The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-15

here Sunday as the result of paralytic
stroke suffered last Wednesday.
( 1t was announced that the services
would be conducted at o'clock to-
Day with the Rev. J. Forrest Pretty
man. chaplain of the senate. in charge
The family and a congressional COM
p1ittee will accompany the body to
Jefferson City Mo, where it will lie
hn state Wednesday at the Missouri
capitol. Burial will take place at Ne
sada. Mo, Senator Stones old home.
Members indicated today that
Speaker Clark probably would not be
one of the congressional committee
which will go with the body. A house
rule. they said prohibited the speaker
from being out of his chair for more
Than a day for any other reason than
illness. For Speaker Clark to make
the trip would necessitate an adjourn
nent of congress. they pointed out.
Opposed Aiming Ships.
s Senator William J. Stone was in
Bubble life forty-five years and during
chat long period probably engaged in
as many political contests as any man
of his time, ranging all the way from
controversies over county offices to
abe broadest national issues.
3 At the entry of the United States
into the war, Senator Stone performed
The trying feat of antagonizing his own
aligning himself with it in a generally
Satisfactory manner. 1t was in con-
nection with the bill proposing the
arming of American merchant ships
that he took sharp issue with Presi-
dent Wilson. He stood with the dozen
Senators whose opposition caused the
Failure of that measure at the close
of the sixty-fourth congress, and
brought down the denunciation of the
president upon the wilful twelve"
Changed Attitude Later
Z His opposition to the declaration of
war with Germany also was pro-
bounced and he declined to take
charge of the war resolution, as would
have been expected of him as chair
tnan of the committee on foreign rela-
lions. He did not seek, however, to
place obstacles in the way of consid-
seration and transferred the leader
ship TO Senator Hitchcock, next rank
lng Democratic member of the COM
.mittee. His attitude on these two
Questions was symbolical of his posi-
zion toward the world war. He be-
1ieved that American participation
Should be avoided if possible, but
schanged overnight. He took his place
swith the supporters of war measures
and consistently maintained that atti-
Atude.
"Gumshoe Bill"
: Senator Stone first attracted ma
EBryan'S first campaign for the presi-
Gdency in 1896. He became the Mis-
Fsourl memb ers of the national Demo-
2cratc committee, and soon took front
frank among the Bryan managers.
In national as well as in state poll
<tics. he worked quietly, seeking for
sef1ects. To this quality he owed the
Esobriquet of "Gumshoe Bill"
Mr. stones position as a member of
sthe national committee led to his Sc
Election as vice chairman for Mr.. Bry-
tan's second campaign. AS conse-
Fquence of their associations, the two
-men became close friends and the in
1timacy continued until the Democratic
convention in 1912, when stone led the
flight for the nomination of Speaker
sChamp Clark. The events of that
stime caused a cooling of the friend
ship.
Long in Politics.
Notwithstanding his pacifist atti-
-tude. Mr.. Stone was made chairman of
sthe committee on resolutions at the St
-LoUis convention in 1916 and to him
rfeIl the difficult work of shaping the
Eplatform on which President Wilson
twas reelected. He worked on that
5almost constantly for forty-eight
ehours. and never lost his composure
"A Kentuckian by nativity. born May
". 1S4S, Senator Stone removed to Mis-
ssouri, where he graduated from the
missouri university and was admitted
sto the bar in 1860. He Immediately
sbegan to manifest an interest in polit-
lical affairs and in 1873 was prosecut-
Ting attorney of Vernon county. He
scame to congress as a representative
lin the forty-ninth congress and was
rre-elected to the fiftieth and fifty-firs
hcongresses. serving from 1885 to 1891
Z From 1898 to 1897 he was governor Of
z Missouri. Upon the death of George
C Vest he was first elected to the SEN
Gate in 1903 and was reelected in 1905
Eand 1915.
He married in 1874 and had three
2 children
z Who Will Succeed Stone?
s jefferson City. Mo, April 15--Po-
Utica. interest in the capital is cen