The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-10
FORMER CABINET
MEMBER IS DEAD
George Won L. Meyer Passes
Away at Eastern Home
After Illness.
PROMINENT DIPLOMAT
Held Wide Reputation for
Craftsmanship and Won
High Appreciation.

Boston, March 9.-George Won l..
diplomat, died at his home here at IL: 10
tonight after an Illness of several
weeks.
Mr.. Meyer was stricken in January
with pleurisy and this apparently
weakened him and made it more diff
cult to resist the effects of tumor
Of the liver, from which he died. 1t
was known until a few days ago, how
ever. that his condition was serious.
Mr. Meyers last public appearance
was on February 10, when he attended
Sunday mass meeting at fremont
temple. called to discuss plans for
helping italy and her people in dis
tress because of the war. He was one
Of the principal speakers, although it
was noted by his friends that he was
far from well.
Long regarded as one of the fore
most citizens of Massachusetts,. Mr..
Meyer had served as American ambas-
sador to Italy and to Russia and sub
seQuently was postmaster general In
President Roosevelts cabinet, and Sec
rotary Of the navy under President
Taft. He was in his sixtieth year.
In the successive positions OF pub
lie service to which George Won Len
gerke Meyer was chosen, he attained
a reputation as practical statesman.
Trained to business from his youth
he was quick to apply business meth
DDS to the departments which came
under his jurisdiction in the two years
that he served as postmaster general
in President Roosevelt's cabinet and in
his four years as secretary of the navy
under President Taft. Even while in
the diplomatic service, as ambassador
to Italy from 800 to 1905 and to Rus
STA from 1905 to 1907, he showed him
self impatient of round about methods
Of achieving desired results.
Born in Boston.
Born in Boston on June "a. 1858, the
son of a wealthy manufacturing chem
list, Mr.. Meyer was trained in what
was locally known as the school 70,
politicians" the old Boston common
council. From that time business and
politics largely occupied his life. Ii
the Massachusetts house Of represen-
tatives he rose to the speakership. ant
in 1898 he became member of The
Republican National committee.
Mr. Meyers national prominence be.
gan when, upon the recommendation
of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge aut
the late Senator George Frisbie Hoar
President Mckinley named him as am.
bassador to Italy. While in thai
country he handled several Difficult
diplomatic problems and accumulated
much information which later proved
of value in the maturing of the immi.
grafton policy of the United States
Incidentlly, he was reputed to have
converted King Victor Emmanuel t.
the use of the automobile. He hat
taken to Rome his large touring car
When the king invited the ambassado
to visit a shooting box % miles out
side the city, Mr.. Meyer suggested
that they go in his car. The king ac
cepted the suggestion and was SO de
lighted with the speed of the trip tina
he soon acquired a car for himself.
AS postmaster general Mr.. Meye
introduced more p-to-date bushes
methods in his department. He wa
one of the earliest advocates of tn
postal savings system.
The navy department gave MI
Meyer a wide field for the use of hi
business instincts. He effected re
organization which did away wit
much duplication of work and devote
considerable time to Increasing eff
cheney at the navy yards. In 1911 h
= visited Europe and inspected the nava
stations and shipbuilding plants c
several countries.
After his retirement from public OF
flee in 1913, Mr.. Meyer resumed man
of his earlier business connection
His home was at Hamilton. Mass
where his figure on horseback was
familiar one. Having played polo
versisy of Iowa: attended summe
school of University of Washington.
Experience: Superintendent {