Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-27
JAMES WILSON DIES;
10 YEARS IN CABINET
Was Secretary of Agriculture
Under Three Republican
Administrations
by Associated Press to Every Evening

by Associated Press to Every Evening
Traer, Iowa. Aug. Thames Wilson,
who .sorved as Secretary of Agriculture
undef three Presidents, died yesterday ~
his home here after an illness of many
weeks. Death had been expected hourly
for several days Furcral services viii
be held Saturday ut 2 o'clock in the
United Presbyterian Church here.
James Wilson, Secretary Of Agriculture
under Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft,
directed the agricultural development Of
the United States for Is years, accomplish
ing phenomenel results largely by means
Of his hard headed common sorse ard
practically ard bacausc Of his uuswrrv-
ing courage. He held Cabinet office lorger
than any other man, although Albert
Gnllatin approached this record with his
l3 years service as ruler Of the Treasury
Mr.. Wilson's service was notable for the
constructive work II included rather than
for the remarkably long time which he
held tho portfolio with complete ac-
ecptability under three Presidents of
diverse temperaments.
Mr.. Wilson was born In Ayrshire,
Scotland, August Is. 1895, ard came 70
the United States in 1851 with his parents,
who first settled in Connecticut and then
moved 10 Tama county, Iowa. He was
educated IN the public schools ard at
Iowa College. He served three terms IN
tho Iowa Legislature. the last an Speaker
Of the Assembly. In 1873 he was sent 10
Congress where he spent eight years in all.
varying Congressional service with agri-
cultural college PROFESSIONAL duties ard
with practical farming His application Of
science to agricultural practice brought
Mr. Wilson TO such national prominence
that Mir. Mckinley would have no other
man for Secretary Of Agriculture, and II
was significant that Col. Roosevelt and
MIR. Taft felt the same way about Wilson
and his ability.
Amorg his larger services, Mr.. Wilson
introduced into this country a number of
valuable crops which had been successful
Only in foreign countries. Among these
was d,srum wheat which came TO yield
$50, 600, 900 annually TO the farmers Of the
Northwest. He vastly extended the pos
sibilities of wheat growing. Under his
administration the beet sugar industry,
now of gigantic proportions, was fostered
and encouraged. A serum for hog cholera
was given TO the farmers and stock raiseTs.
The whole country was aroused To the inn
portaneo of tuberculosis In cattle and
great reforms We're made in dairy SANTA
ton and in the care of and handling of
milk The good roads movement began
and was energetically supported by Secre-
tary Wilson, who had sample roads CON
structed In various parts of the country as
object lessons.
Marion, Ohio, Aug. 27.-Senator Hard
ing issued a tribute today to James VIII
son, former Secretary of Agriculture, who
died yesterday.
1.-TWO men have won and deserved the
credit for planning, organizing and
launching departments of our govern
ment," said the Senator. Zone was
Alexander Hamilton, who created the
treasury establishment on the lines that
have been followed ever since. The other
was James Wilson, who, though not the
first Secretary of Agriculture, was the
man who placed that department on the
map and made it model that almost
every progressive government In the
world has copied. His death takes one of
the great Americans, TO whom the nation
owes debt of gratitude and high regard.