San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-01
CONGRESSMAN,
DRY LAWS FOE,
IS DEAD At So
Cochran, Fiery Representa-
tive Of Tammany Hall,
Expires.
JUST HAD BIRTHDAY
Nominated al Smith for
President-Fought
Farm Credits.
JUST HAD BIRTHDAY
Washington. ID. C.. March Rep.

Washington, ID. C., March 1.-Rep-
resentative w. Bourke Cochran, Dem
ocrat, New York, died suddenly TO-
day.
Mr.. Cochran who celebrated his
sixty-ninth birthday yesterday. became
i'll last night and died early today.
He was on the floor of the Houst last
night and made a spirited speech in
opposition TO the pending farm credits
bill.
Mr.. Cockran's death came as an i'm
mediate result of stroke of apoplexy.
it was said at his home.
A native of ireland, educated in
France and the United States and ac-
tive for many years in the legal pro-
fession and in politics, Mr.. Cochran
was one of the picturesque forces III
American public life. He was an ora
tor Of the old school. endowed with
a remarkable voice and with a delivery
and diction that long ago won him a
place among the most eloquent orators
Of the country.
In politica,l Mr., CocbSan was q
wheel horse of Tammany Hall, whose
battles he fought in New York and
elsewhere on many occasions. AT the
last Democratic national convention at
San Francisco, he made the speech
nominating Governor Al Smith for the
presidency, an oratorical efforS which
carried the convention into prolonged
demonstration savoring of old time re-
vival meeting" polite. He also ad-
dressed the convention in favor of a
plank endorsing the manufacture OF
light wines and beer.
Foe Of Prohibition.
An unrelenting foe of the prohibi-
ton amendment and the Nolstead Act,
Mr.. Cochran never lost an opportunity
to denounce what he termed their
invasion of personal liberty" Often
in the House he voiced in vigorous
terms his protest against laws which
he said attempted to govern the
morals of the people and. on these oc-
casions, his appearance in debate al
ways was signal for scurrying OF
members from the cloak rooms to hear
him. He was quick at reparatee and
unusually nimble in debate.
His speeches were always extern
poraneous.
One OF Mr.. Cochran's biggest efforts
came during the recent furry in the
House aroused by Representative up-
shaw's demand that public officials
observe the letter of the dry laws.
That time. in an impassioned address
of an hour. he told the House that
the Volstead Act never could be en-
forced.
His Last Speech.
In his last speech. delivered in the
House last night against the farm
credits bill. Mr.. Cochran spoke with
all his usual fire and dash. He gave
the House n word picture of attempts
he said had been made for several hun
dred years TO improve conditions ~
similar methods and declared they al
ways had proved disastrous.
ANY law which endeavors to help
one class of people at the expense
of the other class" he shouted. LEADS
to ruin"
Mr.. Cochran first was elected TO the
House of Representative for a term
in 1887. He came back in 1871 Tor
two more terms but. in 1S0G. he de-
clined 10 follow the free silver banner
of William Jennings Bryan. broke
with the national party organization.
and left Congress. He returned to the
party in 1900. when he campaigned
for Bryan and. in 1904. he was again
elected 10 the House. This time be
remained there for five years. Mt the
end OF which time he declined 10 be-
come n candidate for reelection. In
1920. however. he again yielded to the
lure of the parliamentary give-and-
take fs loved so well and was again
elected TO n seat in the House. He was
reelected last November.
He had geen especially active dur
ing the sresent session of Congress
and had planned trip TO Europe
this summer Until few days ago he
apnarentlv had been in perfect health.
Congress In Gloom.
News of Mr.. Cockran's sudden re-
moval from the activities of Congress
cast n shadow OH the House as u
reassembled today to resume its con-
sideration Of. the credits measure.
81 am shocked almost beyond ex-
preston said Representative Garrett
of Tennessee. the Democratic leader.
"Mr. Cochran has been not only
nationally known but an information
ally known character for more than
30 years. He was one of the foremost
orators of all the centuries. S..
Uncle Joe Cannon said Mr.. Cochran
was the "most graceful and forcefui
speaker" who had come to Congress
in mnnv years. Representative. Mur-
dell. of Wyoming. the Republican floor
leader. declared his death meant the
passiny of the greatest orator OF his