Evening star., 1920-03-15

Henry w Blair, for several terms
United States senator from New
H4m6shire. diplomat, civil war vet
eran.s ssteadfast friend of free educs-
tion.- pioneer Advocate of reforms
adopted oniy.-witfrfn recent years and
consistent friend of suffrage for the
District. died Rt Casualty Hospital last
night. Mr.. Blair. who wan eighty -nve
Year, of age. was IN vigorous health
untASrecently. The enc came princi-
pallyf as the result of his advanced
age. Raid to be complicated by conges-
tion pf the lungs.
ExfeqNNAor -Bhh h survived ~ mn
son. HeAry'P- Biaft, an attorney, who
Formerly president or the board Of
Funeral services will be held at
Oenwood Cemetery Chapel at 3
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon. and II is
TIE intention to take the body later to
New Hampshire.
Features OF legislative Career.
The introducer in Congress of the
hNSt measure prohibiting the liquor
tf1fhc by constit itutional amen0meN8.i
Nj. Blair, for more than two decades,
played a conspicuous part m national
legislative affairs. ffFst rs member
OF the lower house and later as sena-i
L
found in him q vigorous and unweary-.
iyE defender. while his labors both in
the House and Senate In the cause nj,
ffee education were considered OF SO
great value that over 1O0. 900 copies of
hts speeches were circulated by the
REPUBLICAN congressional committee a,
t5e best expression Of their party on
this question.
Although this was looked upon as
hla greatest personal endeavor. Mr..
Hairs other services in Congress
uppn matters that bear a weighty in
ffTence even to the present day were
h1s speeches against the Texas Pacific
railroad subsidies, upon foreign mar
kefs and commerce. the exodus OF the
cb9ored people. the public land bin.
the tariff bills and other matters. He
Introduced the sunday reEt bin. the
ban establishing the United States De-
p6rtment Of Labor and the measures
under which about half the soldier6
pensions are paid -.
Born at Campton. n. H. in 1894.
1f. Blair as boy lost his father ana
Wps brought mp by a neighbbr. His
ambition was aroused by two terms
atsthe village academy. enjoyed dur
f1g the intervals OF farm labors. He
W9rked SO hard. mentally and physi-
c4fiy. with the goal uf q college edu-
ctfi0n in view, that his health broke
d1wn- Later he embarked In the
law and was thus engaged when the
civil war broke out. He enlisted IN
the 18th New Hampshire. was wound.
81 At Port Hudson. and returned after
the close of the struggle as the lieu
t4Dant colonel Of his regiment.
Eaters RslfaBe1l Arena.
hortly after the war he entered the
political field. his first public Office
being county solicitor. In 1856 he WAS
elected to the lower branch Of the
stefe Legislature. and AFTER one term
I'd its senate. He came to the Cnited
States House OF Representatives In
1GS. and after two terms there ne
e43ered the United States Senate IN
I'D. His term OF service as senator
W. interrupted by his appointment
administer to China In 1891, but he
odDh resigned that diplomatic post be-
c9ABe the Chinese government 0bjecf
e4to him on account of his opposition
to Chinese immigration. In 1903 he
r4furned to the Senate Tor 4 single
term He had spent the years since in
the National Capital engaged in the
Practice Of his profession. Some years
at1s=in recognition Of his services to
the-naf3on. Congress granted him .
life e'pension-