New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-10
Richard Olney
Dies; Pleased by
War Declaration
Former Secretary of State,
81, Interested Until End
in Nations Crisis

Boston. April 9.-Richard Onley,
Secretary OF State under Cleveland and
always a noted student Of international
affairs, died at his home IN the Fen
way, in the Bay Bay district. AZ S:45
o'clock last night. Word Of his death
was not given to the public until to-
day.
The end came after a long period OF
intense suffering from intestinal
trouble, which had failed. however, to
shake the courage or good humor that
had marked his So years or to divert
his mind from the intense interest
which he had maintained in our quar-
rel with Germany, Three days ago he
lapsed into semi-consciousnes with
smile on his face. lie had just been
advised of the Presidents message 70
Congress asking that state Of war
be recognized and his Joy was un-
bounded. II was the cOnsummatIon oi
his most earnest hope.
Richard Olneys career in national
politics dated from his appointment as
M Cleveland's Attorney General in
1893. Before that. though enjoying a
practice said to have been the most
lucrative In New England, hts reputa-
ZION a lawyer and a Democrat had
scarcely spread beyond the borders OF
his native State of Massachusetts,. In
his two years in the Department OF
Justice however. he succeeded IN I'M
pressing his personality most forclbly
n
leagues in the Cabinet.
Mr.. Olney's chief claim for recogni-
ton as Attorney General lay in his
prompt and effective use Of the Federal
power TO crush out the lawlessness
which accompanied the Debs railway
strike OF 1894. To Mr.. Olney Is given
the credit of every step in the govern
ment's programme. Mr.. Cleveland ac-
cepted his policy without hesitation.
Early in his administration he crltl-
cised the Federal antitrust law and
practically gave notice that he did not
expect to be able to enforce IT. The
last three months of his service as At
tCrney General we're spent in defend
ing the Cleveland Wilson income tax
before the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Olney had a voice in settling
many of the questions that veXed the
Treasury and the State departments.
Therefore on the death of Secretary
Gresham MIR. Olney was his logical
successor in the State Department.
During his incumbency of twenty-one
months he negotiated six treaties.
With Mr.. Cleveland he did not always
fully harmonic. but. with two excep-
tons the two men escaped irreconcil-
able clashes. When Ambas sador Bay
ard was criticised for his statements to
Lord Salisbury concerning the attitude
OF the President on the Venezuelan
affair Secretary Olney sought to have
him recalled. Failing this. the Secre-
tary did succeed however IN reducing
the ambassador 10 a mere iigurehead.
Before entering national politics Mr.
Olney had served one term IN the
Massachusetts Legislature and was an
unsuccessful candidate for the Attor-
rey Generalship of that state. A seat
on the Supreme Court bench Of his
state was offered him, but he declined
it, He also was prominently mentioned
a. "A candidate for the Chief Justice
ship Of the United States Supreme
Court. to succeed Justice Morrison L
Waite. In politics he was an oldtlme
Democrat.
Mr. Clney was born in Oxford. Mass,
IN 1880 He was graduated from
Brown University in 1856 and from
the Harvard Law School in 1858. He
married Agnes. daughter OF Benjamin
I. Thomas. with whom he studied law
Mr.. 0lney was a man of literary at
tainments and tastes. Although
close student. he was a lover OF out
door sports. d good horseman. an en-
,husiastic tennis player and skilful
angler. lie was man OF medium
height and robust form. and in gen
cIsl appearance conveyed the impress
sion of intense vitality and physical
endurance. His face was keen. strong
and intellectual. Though his manner
was somewhat reserved and austere, he
unbcnt readily to the approaches of in
innate friends.
He was regent of the Smithsonian
Institution ard a member OF the Ameri
can Philosophical Society and other
organizations.