The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-05-17
70 RMER VICE PRESIDENT
MORTON DEAD At ACE 96.


Poughkeepsie, n. Y. May 17.-Levl
p. Morton, former vice president of
the United States, republican, and
one time governor Of New York, died
here yesterday at an advanced age.
Levi Parsons Morton was the
twenty.sccond vice president Of the
United States, the running mate OF
Benjamin Harrison in 1883. At II
years OF age he rounoed out his poll
teal life as governor Of New York
state
Although born the son OF clergy
man in poor circumstances at Shore
ham. VT, in 1924, he forced his way
TO the front in the business and fl.
nancal world until he became one
of the money powers Of the country.
He had the blood of financier in
his veins-descendant as he was of
George Morton Of York, Eng, who
raised funds to send the Pilgrims
to America, on the Mayflower.
Clerk in a country store at IA,
proprietor of his own little drygoods
store at 81. he started his banking
career at ,2S, as a partner Of Junius
S. Morgan, father of the latet j.
Pierpont Morgan. and ten years later
founded his own house of l.. l.. Nor
ton & Co., which became the fiscal
agent Of the government. Under his
guidance, it conducted some Of the
largest negotiations in the history
Of American finance. Its London
branch floated the per cent loan,
with other European bankers, which
enabled the United States government
to resume SPECIE payment in 1871,
saving s70,00O,00O in interest. This
payment had been suspended during
and after the Civil War.
Morton's financial operations brought
him INTO political prominence. lie
entered congress in 1878 and estab-
lished reputation in the fight over
unlimited free coinage Of silver. He
was urged TO accept nomination for
vice president with President Car
field, but declined. lie was offered
tary Of the navy, and refused again.
The offer to become minister to
Franco appealed to him. He accept
ed and remained during Garfield's
and Arthur's administrations. lie
secured the legal status Of Ameri-
can corporations in France. He drove
the first nail in the construction of
the Statue of Liberty, and publicly
accepted il in 1864 in behalf OF the
United States. lie established him.
self so firmly in the hearts Of the
French people that the square in
which his legislation stood in Paris
was names place des Etats Unis."
When a New York man desired in
1888 to stand on the republican ma
| tional ticket with Benjamin Harrison
Mr.. Morton was the choice Of tho
convention by large majority. As
presiding officer in the senate Inc
/ gained the praise Of both parties for
! the vigor and the fairness Of his
policy. Mr.. Morton concluded his -po
/ litical career as governor of his state
| taking office in 1895 and sewing two
years. He signed the bill which abol
| ished the ward-trustee system OF
school government in New York City
and the so-called Raines Liquor Law
After leaving office in his vigorous
old age he still was active IN the
directorates Of many corporations Ht
was rated a millionaire, many times
ever.
Mr. Morton was twice married. His
first wife was Lucy Kimban, wht
dipd I'm 1871. His second was Anna
Livingston. member of an old Man
haitian family.