Evening star., 1928-04-07
Senator Willis Sudden Death
Shocked and Touched Country

The death OF Senator Frank b. Willis
Of Ohio In the midst OF his vigorous
campaign for the votes OF Ohio dele
gates TO the Republican National Con-
vention shocked and toucneo MS
countrymen everywhere.
"The end came dramatically" the
San Antonio Express points out. al
the climax of such honors as any states
man might covet-the plaudits OF MS
fellow townsmen 1t is more often the
privilege OF the soldier than OF the po-
iiticaI leader to die thus in the hey
day OF a triumph A Hindu bard PIC
t,,res man striving long and hard IN
his climb to fame and fortune-ano
i,ist as the prize seems within his grasp,
Death appears on the scene. That Is
the universal lot, but in such taxing
of as this the lesson strikes home
The nation shares the shock and grieI
of his neighbors and colleagues a. SEN
ator Willis sudden death"
"At the height of his career, IN a
little lull from campaign fighting, guest
OF his own home town OF Delaware.
happy in the great reception they gave
hiri,--why should we call 1t tragedy
when A man Is spared the shocks and
the leave takings of the descending
vears?" asks the Milwaukee Journal
which adds: But we do ask why. This
sudden death must have had something
TO do with the campaign. And we re-
member that less than an hours rlde
from Delaware. Ohio. lies man VINO
went from the Senat eto the presidency,
only 10 die after brief two years. We
are asking too much of our Presidents,
we said then. Are our candidates ask
ing too much Of nature?"
"Rarelv does death strike without
warning at so shining public target,
SAYS the Syracuse Herald. which mas,
In addition to his qualities as an orator
and as holder Of Offices OF trust, that
"last but not least was his claim TO
public respect as an outspoken ana un~
compromising advocate Of the prohi-
bition cause In an era when nine am-
bilious politicians out Of every ten are
bereft OF courage and candor whenever
that issue Is mentioned"
IAN outstanding citizen In every re-
psect. Congressman. governor ana
United States Senator" remarks the
Boston Transcript, mfr. Willis achieved
about all of the political glory that
usually falls TO the lot of one man. Nor
was he a atalking-h0rse candidate for
the presidency. in the sense that Wat"
son Of Indiana and some other gentle
men In both parties may be: for no one
knowing Mr.. Willis would deny that his
heart was set on the presidential goal.
and had been for many years, and that.
az far as he was concerned, his canui"
dacy was as genuine as that OF any
other leader on either side"
n n
"Reliable performance In several of
fees OF trust" Is held b. the Grand
Rapids Press 70 be the reason for his
rise To political eminence," The Utica
Observer Dispatch speaks OF him an "a
man OF high ideals and lofty conception
OF duty In public office" and says that
while he could not have won the nom"
nation this year, had he been nom"
mated and elected, his past record IN"
dicates that he would have been a
good President" with similar View as
10 his prospects, the Philadelphia Eve
ming Bulletin states that senator
willis himself IL said to have enter
tanned hope of the vague possibility OF
a deadlock In the convention, In which
circumstance this lightning might come
his way"
I'VE may believe that II accident had
made his aspirations mAterialize ne
would never have diggraeed the prest~
Eagle, The BeIlingham Herald ape
praises him as "a man of ability, of
high integrity and popularity IN Ohio" !"
but says that "it was admitted that his
chances nf nomination we're almost NIL. !"
The Detroit Fsfee Press seela that the
upper house of Congress is deprived nnf
. member the body could NJ AFFORD "