Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-28
Eugene Hale Dead
fHoa%;o.od frors Dana 0ne1

battleships. advocating the substitution
of smaller and more active craft for a.
val warfare. AS one of the closing Tea
lures of his career he fought the pas
sage Of President Tafts reciprocity
agreement with Canada with bitter an
tagonism which made him unpopular
among a large number of his cons;it-
uents in Maine, a State which is said
to have favored the reciprocity piaI,
and athis is said to have influenced his
retirement from the fight for re-elec-
ton.
Senator Hale was born in Turner, Me.
June 8. 1885, of an old and wealthy fa:o-
, lily. and after his education at Turner
and Hebron academies he began .he
study Of law and became practitioner
in Ellsworth in 1857. He was prosecut-
ing attorney for Hancock county for
nine years. and in 1867 began his lesi5.
lative career as member of the state
House of Representatives. He was
chairman of the committee of the Leg,s-
lature to investigate what has since be>n
known as the state steal" it being
charged that the Democrats and Green
hackers attempted illegally to obtain
possession of the State government. in
those times which were exciting ONES in
Maine, Mr.. Hale became an acknowl-
edged leader.
"fIe married the daughter of Zach
ariah Chandler, Senator from Michi-
gan, in 1871. by whom he had a son,
Frederick Hale. who was also promi-
nent in Maine politics. and who en-
tered the United States Senatorial
contest in Maine as a candidate in
1876.
When he first sought election to the
United States Senate in 1881. there
was hitter contest between him and
William Z. Frye. Mr.. Hale was sue
cessfui, but Mr.. Frye. in the same
year. received an appointment to the
Senate TO fill the vacancy caused: by
the appointment of James G. Blaine
to the position of Secretary of State
so that it happened that both Mr..
Frye and Mr.. Hale entered the SEN
ate together, the latter, however, the
senior Senator.
In 1868, and 1878 and 1880. Mr.. Hale
was delegate to the Republican Ma
tfonal Conventions and on the last
two occasions labored zealously for
tEe nomination of Blaine, and for his
election in the campaign against
Cleveland in 1883.
He was appointed postmaster gen
eral by President Grant in 1874. and
was tended the naval portfolio by
10
both Of these cabinet positions, pre-
ferring to remain in Congress.
He did later accept the appointment
as member of the National Monetary
Commission. and in Congress his abil-
lty was recognized time after time
by appointment to the most import
ant committees, and his retention on
them year after year. While he was
in the lower House he was cha ;rman
Of the Republican congressional com
mittee and in the Senate he was
chairman Of the committee on appro-
pr!aHons, chairman Of the commit
tee on public expenditures, and one
OF the Weightiest members of the
committees on finance, and naval af-
fairs and censls. He possessed an I'M
surpassed intimate knowledge Of i'm
portant departments Of the nations
housekeeping, and he was credited
with saving the country millions By
his persistent stand for economies.
His tactics were not those of an ora
tor. When he first came to Congress re
dazzled no one. Eut he was "alwa -
on the job or lin continuous session..
and while his colleague Frye was strong
i'll forensic debate and Tom Reed en-
ployed his wit in a Spectacular manner,
Mr.. Hale wen: along in a quiet, unop-
trusive way and by his sheer staying,
qualities he became a power like SEN
ator Edmunds. He had a positive Gift
for finding out the weak points of any
project and turning the battery of sar-
castle invective upon it.
In personality he was an aristo rat.
He married the daughter of Zacha ria h
Chandler. senator from Michigan. in 49,
by whom he had son. His brother
Clarence Hale. is United States .;.s.c
trict judge at Portland, Me.
Upon his retirement Senator Hale e
turned to his home in Ellsworth, where
during the part few years, he had been
frequently reported to be in i'll heath.