Evening star., 1924-10-26
HENRY c. WALLACE,
CABINET MEMBER,
DEAD OF TOXEM|A
Poisoning Setting In After
Operation Fatal to Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
EAST ROOM TO BE SCENE
OF FUNERAL TOMORROW
President Coolidge Says Nation
Loses Valuable Official-Half-
Holiday Ordered.

Henry C. Wallace, Secretary of Ag-
riculture. died at o'clock yesterday
afternoon at the Naval Hospital OF
toNemia poisoning, which developed
after an operation performed last
week in an effort to relieve sciatica
He was in his 59th year.
Death came peacefully after long
hours of unconsciousness, and after
medical science was unable longer tc
check the ravages of the poison. Al
the bedside were Mrs. Wallace and
their daughter, Miss Ruth. No other
members of the family were in the
city.
Statement by Physician.
DIR. Joel r. Boone, one of the White
House physicians, who had been In
constant attendance since the Secre-
tary. was taken to the hospital, is
sued the following statement:
The Secretary died at 4 o'clock
He slept very quietly. Mrs. Wallace
and her daughter Ruth were present
Immediate cause of death was bacter-
emia, and the contributory cause was
cholecystitis, Inflammation Of the
gall bladder"
News shock to City.
The death of the Secretary, al
though expected throughout the day,
came as a shock to official Washing
ton, and to his many friends, both in
the city and the country. After the
operation, Mr.. Wallace began to i'm
prove. and it was thought that he
was convalescing rapidly.
AS late as Thursday night, the Sec
retary'S condition was not considered
alarming, and at that time Mr.. Wal
lace instructed DIR. Boone that the
Agricultural Department might is
sue a denial of recurring report
that he expected to resign his cabi-
net post about the first of the year.
The report had persisted for some
time, and several friends were pre-
pared for sich a step because of the
Secretary's health.
His condition after the operation
became serious Friday, as an infec-
tion developed and the poison began
spreading through the Secretary's
system. Despite every effort of physi-
clans his condition steadily grew
worse. Mr.. Wallace lapsed into un-
consciousness in the early hours of
yesterday and as the morning wore
away, physicians, although still
clingiQg to feeble hope that a
change for the better might occur,
announced that his constitution was
weakening rapidly.
Hope Ebbs at Noon.
Shortly before noon it was said his
condition could hardly be more un-
favorable and it was feared that it
was only a question as to how long
his heart action would hold out Sew
eral times in the afternoon it was
thought he way dying, but each time
the Secretary retained his hold on the
thin thread of life until he passed
peacefully away.
In the hospital comforting Mrs.
Wallace and her daughter throughout
the day was Mrs. Weeks, wife of the
Secretary of War. and James C.
Davis, director of the Railroad Ad-
ministration and Mrs. Davis, close
friends of the family
AS soon as Mrs. Wallace returned
TO her home from the hospital Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge called upon
her to offer their condolences.
Later. in letter to Mrs. Wallace,
the President said:
Sees LOSS to Country.
Il am writing to you of the shock
come to Mrs. Coolidge and myself
with the news of your distinguished
husbands death. Though we had fol-
lowed with much solicitude the re-
ports from the beginning of his ILL
ness, 1t had not seemed possible, un-
til very near the end, that this great
loss could come to the country.
Il do not need to tell you that all
of us who had been associated SO
long with him share with you in the
sorrow which this hour has brought
entire nation, for his fine qualities
and able, untiring services had en-
deared him to all the people. Coming
from private life to the post of Sec
retary of Agriculture at a time in
which it's administration was sur
rounded by acute and unprecedented
difficulties, he brought a particularly
effective equipment of wisdom, in
dustry and executive capacity
Through their unsparing application
he achieved splendid series of sue
cesses in behalf of the restoration
and rehabilitation of this supremely
important national interest. His work
has won for him the unstinted conf
dence of all citizens, as his high
character and appealing personal
qualities gained for him the affection
of all who enjoyed the privilege of
intimacy with him.
Cancels All Engagements.
ITO you and the others of his FAM
lily + extend for Mrs. Coolidge and
myself the profoundest condolences
We want you to know that we share
with you alike in your sorrow, and in
the pride that must be yours as you
contemplate the splendid legacy. that
his great career has left to you and
TO all who are nearest to him."
The proclamation formally announc-
ing the death of Secretary Wallace
was issued last night by Joseph C..
Grew, Acting Secretary of State. 1t
ordered the National flag to- be dis
played at half mast on all public
buildings throughout the country
from now until the burial at Des
Moines on Wednesday. 1t also di-
rected that the executive departments
here be closed Monday. the day of
the funeral, from 8 am. until 1 pm.
His death is a grevious sorrow to
the Government and people of the
country the proclamation said.
-'They have lost an upright and able
public servant, His kindly sympathy.
his generous willingness to aid, his
wholehearted devotion to the inter-
ests Of his fellow countrymen. en-
deared him to all. He rose to a place