Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-29

Pride in the career OF patriotic
and able American citizen is reflected
in widespread newspaper comment on
the death of John w. Weeks. When
he retired from the Coolidge cabinet
last year, this son of New England
had served the Nation as an officer of
the Navy, as Representative in Con-
gress and Senator. and finally as Sec
rotary of War during the dfncult
period of reconstruction following the
World War. In private life he was
an eminently successful business man.
at was easy to see in him an aver
age citizen of high purpose says the
Detroit News independent. "a man
not beyond the range of ones own
circle and yet exemplifying IN heroic
PROPORTIONS those common virtues OF
EVERYDAY life. Washington, knowing
him through many years service. re-
garded him with affection for his char
acter and with admiration for his
ability. The Nation should be proud
and happy fon the possession OF sucn
men, for while great genius appears In
emergency to assume the leadersnlp'
it IL the lesser men of sound integrity,
unadulterated loyalty and great devo-
ton who, when, as in this case, they
are able men. form the enduring eie
ment in national life.
The Baltimore Sun independent
finds cause for comment in the fact
that while Mr. Weeks was a strict
party man, a member of the coterle
which for a number of years domi-
mated the Republican pational organi-
"a tion he was not a time-Serving poll
tician" The Sun estimates his serV.
ices as revealing executive talent OF
a high order. a constructive nina ana
a. nd cd
in both houses of Congress he made
his influence felt. particularly in fur
thering sound financial legislation, his
training and experience as business
man giving weight TO his counsel.
X u
Declaring that he gave the Nation
a service for which his memory de-
serves reverence" the Wichita Beacon
dndependent Republican, ranks Mr..
weeks as "a many sided man" who In
all his capacities was able, patriotic
and effective The Hartford Times
independent Democratic). while un.
willing to concede to him the status of
q statesman. remarks that lin long,
distinguished business and public ca
reer, he won the warm regard of many
friends" and that he rendered no.
table public service as a volunteer
naval reserve officer during the Span
ish War"
The Reno Evening Gazette Repub-
Hcan), also emphasizing his military
service, refers to the fact that in the
war with Spain che was comma nder
of the second naval division on the
Atlantic coast, and in the House and
Senate his knowledge OF Navy matters
was invaluable. AS q member OF the
commission on military operations In
the World War" continues the Ga
zette. Ibis knowledge of conditions in
the Army and Navy again come into
play, and the consequent readJust-
ment of operations. In the ordnance,
iuuartermaster' and airplane.pf
ton departments may be said to nave
been in great measure due to his IN
| fiuence."
"Secretary Weeks was a big, capa-
| Bile. efficient man for the place he oc-
cupied," according to the Birming-
ham News independent Democratic).
which adds: During the Harding and
| Coolidge administrations he had been
| a safe and sound counselor; and long
| since he would have returned to his
| vast private business interests IL IT
I had not been for his Willingness TO
| serve those who believed his presence
| in the cabinet was vitality important.
| His personality was distinct asset to
the administration he served"
Referring to Mr.. Weeks position as
| a power in Congress and to the JIM
| portant part ne took In framing the
| Aldrich- Vreeland currency law and
!! the Federal Reserve banking act" the
Buffalo Evening News Republican,
| recognizes that both in Congress and
| in the cabinet he was g. conservative
Republican and steadying influence.
| The Oklahoma City Daily Oklahcman
| (Democratic), comedies to him q place
i as q, real factor in the making Of po-
| litical history" and affirms that for
| tunately for the Army it was Weeks
who remained to bring order and re-
| tain an establishment out Of the reac-
| ton from the armistice." The reor-
| ganiMng task following the war, the
| Oakland Tribune independent Re-
| publican) says, demanded yeoman
| service in the War Department" and
| Mr.. Weeks did a needed work and did
stit xsreit ~ ID