The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-29
SENATOR OLLIE
JAMES IS DEAD
NOTED KENTUCKIAN PASSES
AWAY THIS MORNING AT
BALTIMORE HOSPITAL

lie M. James, of Kentucky, died at
Johns Hopkins hospital today of an
acute affection of the kidneys. Mrs
James and the senator's brother, L.
H. James, were with him.
Senator James had been pa
tient at the hospital three months.
Physicians at first believed that he
had good chance to regain his
health, and an operation was per-
formed. Later his condition became
more serious and TRANSMISSION OF
blood was made on several occa-
sions.
The senator rallied recently when
informed OF his denomination to
the senate, and for time held his
own, but later his condition again
became grave.
Brief Biography.
Ollie NJ. James, one of the lead
ers of the Democratic party and
long a dominent figure in Kentucky
politics, served five consecutive
terms as a member of congress from
the First Kentucky district, was
elected United States senator by
the general assembly in 1912, and
was re-nominated for that office by
a lareg vote at the statewide primary
on Aug. 3, last.
Born in Crittenden county, Ken
tucky. July y, 1871. and educated in
public and academic schools of that
section. James took an early interest
in politics and at the close of legis-
lative session, during which he
served as page, he began the study
of law in the office of his father,
Judge l.. II. James, and was admit
ted to the bar full year before he
had reached his majority.
During the next four years he
leaped into political prominence in
the western section of the state, and
he was not yet twenty-five when he
was selected as a delegate to the
Democratic National convention at
Chicago in 1896. which nominated
William Jennings Bryan for the
presidency.
Out of the memorable campaign
that followed the Chicago conven-
ton grew a close friendship between
James and Mr.. Bryan that continued
through life, despite the fact that
their views were not always in ac-
cord.
1t was his ringing speeches in de-
tense OF the Chicago platform that
first attracted nationwide attention
to the young Kentuckian and placed
him at single bound into the inner
councils of the Democratic party of
his home state.
Known to Thousands.
big Ollie" as James was familiar
" known to thousands, attended FIVE
Democratic national conventions as
a delegate from Kentucky subse-
quent to the Chicago convention and
served as a permanent chairman OF
the conventions of 1912 and 1915,
which nominated President Wilson.
He was largely instrumental in
having the Kentucky delegation to
the Baltimore convention vote for
Champ Clark and was himself
staunch supporter of the Missou-
rian. but after the nomination of
President Wilson he became an ar
dent supporter of the latter and fire.
quently served as his spokesman in
the legislative chamber
lanes boyhood ambition to serve
in congress was realized in l9oZ
when at the age OF 81 he began the
first of his five consecutive terms
from the First Kentucky district.
Shortly after his election to the u.
S. senate by the general assembly,
the constitutional amendment pro-
viding for election of senators by
popular vote, a measure which James
had labored to get through congress,
became law.
His denomination at the state
wide primary on August 3, after his
opponent had virtually eliminated
himself by asking his friends to -
nominate James, came while he was
i'll at Johns Hopkins at Baltimore,
where he had been confined almost
since February ].
Wins Praise of People.
\ In the dramatic events that led up
10 and followed the assassination of
Governor Williab Goebel, Big o. |
lie" played a conspicuous part and
won the praise of the people of his
own state. He was leading figure
in the convention which nominated
Goebel after a deadlock of more
than a week, and supported the lat
ter in the subsequent campaign.
When Goebel decided to institute a
contest after a certificate of election
had been given w. s. Taylor he asked
James to serve as his attorney be-
fore the general assembly.
The contest was decided in Goeb-
els favor and then he was killed. In
the stormy period that followed.
lanes occupied a conspicuous place.
Senator James was married Dec.
z, 1908, to Miss Ruth Thomas, a
laughter of r. Y. Thomas of Marion
Ky. who survives him. There were
no children.
II was on his return from Patter-
son, n. J.. where he attended the
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