The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-12-05
ILLINOIS LOSES VETERAN
SOLON IN j. K. MANN
Legislator Passes at Washing ton
Eicme After Brief Illness; Was
Member 26 Years
Washington. Nov. 30.-RcpreSe


tativc James r. Mann of Illinois died
!, his home here tonight after brief
illness.
Mr.. Mann who had served for a
quarter Of a century as a member Of
the house, was stricken q week ago
with a chill. Pneumonia developed,
his condition became desperate, and
the end came at ll:l5 O'Clock.
With him at the end were Mrs.
Mann and the physicians. Il was
said that although he had recently
passed two restless nights his cond:-
ton did not definitely develop for the
worst until o'clock this afternoon.
He rallied slightly at six o'clock but
again suffered relapse and sank rap
idly. The end was peaceful.
No plans were made for the fun
eral tonight but it was said that the
sergeant-at-ar Of the house would
be communicated with tomorrow to
assist in making the arrangements.
Il is understood that funeral ser
vice IN Chicago is in contemplation
and that Mr.. Mann Will be buried
there beside his son who died four
wears ago. He is survived by his
widow
Favored Ship Bill
The veteran legislator, an ardent
advocate of the shipping blll, sent
wcrd 10 the house leaders early IN
the week and again yesterday that
while he was i'll he would go to the
capitol ana help in the fight if need
ed. He was urged to stay at home,
although none Of his friends realized
that his condition was serious. One
Of his colleagues, Representative Sa-
bath, Democrat, Illinois, against the
t:l, was paired with him, and so Mr.
Mann was recorded in the vote.
In the words Of friends and foe,
Mr.. Mann was the best Informed man
Of the details of government that ev-
er sat in the halls of congress.
The outstanding features Of his
long career as member of the house
of observation-disclosures over a
seriod of more than a quarter of a
century-were absolute courage and
independence and knowledge Of leg
islation, pending and past. There was
nothing too little to escape his eye;
there was no man or measure he fear
ed to attack.
Record of Service
Yet by his own direction, the rec
ord of his distinguished service was
summed up in less than line and a
half of the Congressional Record:
Republican Of Chicago; was born
in 1856; was elected to the 55th and
each succeeding congress-
That meant IS continuous terms or
2S years. He was reelected this month
and indeed it has been said that the
people Of his district were determin-
ed to keep him in the house as long
as he lived.
! If jim Mann ever felt the sting Of
defeat when his party in caucus fail
ed to select him as speaker after ne
had served as minority leader during
the S wears of Democratic house con-
troll, mis- friends did not know it.
When Gillett of Massachusetts, was
named, Mann was offered the place
as leader of the party, then in pow
er. but he declined. Thereafter he
held sway as the free lance of the
house, and as chairman of the COM
mittee on committees, which assigned
members to committee seats, his
power was equal if not greater than
that of the speaker himself.
Would Not Accept Office
! When the Republican majority in
! the 6Sth congress was cut in the 1922
; election from 169 to less than a
score. the silent power of Mann was
counted on for possible house up
hcaval. Months before ne had de-
clared he never would accept the
sneakership or the leadership. But
his friends set to work quietly in his
behalf. Mann heard Of it, and re-
iterated his announcement.
! While the talk was running thick.
Mann. meeting reporters, was asked
about it.
Il have said before and | say
now" he stated, with an emphatic
sweep Of the arm. that l would not
accept the speakership or the leader
ship if it were brought to NE Oh a
gold platter
May we print that. a reporter
asked.
+ Yes. and I hope you will" Mr..
Mann replied.