The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-07-15
JOHN W. WEEKS, WAR
SECRETARY, dies AT
HIS SUMMER HOME

One of Americas most prominent
men, John w. Weeks, secretary of the
War department under Presidents
Harding and Coolidge, died at his
summer home at Lancaster, New
Hampshire Monday morning. Death
was due to angina pectoris after a
long battle against failing health. Mr.
Weeks died without recovering con-
seriousness from the coma into which
he had lapsed early Sunday. Mrs,
Weeks and his son and daughter were
at the bedside when the end came.
Funeral services tor Jonn w. Weeks,
will be held this afternoon at his
home in West Newton, Massachusetts,
and his body will be temporarily plac-
ed in vault which will be transferred
later to a permanent resting place in
Arlington National cemetery. Burial
in Arlington will be arranged in ac-
crodance with the wish often express
ed by the former secretary of war.
Mr.. Weeks was born on little
New Hampshire farm, April II, 1860
Until the age of II he was doing
chores on the farm and taking a
friendly interest in the horses and
other living things about the barn
yard. At the age of Is he succeeded
in getting an appointment to the naval
academy at Annapolis where he was
graduated four years later as mid
shipman. Later he resigned from the
navy.
In 1885 Mr.. Weeks married Miss
Martha Sinclair and journeyed South
as surveyor and land commissioner
Three years later he joined partner
ship in thriving bankers firm in New
York.
Long office hours and neglect Of
his health are attributed to Mr.
Weeks sickness. Only few knew
that his sufferings resulted from {
march to Arlington Cemetery from
the state capitol, distance of A miles
to pay his tribute to one of Americas
unknown warriors who was brought
to Arlington from France for inter
ment. Mr.. Weeks had insisted upor
walking as one of the mourners which
tested the physical endurance of mer
of sounder strength than his 81 years
had left him.
In the year 1900 Mr.. Weeks begar
to attract considerable attention il
New England political affairs and il
prominent ranks of the republican
party. He held many city offices, fol
lowed by rapid strides until he wen
to Congress in 1905.
In the senate, as in the house, Mr.
Weeks won quick recognition. Hi
services were rewarded by appoint
ment to important committees of tina
body.
Courageous, able and friendly to tn
leaders both of Republican and Dem
ocratic parties, Congressman Week
endeared himself to his colleagues il
the house, impressing them by his OBJ
vious sincerity and competency.
He served in the senate until 1915
adding steadily in the meantime to hi
national prominence. The Republical
national convention at Chicago, i
1916 saw him one of the leading can
didates for the presidential nomina
ton. Twenty-Five states cast 105 vote
for him. Only Charles Evans Hughes
the nominee of that convention, pole
more votes than he.
Between the time Mr.. Weeks retire
from the senate and his appointment
as secretary of war, he devoted him
self almost exclusively to affairs o
the Republican party, taking the rol
of leader in the presidential cam
paign in 1920 and at the national con
yention, where he helped bring abou
the nomination of Warren G. Harding
At that time he was the national com
mitteeman from Massachusetts. Late
he was a member of the Republica
national campaign committee of five
Harding's First Choice
In appreciation for his services an
in recognition of his value to the gov
eminent about to be inaugurated, Nj
Weeks was one of the first selection
made by President Harding when h
was choosing his cabinet. His was tn
difficult and complex task of readjust
ing the military establishment, dis
posing equipment, adjusting contrat
tors claims, and bringing to a clos
thousands of activities of similar nj
ture which his predecessor had init
ated.