Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-15
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1917
WILLIAM c. CHANDLER, EN-NANl'
HEAD, DIES.
Member OF Pres dent Arthur'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
for fourteen years, died at his home
here today at the age OF So.
Senator Chandler of New Iiamp
shire mad as much to do us any o,her
man i'll making Rutherford Is. Hayes
lrcsiucnt OF tuc United States in 1876
1t Was his swift appraHcmcnt OF the
situation which existed on the day
alIcr the people yo,ed Tor Hayes or
Samuel } Ilidcn that brought about
such legal action us saved the prcsi-'
ucncy TO the Republican party.
Senator Chandler went to Washing
ton from his nome i'll Concord immcd
lately after casting his vote. Arriving
Il; Washington Ill the early hours OF
the next day he learned the Republi-
can managers were ready to accept
defeat. They had gone to bed dis
couragcd. But coincidcntally with
Chandeliers arrival in askllngton
came the news tnat Oregon had been
carried by Hayes. Chandler saw that
this would mean llayes's election If
the Republicans could secure Il fair
count of the ballots in
doubtful Southern States. Acting OH
his own responsibility he sent tclc-
grams to Florida, South Carolina, and
Louisiana as well as to Oregon, warn
ing against fraud. Promptly thcrcaft-
or Il conference Of Republican Leaders
sent Chandler 70 Florida to protect
the interests of the party.
GRADUATE OF HARVARD
LAW SCHOOL.
After n period OF dangerous agita-
ton the contest between Hayes
and Tildcn was transferred to Con-
gresS and then to an electrical COM
mission, before which Chandler made
the argument for Hayes.
Previously he had been active in
i'olitics, beginning almost as soon as
he was graduated from the Harvard
NV school in 1865, of which class the
&c joseph II: Ch0Gtc was n member
&c was then 20 years of age, having
been born on December IS, 1885. He
was educated in the public schools
OF Concord and in the academies OF
Thctford, VI, and Pembroke, n. IL.
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 1861 and 1868. He had served
in the State Assembly meanwhile,
and was Speaker in 1863 and 1864.
In November 1864 he was appoint
ed by the Navy Department to prose-
cute the 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
practiccd 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 he
made many improvements in depart
mental methods. His greatest work,
perhaps. was in layil : the foundation
or the modern navy by building four
cruisers Of the most improved type
Tor 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
r. Pike as United States Senator from
hampshire. filling odt two years OF
Senator Pixies uncXpired term and
then being reelected three times. In
1901 he was defeated for renomina-
ton by Henry T.. Burnham.
In that year he was appointed by
President Roosevelt to head the Span
ish War Claims Commission, and he
retained the post throughout TIL life
OF the commission in spite Of his
sharp differences with tho President
differences which moved Mr.. Roose-
welt to put Mr.. Chandler in the An
anias Club. When he resumed the
"rnctice Of law at Concord he had
charge of the famous Mary Baker G.
Eddy case ana brought Lout an ac-
counting Of her property.
When In Washington last March
Mr.. Chandler was stricken with illness
but his condition improved for time
when he returned to his home in Con
cord. This fall his health declined
rapidly.
Four sons survive him. One Captain
Tlnvd IT. Chandler, u. s. NJ. COM
mands battleship. The others are
william d. Chandler, publisher Of
the Concord Mentor: joseph G. Chand