he assumed the presidency of the
Knapp & Co. whose publica
tion the next year became known as
the Republic.
The spirit of his work an editor
was summed up in his words to new
iy engaged editorial writer: Il want
no man to express any views in his
writing here with which he is not HIM
self in cordial sympathy"
Was Gridiron Club Member.
Mr.. Knapp entered the service of the
Republic then the Missouri Republican,
in 1867 He served as jefferson City
Washington correspond
ent later as president and editor-in-
chief and in recent years as president
He became president of the publishing
in 1887, and his resigna ton to
accept the treasurership of the New
York Times was announced in the Re-
public in the. morning edition of De-
.ember "a, 1915. He continued a mem
Der of the Republic directorate.
Mr. Knapp was one of the executive
committee of nine that had actual di-
sition of 1904. He was prominent in
the club life of St. Louis. and a fare
well dinner in his honor, which was
given at the St. Louis Club on the night
Of December 80, was attended by a
large number of business and pro-
fessional men of the city.
He was a member of the Gridron
Club of Washington, d. c.