The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-06-15
alvin ]. HtRT DIES
SUDDENLY IN WASHINGTON
Republican National Committee
man and One Of Most Prom.
inent Men in State


state, died suddenly today at the
New Willard hotel here.
Mr.. Hert was fifty-six years of
age. He had come here to attend
the meeting of the Republican Ma
tional committee tomorrow.
Death was said to have been due
to apoplexy. He was taken i'll on
a train while coming here Sunday
night for the meeting and since had
been confined to his room.
Only recently Mr.. Hert had de-
clined to consider appointment by
President Harding as ambassador to
a foreign country, or as the presi-
dents representative on the gov
eminent Reorganization commission.
During the last presidential cam
paign he was member of the Re-
publican executive committee Of five
and at the national convention, was
the floor leader for Governor Low
den, Of Illinois. He had also been
prominently mentioned after the
election as a cabinet possibility and
later as the next Republican ma
tional chairman, but he declared
that he could not accept the latter
If it was rendered to him. In the
1915 presidential campaign he was
Western manager for the Republic
can party.
Congressman Langley and Rob-
inson, of Kentucky, and John Nc
Hilton, a personal friend, were
with him when he died. He had
remarked that he was feeling better
and started to sit up, it was said,
when death came. Funeral ar
rangements have not yet been made.
Mr.. Hert is survived by a widow.
Alvin Tobias Hert was born April
s, 1865 at Owensburg, Ind, son
of William and Isabel Hert, of Vir-
ginia stock, who had moved from
Crab Orchard, KY, and opened a
general store at Owensburg. His
father was born in Barren County,
Ky. Mr.. Hert was educated in the
public schools of his native town
and Bloomfield Academy.
AS a boy "Tobe" Hert was noted
for his brightness and self-confi-
dence. He worked in his fathers
store before reaching his teens.
Beginning his business career Mr..
Hert came to Louisville as a youth
and obtained position as travelling
salesman for a Main Street shoe
concern, Indiana being his territory.
Later he travelled as cigar sales
man with Brazil, Ind, his head
quarters. Opening store at Brazil
he quit his salesman position. Be-
fore he was 80 years old he was
elected Mayor of the city, thus be-
ginning his political career.
From 1895 until 1902 Mr.. Hert
was superintendent of the Indiana
RefOrmatory, Jacksonville. He
organized the American Creosoting
Company in 1904. opening the first
plant at Shirley. Ind. In 1915 he
was made Republican National Com
mitteeman from Kentucky. He was
Western campaign manager for
Charles Evans Hughes in the 1916
Presidential race.
Reelected National Committee
man from Kentucky in 1920, Mr..
Hert was leader in the national
convention that year and instrument
tai in the nomination of Senator
Warren G. Harding. He was a
member of the Republican Execu-
tive Committee of FIVE and adviser
of Will H. Hays in the management
of President Harding's campaign.
He recently declined appointment
as Ambassador to foreign country
or as the Presidents representative
on the Government Reorganization
Committee. He was mentioned for
a seat in President Harding's Cabi-
net.
Mr.. Hert was married in Bedford,
Ind, November 20, 1898, to Miss
Sally Alley. From the time their
joint capital established a little
business In Indiana until his death
Mr.. Hert never took business or
political step without advising with
her. His other survivors are two
sisters, Mrs. Harold l.. Arnold. Los
Angeles, and Mrs. Grace Fields.
Bloomfield. Ind, and two nephews.
Stanley H. Fields, Chicago, and
James A. Hert. Evansville. N. J. A
sister and two brothers died in re-
cent years.
Among his extensive business
positions he was president Of the