Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-01


the beginning of the modern United
states Navy. died at his home here to-
day.
In lifetime of endless political ac-
tivity and almost continuous con-
,rovcrsy, the ono title freely accorded
by men OF all parties to William Eaton
Chandler was that of Father Of the
now United States Navy" AS Secrc.
;ary of the Navy under President
Arthur Mr.. Chandler, on June IL. 1883.
approved the plan for the rcorganiza-
ton Of the navy which resulted in the
development OF the present fighting
fleet. In speech in tho Senate on
January &c, 1915. Senator Tillman. Of
South Carolina. referring to tho read
ing into the Record of letter from
Mr.. Chandler regarding the naval bill
then pending. said:
Senator Chandler has had varied
experience in naval affairs. He was
Secretary of the Navy under President
Arthur, and really began tho construc-
ton 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 Sen
ate. Although he has recently entered
his eiShticth year. his mind is still
alert and vigorous. While he is a Re-
publican and am a Democrat. We have
always been warm personal friends
Necessarily, he is better posted on
naval affairs than almost any man in
Washington, not excepting even the
Navy Department itself"
This praise from 20 prominent Il
Democrat was peculiarly significant.
inasmuch as the Democrats were very
slow to forgive MIR. Chandler for the
part he played as member of the cleo
t"ral convention in placing Rutherford
d. Hayes in the White House Demo-
cratic revenge was wreaked when the
Senate. in 1881. refused to confirm
President Garfield's appointment of Mr.
Chandler as Solicitor General.
ENTERED Politics AT ONCE
AFTER LEAVING COLLEGE
Born at Concord. y. H.. December IS.
1885, Mr. Chandler was educated at
academies in New hampshire and Yer
mont and was graduated from the IIar-
ward Law School at the age of nineteen.
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 Of Repre-
Sentativcs. and was elected Speaker Of
the House when but twcnty-scvcn
years old. His first entrance into ma
tional political affairs was as one of
the founders of the Republican party
and supporter Of Abraham Lincoln.
President Lincoln appointed him
solicitor and Judge advocate general
OF the navy in 1865. and three months
later he became First Assistant Secrc-
tary Of the Treasury.
While Secretary of the Navy. Mr.
Chandler organized the expedition
which. under the command OF Captain
Winfield 5. Schley. went 10 the relief
OF the Greedy Arctic exploration party.
Fourteen years of service in the
United States Senate ended when Mr..
Chandler was defeated for renomina-
ton in 1901 by Henry l.. Burnhan
His radical views on railroad lcgisla-
ton. which brought him in opposition
to Republican party leaders, were re-
sponsiblc for this defeat. During the
remainder Of his life MIR Chandler
made many attacks on what he con-
s!dered the undue influence exerted by
railroads i'll New England politics.
His last Federal position was that Of
president Of the Spanish War Claims
Commission. to which he was named by
President Mckinley in 1901. and re-
appointed by President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Chandeliers legal talent was dis
played when. as chief counsel, he car
ried through many stages in State and
Federal courts the suits in which it
was sought to break the will OF Mrs.
Mary Baker q. Eddy, founder Of the
Christian Science Church.