Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-15
SATURDAY. DECEMBER Is, 1917
WILLIAM G. CHANDLER, EX-NAVY
HEAD, DIES.
Member of President Arthlu'S Cab
met and Helped Found the
Republican Party

Concord, N. H., November 30.-Fil.
liam Eaton Chandler, Secretary OF
the Navy in the Cabinet of President
Arthur and United States Senator
for fourteen years, died at his home
here today at the age OF So.
Senator Chandler of New Hamp-
shire had as much to do as any other
man in making Rutherford Is. Hayes
President OF the United States in 1876.
1t was his swift appralsemcnt of the
situation which existed on the day
after the people voted for Hayes or
Samuel }. Tllden that brought about
such legal action us saved the Presi-.
uency to the Republican party.
Senator Chandler went TO Washing
ton from his nome in Concord immed
lately after casting his vote. Arriving
at Washington III the early hours OF
the next day he learned the Republic
can managers were ready to accept
defeat They had gone to bed dis
couraged. But coincidcntally with
Chandlers arrival in Washington
came the news that Oregon had been
carried by Hayes. Chandler saw that
lhlo "pulu IlaS ClCSelOA IL
the Republicans could secure a fair
count of the ballots In
doubtful Southern States. Acting OH
his own responsibility he sent tele-
grams to Florida, South Carolina, and
Louisiana as we'll as to Oregon, warn
ing against fraud. Promptly thcreaft-
err a conference Of Republican leaders
sent Chandler TO Florida to prote It
1a nf 40
GRADUATE OF HARVARD
Law SCHOOL.
After a period of dangerous agita-
ton the contest between Hayes
and Tilden was transferred to Con-
mission, before which Chandler made
the argument for Hayes.
Previously he had been active in
politics, beginning almost as soon as
he was graduated from the Harvard
wv school in 1866, of which class the
.tc Joseph iI:' ChoGte was q member.
ie was then 20 years OF age, having
been born on December 28, 1885. He
was educated in the public schools
Of Concord and in the academies of
AASSAoAut wa ttAh ohSp IN. II.
After leaving Harvard law school he
began the practice OF law with Fran
els B. Peabody.
He was one Of the founders of the
Republican party in 1856 and became
very active subsequently in the work
of the New Hampshire Republican
State Committee of which he was chair
man in 1864 and 1865. He had served
IN tho State hi1 10
and was Speaker In 1863 and 1864.
In November 1864 he was appoint
ed by the Navy Department to prose-
cute tho Philadelphia Navy Yard
frauds, and in the following year was
named by President LINCOLN as Soil
citor and Judge Advocate General of
the Navy Department, the first to
hold those positions. In June, 1865,
he was appointed First Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury under Hugh
McCulloch, and held the office for
two years. In subsequent years he
practiced law and maintained his activ
ity in politics, becoming secretary of
of the Republican National Commit
tee and being energetic in managing
the campaigns Of 1868 and 1872.
HEAD OF NAVY FOR
THREE YEARS.
President Arthur appointed him
Secretary Of the Navy in 1882 and
during his three years In office ne
made many improvements in depart
mental methods. His greatest work,
perhaps, was in laying the foundation
or the modern navy by building four
cruisers Of the most improved type
for those days. In 1884 he organized
the Greedy relief expedition. COM
manded by Commander Winfield
Scott Schaey, afterward the Admiral
of Spanish war fame.
In 1887 Chandler Succeeded Austin
IT.. Pike as United States Senator from
Hampshire, filling odt two years Of
Senator Pixies unexpired term and
then being reelected three times. In
1901 he was defeated for renomina-
ton by Henry e. BIrnham.
In that year he was appointed by
President Roosevelt to head the Span
ish War Claims Commission, and ne
retained the post throughout tn. life
Of the commission in spite Of his
sharp differences with the President
differences which moved Mr.. Roose-
welt to put Mr.. Chandler in the An
anias Club. When he resumed the
practice of law at Concord he had
charge of the famous Mary Baker G.
Eddy case and brought Eout an &C.
counting Of her property.
When in Washington last March
Mr.. Chandler was stricken with illness
hut his condition improved for a time
when he returned to his home in Con
cord. This fall his health declined
rapidly.
Four sons survive him. Cine Captain
Tlnvd Fl. Chandler, u. s. NJ. COM
mands battleship. The others are
William D. Chandler, publisher Of
the Concord Mentor; Joseph G. Chand
Ter and John p. Hale Chandler, all
Of Concord.
SO to $25 per week during spare