Middletown transcript., 1918-10-12
i. F: c. TALBOT
DIES At HOME
Maryland Representative In
Congress Stricken Ten
Days Ago.
n Failing Health For Many Menths-
Was rs Years Old And Mum.
bsred Friend BY
Thousands.

Saturday night at Z o'clock at hi.
home, in Lutherville, after q critical
illness Of 10 days, which became worse
after the death Of his old political
friend, DR.. George Wells, of Anne
Arundel county, week ago.
Mr.. Talbot had been unconscious
for several hours before his DEATH
and before night it was realized that
he could not last the night out. The
members of his family were all with
him whan he died.
1t was thought week ago that he
would die at any moment, but he raj
lied slightly several days ago. Thurs.
day a change for the worse came and
throughout that night he was restless.
Since then he sank steadily until he
died.
Mr.. Talbot had been in failing
health for year or more and his close
friends had been much concerned over
his condition. It was very noticeable
to then. that he was losing much Of
his vigor and that his strength was
such that he could not throw off what
were formerly considered slight all
ments.
A heavy cold contracted during the
early summer nearly got the better of
him. Mr.. Talbot noticed this himself
and spoke of it to his friends. AT first
he was able to cope with it, but toward
the last he was about to give up, say
ing that he was so weak that he felt
that it would terminate seriously. He
recovered, however, and after a trip to
Atlantic City returned feeling himself
again.
Later his condition was such that he
made two trips to Bedford Springs. He
returned earlier than he expected from
the last trip owing to the hotel at
which he was stopping closing.
Washington, from President Wilson
down, followed the news of Mr.. Tai
bott's illness with affectionate concern,
for in his long service in the House he
had won one of the largest circles of
friends of all officialdom. A few days
ago the President sent Mr.. Talbot a
large bunch of American Beauty roses.
and in the next day or so he wrote MI.
Talbot very touching note of SYM
pathy and regard.
Mr.. Talbott's death makes a vacancy
on the Democratic ticket in the nomi-
nation for Congress in the Second dis.
trict The vacancy will be filed by the
State Central Committee, and it is gen.
orally understood that the law provides
that the committee for the entire State
will act. 1t is not quite certain how
the nominations will be made by the
two parties for the short term in case
It is decided to have an election to fill
the vacancy in the present Congress
caused by Mr.. Talbott's death.
There was perhaps no man in Mary
land whose death would have caused
more genuine regret and sorrow than
that of the Hon. Joshua Frederick
Cockey Talbot. A politician of the
old school, with many of the faults of
the type, spokesman, fighter and
schemer. Mr.. Talbot was neverthe-
less SO genial, so lovable, so human,
50 full Of humor, so lacking in rancor,
30 generous, so loyal, that hs num-
bered among his friends host of peo-
pei who opposed his political ideas and
practices.
Politics was game to Mr.. Talbot
game of chance and skill-in which
1t was his object to take as many
tricks as possible for himself and his
friends like duplicate
whist, which was his favorite pastime.
And yet it was more than that, for
whatever else might be involved, and
however much he became mixed I'D in
the schemes and deals of politics,
those who knew him best knew that
Mr.. Talbot had very deep and gen.
uine love for his country, his State,
his party, his people and the welfare
of them all.
The composites, the posing, the
hypocrisies so usual j
among politicians were wholly lacking
In Congressman Talbot There were
no 'frills" on "Marse Fred" either in
his virtues or his faults. He was a
plain, blunt man who loved his friends
and delighted in licking his enemies.
but did not hate them. If the other |
fellow beat him, it left no rancor in
his heart. He took his licking like a
good sport, sharpened up his snick-
ersee and went at his opponent again. |
He lived plainly and comfortably,
had no shining mahogany nor Oriental
rugs in his Office, dressed inconspicu-
ously, except perhaps for the famous
gray SLOUGH hat which he nearly al
ways wore, and was genial, approach
able and Democrat-both with the
big ID" and the little ID"
He had the keenest sense of humor,
enjoyed good joke even at his OWE
expense and was one of the most fam
BUS raconteurs of his generation in
his State and in Congress. 1t is re-
ated that President Cleveland greatly
enjoyed Mr.. Talbott's storytelling, and
when he got the blues or was discour-
aged he frequently sent for the Mary
ander to brighten up his spirits. i
At no time in his career was he
stronger and more beloved by his peo-
,le than at the time of his death, still
his "boss-ship." his seat in
Congress and his membership on the
Democratic National Committee, and
It no time was he more of a national
lgure in Congress or stronger with his
colleagues and his party.