The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-09
OLNEY IS DEAD

CONTINUED From Page One.)
Minot, Of this city, were with him at
the end. The other daughter, Mrs. G.
II. Abbott, is residing temporarily in
Paris. .-. IT. -a.s
Recently, although unable to leave
his bed, Mr.. Olney had displayed deep
interest in the international situation.
1t was said he warmly commenced the
proclamation OF war by the United
States. .-#
Richard. Olney served successfully
as attorney general and secretary or
state during the administration OF
President Cleveland, and although at
the head Of the state department for
the short period Of one year and nine
months only, he won reputation as a
statesman OF commanding ability ana
force. His greatest triumph was his
successful insistence upon arbitration
Of the boundary dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
Imperturbably disregarding the
warnings that a rigid maintenance OF
the Monroe doctrine might plunge the
United States into war with Great
Britain, President Cleveland and Sec
rotary Olney carried out their own
ideas Of diplomacy. In his famous
message sent through Ambassador
Bayard to Lord Salisbury: British sec
rotary of state for foreign affairs, Mr..
Olney, permising the inalienable right
of the United States to intervene In
questions affecting the territorial in
tegrity Of South American countries,
said in part:
Great Britain both admits that
there is q controversy and that arbi-
tration should be resorted to for It's
adjustment. But while up to that point
her attitude leaves nothing to be de-
sired, its practical effect is completely
nullified by her insistence that the
submission shall cover but a part OF
the controversy; that as q condition OF
arbitrating her right to a part Of the
disputed territory, the remainder shall
be turned over to her. Upon what prin-
ciple-except her feebleness as q ma
tion-is Venezuela to be denied the
right Of having the claim heard and
passed upon by an impartial tribunal?
TT is so. because I will 1t to be so,'
seems to be the only justification
Great Britain offers"
Although Lord Salisbury at first re-
fused to submit to the American de-
mand, upon further representations he
receded from his attitude and agreed
to the arbitration Of the entire dis
Mr.. clney's firmness previously had
lie through his action in the great
Chicago railroad strike and subse-
uuent riots, when as attorney general
he upheld the right AND duty OF the
government to employ troops to crush
the disorder.
In REPUTATION Of charges that this
indicated his hostility to labor
unions, Mr.. Olney, in special brief
filed in a federal court in Pennsylvania
- kvso4SavNAVfo
strike on the Reading railroad, only
ave months after the end of the Chicago
strike, upheld the right OF labor to or
ganize and urged that all labor trou-
bles should be arbitrated.
Mr.. Olney was born in Oxford, Mass.
in 1885. His father was textile manu-
facturer and banker. In the years fol-
lowing his graduation from the Har-
ward Law school in 1858, Mr.. Olney
won high distinction In his profession
and became an authority on mntters
of probate, trust and corporation law.
His sole appearance in public office
before going to Washington was
In 1875, when he served one term in
the Massachusetts, house of represent
tatives.
When, in 1904, he permitted the
Of his name at the Demo-
cratic national convention as q candi-
date for the presidential nomination.
he received SO votes, including the
solid support OF the Massachusetts,
delegation. President Wilson urged
him to accept appointment as ambas-
sador to Great Britain and later offer
cd him the position Of governor Of the
federal reserve board, but in each in
stance Mr.. Olney declined.
His public utterances always COM
manded thoughtful attention and at
tracted widespread comment. Long
after his retirement from his conn
paratively brief career in public ONCE,
Mr.. Olney's counsels were eagerly
sought by members OF the Democratic
party.