Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-11-30
FATHER OF u.
S. NAVY" HAS
PASSED AWAY
WILLIAM EATON CHANDLER, SECRE-
TARY OF NAVY UNDER PRESl-
DENT ARTHUR, DIES At HOME
IN CONCORD. N. H.. TODAY.

CONCORD. \. H.. Nov 30.-William
Eaton Chandler. who a. secretary Of the
navy nnder President Arhur'~ cabinet was
largely responsible for the modern United
States navy. died at his home here today.
In lifetime of endless political activity
and almost continuous controversy, Tue one
title freely accorded by men of all parties
to William Eaton Chandler was that oi
.Fatber of the New United States Navy.
A. secretary Of the navy under President
Arthur. Mr.. Chandler. on June IL, lss',
approved the plan for the reorganization
of the navy which resulted IN the develop
ment of the present fighting tleet. In
speech in the senate on January 26. 1913,
Senator Tillman of South Carolina, re-
fering to the reading into the record 81 =
letter from Mr.. Chandler regarding the
naval bill then pending, said:
.Senator Chandler has had varied ex-
ucrience in naval affairs. lie was sccre-
tary "a the navy under President Arthur
and really began the construction of the
new navy. lie was on the naval committee
when | first came to Washington III ls'o,
and was at that time one Of the abie~i men
in the senate Although he has recently
entered his eighlieih year, his mind is sun
alert and vigorous While he j. a republi-
can and am "A democrat, We have always
been warm personal friends. Necessarily
he i better posted on naval affairs than
almost any man in Washington. not ex-
cepting even the navy department itself'
This praise from 80 prominent demo-
crat was peculiarly significant. inasmuch
a. the democrats wereS low 10 forgive Mr..
Chandler for the part he played a. 4 mem
Der of the electoral convention IN placing
Rutherford B. Hayes in the White House
Democratic revenge was wreaked when the
senate. in 1881, refused to confirm Presl-
dent Garfield's appointment of Mr.. Chan
dler "a solicitor general.
Born at Concord. n. IT,, December y.
1885. Mr. Chandler was educated al acad-
emies in New Hampshire and Vermont and
was graduated from the from the Harvard
Law School at the age of 10 One Of hl~
claS~matc- IA the law school was Joseph
II. Choate. lie entered politics at once,
served three terms ia the New Hampshire
house of representatives and was elected
speaker of the house when but twenty
seven wears old IIl~ first entrance INTO
national political afafir~ was one OF the
founders of tn" republican party and
supporter Of Abraham Lincoln. President
Lincoln appointed him solicitor and Judge
advocate general of the navy IN ls62, and
three months later he became first as
.i-tant secretary of the treasury.
While secretary Of the navy. Mr.. Chan
dler organized the expedition which, under
the command of Captain Winfield ). Schley
went 10 the relief of the Greey Arctic ex
ploration party.
Fourteen years of service in the United
States senate ended when Mr. Chandler
was defeated for denomination IN 1901 by
Henry +. Burnham. Ills radical views on
railroad legislation. which brought him IN
opposition TO republican party leaders,
were responsible for this defeat. During
the remainder Of his life Mr.. Chandler
made many attacks on what he considered
the undue influence exerted by railroads ~
New England politics. Ills last federal
position was that Of president Of the Span
sh war claims commission, Ia which he
was named by President Mckinley IN 1901
and reappointed by President Roosevelt.
Mr. Chambers legal talent was display
ed when, as chief counsil, he carried
through many stages in state and federal
courts the suits in which ii was sought 10
break the will Of Mrs. Mary Baker q. Eddy
founder of the Christian Science church.