Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-11-30
FORMER NAVY
SECRETARY DEAD
William Eaton Chandler Was
Largely Responsible For
Our Modern Navy

Eaton Chandler, who was secretary
o. the navy u2de' PRESIDENT Arthur,
and largely responsible for our pres.
ent modern navy, died here today.
In lifetime of endless political ac.
tiyity and almost continuous contro.
yersy, the one title freely accorded
by men of all parties TO William Eaton
Chandler was that OF Father of the
United States Navy" As secretary of
the navy under President Arthur. Mr..
Chandler. on June IL, 1888. approved
the plan for the reorganization OF the
navy which resulted in the develop
mcnt of the present fighting fleet. In
speech in the senate on Jan. &c.
1915. Senator Tillman of South Caro-
lima. referring 10 the reading into the
record of letter from Mr.. Chandler
regarding the naval bill then pending.
said:
Senator Chandler has had a varied
experience in naval affairs. He was
secretary OF the navy under President
Arthur. and really began the construc-
tion of the new navy. He was on the
naval committee when | first came TO
Washington in 1896. and was at that
time one of the ablest men in the
senate. Although he has recently en-.
tered his eiehtieth year. his mind is
still alert and vigorous. While he is a
Republican and | am a Democrat, we
have always been warm personal
friends. Necessarily he is better post
ed on naval affairs than almost any
man in Washington, not excepting
even the navy department itself"
This praise from so prominent a
Democrat was peculiarly significant.
! inasmuch as the Democrats were very
slow to forgive Mr.. Chandler for the
part he played as a member of the
electoral convention in placing Ruth
erford 'B. Hayes in the White House
| Democratic revenge Vas wreakcd
when the senate. in 1881, refused to
confirm President Garficlds' appoint.
mcnt of Mr. Chandler as solicitor gen.
cral.
Born at Concord, y. H.. Dec. 2S,
1885. Mr.. Chandler was educated at
academies in New Hampshire and Yer
mont and was graduated from the
Harvard Law School at the age OF
49, one OF his classmates at the Law
school was Joseph II. ChOate. He
entered politics at once, served three
terms in the New Hampshire House oi
Representatives and was elected
years old. Ills first entrance into ma
tional political affairs was as one o.
the founders OF the Republican part!
and a supporter of Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln appointed him so
licitor and judge advocate general o
the navy in 1863. and three month
later he became first assistant secrc
tary OF the treasury.
While the secretary of the navy
Mr.. Chandler organized the expeditio
which, under the command of Captai
| Winfield s. SChley, went to the r
lief of tho Greedy Arctic cXploratio
party.
Fourteen years of service in III
United States Senate ended when NJ
. | Chandler was defeated for rCnOminj
ton i'm 1901 by Henry +. Durnhan
His radical views on railroad legisl;
ton. which brought him in oppositio
| to Republican party leaders, were r.
| sponsiblc for this defeat. During th
remainder Of his life, Mr.. Chandlc
made many attacks on what he col
sidercd the undue influence cXcrte
by railroads in New England politlc
-, His last federal position was that {
president Of the Spanish war claim
commission. to which he was name
by President Mckinley in 1901 an
rcappointcd by President Roosevelt
- Mr. Chambers legal talent was di
played when. as chief counsel, the ca
riCd through many stages in state an
federal courts the suits In which
was sought to break the will OF Mr.
Mary Baker c. Eddy, founder Of Il
~, Christian Science church.