Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-28
DER.SHING,S TROOPS BLOCK VILLAS PATH
OF DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL COMMITTEE DIES
Thomas ]. Pence SuCCumbS to
Pneumonia Early Monday
at Washington, D, c,
(By Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, March '2I.-InomaS
]. Pence, secretary of the Democratic
national committee, who had been i'll
for several months as a result of pneu-
monia, died at his home here early to-
day. He was formerly Washington cor
respondent of the Raleigh News and
Observer.
MIR. Pence probably had as extensive
ACQUAINTANCE among Democratic poll
ticians throughout the country as any
man who ever occupied an othcial posi-
ton with the national committee. he
was one of the original Wilson men
and after the last election was offered
several important government posts. lie
declined them all, however, and became
assistant to the chairman of the ma
tional committee in charge of perma-
nent headquarters here. At the meet
ing of the national committee here last
December Mr.. Pence was chosen its
secretary.
Mr.. Pence was a friend of President
Wilson and was the daily companion
Of his secretary, J. p. Tumulty. and
of several prominent administration
senators. For many years he was
Washington correspondent of the Raj
eigh IN. c. News and Observer, which
PRESIDENT SHOCKED.
Because of Mr.. Pence's protracted i'll
ness. w. r. Hollister, secretary of Sen
ator Stone, recently was appointed as
assistant secretary of the national COM
mittee and was designated by Mr.. Pence
as acting secretary.
President Wilson was deeply shocked
when he was told of Mr.. Fences death
and expressed deep regret. With Post
master General Burleson and secretary
Tumulty, Mr. Pence has directed all OF
the detailed political work of the ad-
ministration since the president TOOK
office.
Mr.. Pence was forty-three years old
and a native of Raleigh. n. c. He was
a graduate of Wake Forest college and
was unmarried. During the 1908 presl-
Dental campaign Mr.. Pence was IN
charge of the publicity bureau of the
Democratic national committee and In
the 1912 campaign he had charge of
Woodrow Wilson's publicity work. Be-
fore being made secretary OF the DEM
ocratic national committee. Mr.. Pence
was assistant to the chairman of the
committee and later took charge of
mittee here,
PRAISED BY WILSON.
President Wilson gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
The death of Tom Pence has brought
to all who knew him, and TO all whom
he so Loyalty and earnestly served, not
only the deepest grief but sense of
irreparable loss. Few finer spirits nave
ever connected themselves with pubic
service. He 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-forget-
fulness. / feel that every man who de-
sired the public good has lost partner
and that the Democratic party In losing
him as secretary of its national commit
tee has suffered a loss which it may not
be possible to repair at all.
The president will accompany the
body TO the train when the funeral party
leaves for Raleigh.
Funeral services will be held in Ra-
leigh at IL O'Clock tomorrow. The BODY
will be taken to Raleigh tonight. Sec
retary Tumulty and other officials VIII
attend the funeral.