Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
WEEKS DIES At eG;;
FUNERAL SERVICES
MASSACHUSETTS
War Secretary Under Hard
ing and Coolidge Fought
Long for Health.
HAD NOTABLE CAREER
IN CONGRESS, 1s05-1s1s
Figured in Controversy Over Air
craft Burial Planned Later
in Arlington Cemetery.
By the Associated Press.

by the ASSOCIATED PreeG.
LANCASTER, N. H., July 12.-John
w. Weeks, former Senator and War
Secretary. quietly slipped from state
OF coma into death early today. He
had waged a long fight with the III
ness which forced him to submit his
resignation as cabinet member to
President Coolidge In 1925. His con-
dition became critical soon after he
returned to his native town, and on
Sunday he lapsed into the coma from
which he never reused.
Mrs. Weeks, his son, Sinclair Weeks,
and his daughter, Mrs. John Washing
ton Davidge of washington, were
with him when he died.
DIR. r. z. Wilder Of Whitehead, PER-
sonal physician to Mr.. Weeks, was
also at the lodge on Mount Prospect.
He pronounced death due to angina
pectoris.
Born on Farm In $780,
It was on farm in this small White
Mountain community that Mr.. Weeks
was born 66 years ago. and here he
spent his youth. During his business
career In Boston and between the ses-
sions Of Congress he had sought rest
and seclusion in his lodge at the top
OF Mount Prospect. More than once
the keen mountain air had sent him
back to the cities recuperated and re-
freshed. When his last illness came
upon him he made q sea trip to South
America, and then journeyed to Cali
fornia.
Obtaining only q temporary RELIEF.
he turned naturally once more to his
birthplace, where so often he had re-
gained health and strength. This time
he failed and slowly sank to death.
Funeral ~serdces viii be held on
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at
the home in West Newton. Mass, Of
Sinclair Weeks. son Of the former
Secretary.
Village Mourns ITS Loss.
Ever nince his return here the
people had watched with anxiety the
battle with death being Waged on the
hillside
The news as It Travelled from door
step to doorstep this morning caused
no surprise, but brought expressions
Of. sympathy.
Lancaster. nearly the Iorthernmost
Of the White Mountain towns, at this
season OF the year Is normally wear
ing an air Of gaiety and hustle as the
Summer visitors ana tourists pour n
for their vacations. Today the fiaes
at half star and the little groups
quietly discussing the life OF the man
who lay dead on Mount Prospect gave
q changed appearance to the village.
Appointment Surprise.
It was generally assumed in the
event the Republican party won the
national elections Of 1920 that John
w. Weeks would be member of
President Harding's cabinet His Sc
lection for Secretary Of the Navy or
Secretary OF the Treasury was re-
garded as certain. His success as a
hnancier was recognized. His gradua.
ton at Annapolis and exuerience in
naval affairs had been recorded a.
fitting him for the Navy secretary.
ship.
A big surprise came, however, when
President-elect Harding announced he
would appoint Mr.. Weeks as Secretary
Of War.
It was said Of him that he '.slid into
his job" the easiest Of any Of the
other cabinet officers and grasped the
conglonaerate details OF Array admin.
istration with a thoroughness and
quickness that spelled confidence
throughout the War Department for
the stan officers and hundreds Of sub
ordinate chiefs.
He was born on little New Hamp.
shire farm near Lancaster, April II,
1860.
Attended Annapolis.
Until he was IL he was doing
chores on the farm. His graduation
at the crossroads School and local hixh
school placed him soon afterward in
the schoolmaster's chair, also al 4
country crossroads in his native
State.
The young schoolmaster succeeded
at the age of 1S In getting an an
p0intment to the Naval Academy at
Annapolis where he was graduated
four years later. But two more years
suficed to XIII what ambition then
remained In the mind Of Midshipmaii
Weeks for q permanent post IN the
Navy. He and Q number OF his
classmates resigned. He failed per-
as q life's work and Congress failed
to appropriate funds for new ships at
q time when there was q lack Of
vessels and q consequent surplus Of
officers
Though he continued interest in
that arm OF the Nations dekenSs.
serving as q volunteer during the
Spanish American War, and later &C.
cepting q reserve commission as rear
admirah he turned away, searchin9
for new fields and livelihood.
Married In 1885.
In 1885 Mr.. Weeks married Miss
Martha Sinclair and journeyed south
as q surveyor and land commissioner
for the Florida Southern Railroad.
Three years later he returned to New
England, joining partnership in what
grew to be the thriving frm Of Horn
blower = Weeks. bankers. Of Boston,
Mass.
Busy as was his career as q banker.
Mr.. Weeks found time for public
service He contributed to the de-
veIopment Of the Bay state Naval
BRIGADE and later commanded bri.
gade in the rank OF captain. His
services during the war with Spain
were recognized by personal com
mendation from the chief Of the
auxiliary service.
IN 1900. Capt. Weeks began to at
tract attention In New England politi-
cal AFFAIRS and In prominent ranks
Of the Republican party. A resident
of Newton, Mass, ct that time, he
held many city offices and. In 1907,
was elected mayor Of Newton. Rnpl1