Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-18
FRANKLIN K. LANE DEAD;
WAS IN WILSON CABINET
As Interstate Commerce Head
and Secretary Of interior He
Gave Service to the Country.

BY Associated preas to Every Evening.
Rochester. Mimi. May fs.--Franklin
x. Lane. former Secretary Of the In
terror, died al a local hospital early this
morning. Death vas due 10 an attack
Of angina pect0ris. He was 81 years
old.
Mr. Lane was operated on here May
6 for gall stones and appendicitis and
was said TO be recovering when heart
disease from which he had suffered
from time to time during the past eight
months developed.
Hospital physicians expressed the be-
lief that the operation would remove
the heart affection. but an attack early
today developed fatally.
Immediately after he had recovered
from the influence Of the anEsthetlc
Mr.. Lane said Il am surprised 10 be
alive. | hope to be able 70 live long
life doing good things for others with
out thoughts OF money Mr.. Lane
left no estate.
Following his Resignation from the
Wilson cabinet Mr. Lane sought 70 re-
cover his health and came here in Janu-
ary OF this year. He was advised to
spend the winter in a warmer climate
and visited in California. returning
early this month His condition was
favorable for an operation and con-
tinued Improvement was noted until
the heart attack which developed this
morning.
F,ranlg,i1 knight Lane was born on
Prince EDWARD Island, Canada. in 1864
Early in life he moved 70 California
where he attended the State University.
He was a reporter. correspondent for
papers. and later part owner and editor
of the Tacoma Daily News. After his
admission TO the California bar in 1883,
he practiced Law in San Francisco,
where. as corporation or city counsel
from 1897 to 1902, he made reputa-
tion for efficiency and honesty.
He was the unsuccessful Democrats
candidate for Governor of California
in 1902 and for United States Senator
in 1903. In 1905 he was appointed BY
President Roosevelt 10 the Interstate
Commerce Commission and served until
1913 with much success.
This non-partisan appointment was
received with satisfaction throughout
the country. and Lanes elevation to
the chairmanshir of the commission in
1913 was also widely endorsed
In 1913 he accepted the invitation &c
enter the cabinet of President Wilson
as Secretary of the Interior In this
office he urged conservation of coal
lands and was Instrumental in securing
the passage of the Alaska Railway bin
of 1914, providing for a government
built road He retired from the cabinet
shortly before the end of the admins
tration because of ill-health.
one of the illuminating ineidentals OF
Mr.. Lanes splendid services as a mem
Der of the cabinet of President Wilson
was his Flag Day address to the at
taches of the Interior Department al
washington. His apostrophe TO the
stars and stripes was mastery. in
spring effort in patriotism, that stirred
the country from one end to the other
with applause ard other expressions OF
highest appreciation.
In this memorable address Mr.. Lane
made the flag speak in explanation OF
what ii is and What il stands for, The
effect was indeed remarkable in bring
ing TO the public the real and true
meaning of our national emblem
Mrs Lane and George w. Lane. a
brother. were called to the former sec
retary's bedside shortly before 5 a. M
today and were with him when he died
Last night it was thought Mr.. Lane
was much improved. His brother
spent several hours with him and when
he left Mr.. Lane said. See you in the
morning"
Although Mr.. Lane said following this
| operation that he was surprised to be
| alive his Improvement had been SC
/ marked that his death was unexpected
| His son. Franklin X. Lane, 1r. and his
t daughter. Mrs. Phillip Kaufman, d
/ Washington. were at their homes wher
| his father died, as was his sister. Mrs
NJ. A. Andersen. Of Oakland, Cal
George W, Lane said this morning
that his brother left mo estate whatso.
ever
/ Mr.. Lanes body win be taken 4
/ Chicago tonight accompanied by nj,
broth1 and his widow
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