The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-15
MAJOR GARDNER
DIES OF PNEUMONIA
Resigned His Seat in Congress After IS
Years of Service to Enter on
Active War Duties.

MACON, Ga, Jan. 15.-Mai. Angus
tus Peabody Gardner, for many years
congressman from the sixth Massachu-
setts district, died of pneumonia at the
base hospital at Camp Wheeler near
here late yesterday He had been i'll
only few days.
Mrs. Gardner arrived Sunday from
her home and had been almost con-
tinuously at her husbands bedside I'M
til late yesterday when she collapsed
after the major became unconscious.
Her condition was such that she was
moved to her hotel, where she received
the news of the death. She was last
| night under the care of a physician.
The body will be sent to the ma ior s
| former home at Hamilton, Mass, but
probably not until after the arrival
from Washington of Senator Lodge,
| father of Mrs. Gardner
When Maj. Gardner resigned his seat
i'll congress soon after the outbreak of
the war to offer his services in the ma
tons fighting forces he was commits
stoned a colonel, and assigned to staff
duty, but several weeks ago he applied
to the war department for a place in
| the line with reduction in rank so that
he might see actual service among the
men. His request for an appointment
as major in the 12lst infantry was
granted. Before given that assignment
Mag. Gardner was adjutant of the 3lst
Dixie division at Camp Wheeler.
Since his graduation from Harvard
in 1856, Maj. Gardner had devoted the
! greater part of his time to politics.
| Elected to congress in 1902 to fill a
vacancy caused by the retirement of
William H. Moody, he was nominated
to succeed himself in each succeeding
campaign, and was elected by large ma
Jorities over his Democratic opponents.
Only once was his political program
varied, that being in 1913, when he was
the Republican nominee for governor
against Eugene Noble Foss. Foss was
elected, but the campaign did not in
terrhpt Gardner S term in the national
house of representatives.
During all the 10 years he was a
member of the house, Mai. Gardner
fought for hberalizing of the rules, re-
IStrctlve immigration to uphold Ameri-
can standards, and preparedness for
war.
Born in Boston on Nov. ), 1868, Mai.
Gardner was graduated at Harvard in
| 1856 and later attended the Harvard
law school for two years, though he
never practiced law. Then he went
into business, looking after the large
estates of his family, and, in 1896,
launched into state politics, q year later
becoming member of the Republican
state committee. During the Spanish
American war, with the rank of cap
fam he served ,.
general at Camp Thomas at Chickamau.
ga, and went to Porto Rico where he
was breveted major for gallantry under
fire.
Before being elected to congress he
served two years in the Massachusetts
senate. Always an active figure in the
house, Mr.. Gardner was an expert par
Humanitarian and a fearless fighter. His
hrst big fight was for the upbuildine
of the American merchant marine
Then he took leading part in the fight
for restrictive immigration legislation
with hteracy test, which finally was
passed over President Wilson 5 second
veto.
In March, 1910, Gardner was a lead
er IN the dramatic struggle against 50
called Cannonism, - which resulted il
making the rules committee elective by
the house instead of appointive by tn,
speaker.
Mr.. Gardner was i'll England whe1
the European war broke out in 1871
and volunteered his services to the EN-
bassy at London to look after Ameri
cans. Returning home, he made per
, slstent campaign for preparedness
which did not end until he was Gale,
to the colors as a member of the of
ficers' reserve corps.