Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-13
Sketch of Career

every walk of life were ShoWered
upon the relatives here today.
Sketch of Career
1t was generally assumed In the
event the Republican party won the
national elections of 1921 that John
w. Weeks would be member of
President Harding's cabinet. His
selection for Secretary of the Navy
or Secretary of the Treasury was re-
gafded as certain. His success as g.
financier was recognized. His grad
uation at Annapolis and experience
in naval affairs had been recorded as
fitting him for the navy secretary
ship.
A big surprise came. however,
when President elect Harding an
nounced he would appoint Mr.
Weeks as Secretary of War.
rich life experience in the go
years preceding the appointment was
found to have equipped Mr.. Weeks
for that duty also. and he soon was
recognized as fortunate selection"
for the army. then facing the post
war problems of reorganization and
reduction to a peace time basis.
1t was said of him that he slid
into his job" the easiest of any of
the conglomerate details of army
administration with a thoroughness
and quickness that spelled confidence
throughout the War Department for
the staff officers and hundreds of
subordinate chiefs.
Those who sought light on the
methods used by the new secretary
soon found it. They had only to re-
view the many-sided life of the man,
which showed at a glance that he
had lived among live things, had
learned to know them and incident
ally had come to know himself.
From the time he was born on the
little New Hampshire farm near
Lancaster, April IL, 1860, he kept in
each stage of life an ever present
human viewpoint.
Until he was II he was doing
chores on the farm, and taking a
friendly interest in the horses and
other living things about the barn
yard. His graduation at the cross
roads school and local high school
placed him soon afterwards in the
school masters chair, also at a coun-
try cross roads in his native state.
He continued studying and learned
one thing well-that a little know
ledge was not enough.
The then young school master sue
ceeded at the age of IS in getting an
appointment to the Naval Academy
at Annapolis. where he was grad
uated four years later a midship-
man. But two more years sufflced to
kill what ambition then remained in
the mind of Midshipman Weeks for
a permanent post in the Navy. He
and number of his classmates re-
Sionnd Tho ty-n-fn1H
He failed personally to enthuse over
the service as lfes work end Con-
gress failed to appropriate funds for
new ships at a time when there was
a lack of vessels and a consequent
surplus of officers.
Incidents followed rapidly in the
life of Mr.. Weeks after his resignation
from the navy Though he continued
interest in that arm of the nations
defense, serving as volunteer during
the Spanish Americ War and later
accepting a reserve commission as
rear admiral, he turned away search
ing for new fields and livelihood
In 1885 Mr.. Weeks married Miss
Martha Sinclair and journeyed south
as 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 firm of Horn
Blower & Weeks, bankers, of Boston,
Mass. One of the biggest financial es-
adjustments in that part of the coun-
try thus was said to owe its success
in a large measure to the genius Of
this then young man not long away
from the farm.
Busy as was his career as a banker.
Mr.. Weeks found time for public serv-
ice. He contributed to the develop
ment of the Bay State Naval Brigade
and later commanded a brigade in the
rank of captain. His services during
the war with Spain were recognized
by personal commentator from The
chief of the auxiliary service-a regu-
lar naval officer.
In 1900 Captain Weeks began to at
tract attention in New England polit-
ical affairs and in prominent ranks of
the Republican party. A resident of
Newton, Mass, at that time, he held
many city officers and in 1902 was
elected mayor of Newton. Rapid
strides followed. He went to Congress
in 1905.
Courageous, able and friendly to the
leaders both of the Republican and
Democratic parties, Congressman
Weeks endeared himself to his col
leagues in the House. impressing them
by his obvious sincerity and compe-
tency. He took an important part in
shaping the Aldrich-Vreeland curren-
cy law as a member of the banking
and currency committee ard was infiu-
entail in obtaining it's passage. Presi-
dent Wilson found his advice valuable
M 1ff La l.
House for conferences during the Pc
riod when the federal reserve act was
in the making. Congressman Weeks,
meanwhile, had become Senator Weeks,
succeeding Winthrop Murray Crane of
Massachusetts,.
In the Senate, as in the House, Mr..
Weeks won quick recognition. His
services were rewarded by appointment
to important committees of that body.
As a member of the military commit
tee during the World War he staunch-
ly supported aggressive war measures
regardless of any question of party
politics.
He served in the Senate until 1919,
adding steadily in the meantime to his
national prominence. The Republican
national convention at Chicago In 1915
saw in him one of the leading candi-
dates for the presidential nomination.
Twenty-Five states cast los votes for
him. Only Charles Evans Hughes. the
nominee of that convention, polled
more votes than he.
Between the time Mr.. Weeks retired
from the Senate and his appointment
as secretary of war he devoted him
self almost exclusively to affairs of
the Republican party, taking the role
Of leader in the presidential cam
paign of 1920 and at the national con-
vention. where he helped bring about
the nomination of Warren G.. Harding.
AT that time he was tha national oo,,o