Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-30
FATHER OF NEW
us. NAVY DIES
William Chandler Elton, Pol.
itician and Statesman.
Succurnbs ut Concord.

Concord, N. H., Nov. so.-William
Eaton. Chandler; who. as secretary Of
the navy In President Arthur's cabi-
netrwas largely responsible for the
beginning Of the modern United States
navy. died at his home here today.
In q lifetime Of endless political
activity and almost continuous con-
troversy, the one title freely ac-
corded by men Of al parties to VII.
liam Eaton Chandler wa that Of
Navy" As secretary Of. the navy
under President Arthur, MI. Chand-
Ter. on7-June IL, 1883, approved the
plan for the Reorganization of the
navy which resulted in the develop
ment Of the present fighting fleet. In
q speech in the senate on January 26,
1916, Senator Tillman of South
Carolina, referring to the reading into
the record Of q letter from Mr..
then pending, said:
Senator Chandler has had a varied
experience In naval affairs. He was
secretary Of the navy under President
Arthur, and really began the con-
struction of the new navy. He was
ron the naval committee when I first
came to Washington in 1896, and was
at hat time n OF the ablest men
in the senate. Although he has re-
Gently entered his eightieth year. his
mind is still alert and vigorous. While
he is a Republican and I am q Demo-
tcrat, we always have been warm
personal friends. Necessarily he is
better posted on naval affairs than al
most any man in Washington not
excepting even the navy department
ITSELF"
This praise from 60 prominent a
Democrat was peculiarly significant,
inasmuch as the Democrats were very
slow to forgive MI. Chandler for the
electoral convention in placing Ruth
erford' B. Hayes in the White House.
Democratic revenge wan wreaked
when the senate. in 1881, refused to
confirm President Garfield's appoint
ment Of Mr.. Chandler as solicitor
general.
Born At Concord, N. H., December
20. 1895, Mr.. Chandler was educated
at academies in New Hampshire and
Vermont and was graduated from the
Harvard law school at the G of 10.
school was Joseph H. Choate. He en-
tered politics at once, served three
terms in the New Hampshire house Of
representatives and was elected
speaker Of the house when but ~
years old. His first entrance into
national political affairs was as one
of the founders Of the Republican
party and a supporter Of Abraham
Lincoln. President Lincoln appointed
him solicitor general and judge advo-
cate general of the navy az 1855, and
three months later he became first
assistant secretary Of the treasury.
While secretary, Of the navy, Mr..
Chandler, organized the expedition
which, under the command Of Cap
tain Winfield s. Schley, went to the
relief of the Greedy Arctic exploru-
ton party. IS.
Fourteen years Of service in the
United States senate ended when Mr..
Chandler vas defeated for renomina-
ton in 1901 by Henry e. Durham.
His radical views on railroad tlegisla-
ton, which brought him in OPPOSE
ton 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 ex-
erted by railroads in New England
politics. His last federal position was
that Of president Of the Spanish war
claims commission, to which he vas
named by President Mckinley in 1901
and r~eappointed by President Roose-
welt.