Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-15
SENATOR STONE DEAD,
WAS OPPOSED TO WA1
One of Wilson's 'Wilful Twelve,
But Later Became Loyal Sup
porter of War Measures.

Washington, April l5,-William Joel
Stone senior nltcd States Senator
from Missouri and Chairman OF the
Committee Of Foreign Relations, died
at his residence here at 4.3O o clock yes
terday afternoon lie had been critically
i'll slncc Wednesday. when he suffered
cerebral hemorrhaee. 4 secondary at
tack at ; clock this morning caused
state Of coma Senator Stone passed
away without rcgaining consciousness.
He was In his seventeen year, having
been born May :. lSiS.
Senator Stone death Is tho seventh
among members OF the Senate since the
war Congress began; SIX OF those who
died were Democrats.
The political complexion of the Senate
Will not bc affected by Senator Stones
death. II Is generally expected that
Governor Gardner OF Missouri viii ap-
point a Democrat to fill the vacancy.
MisSourians here were inclined TO think
that the place would be offered either to
Speaker Clark or David r. Francis,
American Ambassador to Russia
At the time OF his death Senator
Stone was heartily III favor Of the prosecu-
ton of the war against Germany, a change
of heart which he forecast 3 day or SO before
he voted against the declaration by the
Cnird States.
Il am against a declaration of war,
he SAID, but when it ls declared ! will
be i war eagle screaming as loud ar the
rest. Blood Is thicker than water, and, 40
matter what opinions z man might have
about the need for war, any other position
would be contemplate and no American
could contemplate It. War Is not play,
and when We 90 into II believe We should
go In to the limit of men and money" His
great fear had been. he added, that the
United States would become involved in
European politics if il entered the conflict.
At the entry OF the United States INTO
the war Senator Stone performed the
trying feat of antagomzing his own
partv administration and then reahgn-
ing himself with If in a generally salts
factory manner. II was in connection
with the bill proposing the aTrning Of
American merchant ships that he took
sharp issue with President Wilson He
stood with the dozen Senators whosc
opposition caused the failure oi that
measure at the close of the Sixty-fourth
Congress and brought down the denuu-
ciation of the President upon "the will
full twelve" While Senator Stone made
no apologies for his course on that occa-
SipUs lit always COUbEuutO IL was ]u SIfiCl
line with bis duty rs Senator, because
in accord with his convictions and as
he believed, In protection Of America s
interests.
His opposition TO the declaration Of
war on Germany was also pronounced,
and he declined 10 take charge Of the
war resolution, as would have been
expected Of him as chairman Of the com
mittee Of foreign relations He did not
seek, however, TO place obstacles in the
way of a consideration and transferred
the leadership TO Senator Hitchcock next
ranking Democratic member Of the com
mlttee.
Official W Washington turned from its
war duties today 10 attend the funeral OF
Senator Stone The service will be
conducted at 4 p. IN. with the Rev j.
Forrest Prettyman chaplain Of the
Senate, in charge The family and a
congressional committee will accompany
the body to Jefferson City, Mo. where it
will lie in state Wednesday at the Missouri
capitol Burial will take place at Nevada,
Mo, Senator Stones old home.