Imperial Valley press., 1928-03-31
DEATH OF
WILLIS IS
DEPl0RFD
Sudden Passing of Ohio's
Candidate For President
Stuns Country. ID
STRICKEN AT RALLY
End Follows Statement
That He 'Never Felt
Better In Life" "a


DELAWARE, Ohio, March 3i.--
Clio, the "mother of presidents,
TO-DAY embraced in death its faver-
ite son for the 1928 Republican
presidential nation-Senator
Frank b. Willis.
Willis died last night as grea'
crowd gathered in rally at his
hrme city to listen to his address,
aimed towards his own presidential
candidacy.
~ feel ill., Willis said as the
I olumbus Republican Glee club
sang eat the End of Perfect
bay.
\ few minutes later he was dead.
There was great demonstration
for Willis during the evening. The
%iwanis club banqueted him.
Later he stood at reviewing
sand, silhouetted against a sky rcd
dened by torches-and watched MS
townspeople parade in his honor.
Once or twice he complained that
e had inhaled some of the smoke
from the red flares.
Then he went to the gray chapel
Of Ohio Wesleyan University which
.sas filling rapidly with admirers.
He was led to the place of honor on
ihe platform and the leading citi-
zens of Delaware joined him.
A glee club finished the musical
part of the program. The singers
were in the midst of Carrie Jacobs
Bond 5 melody when Willis complain.
ed of feeling i'll.
Mrs.~Willis was at his side. She
did not realize the seriousness of
Ter husband s illness and did not
accompany him out of the hall, re-
naming behind to hear the glee
club finish "a Perfect Day. and
begin "How Can I Leave Thee e''s
Outside the chapel Willis tainted.
He was carried into the president 8
Office and Dr. James Dorranee was
called from the audience. The doe
tor arrived just as the senator died.
Death was attributed to cerebral
heporrhage.
Mrs. Willis, meanwhile, had been
called from the platform. She was
grief stricken.
Bruce Rurgess, president of the
delaware Wilis-forPr club,
went back into the chapel and there
announced that Ohio s favorite son
and Delaware s first citizen was
dead.
The 5000 or more persons who had
come to cheer Willis were stunned.
There was a hush over the room.
The body later was taken to an
undertaking parlor and will be held
PENDING arrival of the senator IS
two brothers, Dr. Lloyd Willis, OF
Clicago, and Buell. Willis, of Lewis.
Center, Ohio. Mrs. Willis was taken
to her home at Galena, Ohio. A
daughter, teacher at Ohio North
1rn University at Ada, was advised
of her father S death.
Funeral arrangements will not ba
announced until the brothers arrive.
The Hoover campaign in Ohio VIII
continue. But there viii be no cam
Faigiing now until after the Willis
tdneral. Any suggestions that Hoover
IS retiring from Ohio crest upon u
misapprehension," Hoover's head
| quarters said.
The Senate adjourned today ont
Of respect for Willis memory.
Senator Fcss, Willis colleague, IN
;roduced a resolution of sorrow and
made Il motion for adjournment,
which was Immediately adopted. A
committee of senators was appointed
to attend Willis funeral. 1t includes
Tess, Dill Curtis, Robinson of Ark
ansas; Moses, Gingham, McKellai,
Jones and Robinson of Indiana.
The House likewise adjourned in
respect to Willis, after adopting res
'utions expressing profound sor-
rrW.
Speaker Lorgworth appointed tic
entire Ohio delegation as commits
tee from the House to attend tho
funeral