The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-04-18
Death Claims Sen.
Stone Of Missouri

Washington. April 15.--Senator VIII
liam j. Stone OF Missouri. chairman of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee and for many years prominent
among Democratic leaders, died here
after stroke of paralysis suffered
last Wednesday.
Senator William j. Stone was in pub
lie life as years and during that long
period probably engaged in as many
political contests as any man Of his
time ranging all the way from con-
troversies over county Offices to the
broadcast national issues.
AT the entry of the United States
into the war Senator Stone preform-
ed the trying feat of antagonizing his
own party administration and then re-
afigning himself with il in a generally
satisfactory manner. 1t was in con-
nection with the bill proposing tine
arming of American merchant ships
that he took sharp issue with Presi-
dent Wilson. He stood with the half
a score or more of senators whose op-
position caused the failure of that
measure at the close of the Gath con-
gress and brought down the denuncia-
tiun of the president upon "the wilful
twelve" While Senator Stone made
no apologies for his course on that oc-
casion he always contended 1t was in
strict line with his duty as senator
because in accord with his convic-
tons.
His Opposition of the declaration of
war on Germany was also pronounced
and he declined to take charge of the
war resolution as would have been ex-
pected of him as chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations. He did
not seek. however, to place obstacles
in the way of consideration and
transferred the leadership to Senator
Hitchcock, next ranking Democratic
member of the committee. He be-
neved that the participation should
be avoided il possible. but when the
die was cast for war. he changed over
night. He took his place with the sup
porters of war measures and consist
emily maintained that attitude.
Altho he had served In the house Of
representatives and had been COVER
nor of his state. Senator Stone first
attracted national attention in connec-
ion with Mr.. Bryan's first campaign
for the presidency in 1896. He be-
came the Missouri member Of the ma
t;onal democratic committee and soon
took front rank among the Bryan man
ayers. iustifying q reputation for
shrewdness and far sightednese he al
ready had gained In Missouri. Mr..
Stones position as a member of the
national committee led to his selec-
ton as vice chairman for Mr.. .Bryan's
second campaign. As consequence
of their associations those two men
became close friends. But at the
Democratic convention in 1912, Stone
led the fight for the nomination of
Speaker Clark. Since coming to TIL
senate in 1903 Mr.. Stone had been to
the front on all important questions
He seldom hesitated to attack any
senator, Democratic or Republican.
who opposed what ne believed to be
deserving administration measures.
Notwithstanding his pacifist atti-
tude. Mr.. Stone was made chairman OF
the committees on resolutions at the
st. Louis convention in 1916 and to
him fell the work of shaping the plat
form on which President Wilson was
reelected.
A Kentuckian by nativity. born May
4. 1s4s. Senator Stone removed to Mis-
souri,, here he was graduated from the
Missouri university and was admitted
to the bar in 1869. In 1873 he was
prosecuting attorney of Vernon coun-
ty.
He came to congress as a represen-
tative in the Forty-ninth congress and
was reelected to the Fiftieth and Fiji
ty-first congresses. serving from 1885
to 1891.
From 1893 to 1897 he was governor
of Missouri. Upon the death Of Geo.
G. Vest he was first elected to the
senate in 1903. and was reelected in
1909 and 1915.
He married in 1874 and had three
children.
H-3o Gil -