Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-27
STEPHEN PORTER,
STATESMAN, DIES
Pennsylvania Representative
20 Years Was Bitter Foe
of Drug Evil.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press
PITTSBURGH. June 27-The bril-
liant career of Stephen G. Porter, one
of the Nations foremost statesmen, is
ended.
Mr.. Porter died at 2:40 am. eastern
daylight timel today in Allegheny Cen
eral Hospital, while messages of solicit
tude and sympathy poured in from all
over the world. Members of his family
we're at the bedside.
The chairman of the House Of Repre-
sentatives foreign affairs committee,
leader in the wcSld-wide fight for con-
troll of habit-forming drugs and dean
Of the Pennsylvania congressional dele
cation, lapsed into unconsciousness early
yesterday and sank rapidly.
Mr.. Porter became i'll about two
months ago. He was stricken while
aboard ship en- route from London June
II. He was brought to Pittsburgh from
Walter Reed Hospital, in Washington.
Death was due to cirrhosis of the liver.
Messages Pour In.
As Mr.. Porter waged the last hours of
his fight for life, messages poured into
his home and to the sick room from
high Government officials and from
many parts Of the world expressing
sympathy and solicitude.
A cablegram came tonight from DR..
Alfred SEE, Chinese Ambassador to Lon
don, who was associated with Mr.. Por-
ter in the narcotic conference in
Geneva.
Funeral services for Mr. Porter will be
held Monday at pm. eastern day.
light time) at the residence of his
brother and law partner, L. K. Porter
at Ellsworth, a suburb. The Rev. DR..
w. I, Wishsrt. pastor of the Eighth
United Presbyterian Church, a life
long friend of Mr. Porter, will have
charge of the services.
The body will be buried in High
wood Cemetery beside that Of his wife.
Prominent in G. o. P. Politics 20 Years.
Representative Porter was 81 years
old. He was a prominent figure in Re-
publican politics of Pennsylvania for
the past 90 years, and became a ma
War, while Congress and the Nation
sought solution to the gigantic problems
growing out of that conflict.
After the treaty of Versailles was
signed Mr.. Porter took a leading part
in the conferences which resulted in the
knoX-Porter resolutions, forming the
basis for restoring diplomatic and COM
nnercial relations with Germany and
Austria Hungary.
- Elected to Congress in 1910 from the
thtrty-second Pennsylvania district, a
Republican stronghold, Mr.. Porter was
returned to Washington at each sue
ceeding election for many years. When
the Republican party again assumed
control of Congress in 1919, Mr.. Porter,
by virtue of his seniority, became chair
man OF the House foreign affairs COM
mittee, and it was in that capacity that
he became prominent figure in settle
ment of postwar problems.
Consulted by Presidents.
His ability and intimate knowledge
of foreign affairs was recognized by
both Republican and Democratic Presi- |
dents. During the World War PreSi-
dent Wilson frequently consulted the
foreign affairs chairman on questions
dealing with the American war policies.
In addition to seeking Mr.. Porter's ad-
vice on postwar problems, President
Harding appointed him member of
the advisory committee which repre-
sented the House of Representatives at
the Washington Conference on Liini-
tation OF Armaments. He took an &C
tive part in the deliberations of the
conference as chairman of the subcom-
mfttee dealing with Pacific and Far
East questions
Mr.. Porters interest in the welfare of
his fellow man took him to many parts !
OF the world. He was chairman of the
American delegation which sat with the |
League of Nations Commission in con-
sidering the limitation of production
and Use of opium. President Harding
named him. together with Army, Navy |
and judicial representatives, to repre- /
sent the United States at the centen-
NAL OF Brazilian independence. With |
Charles Evans Hughes he participated
In the negotiations of the Pan-Ameri-
can Economic Commission as repre-
eentatives of this country.
While travelling in foreign countries
Mr.. Porter assembled data on the hous-
ing facilities provided for American
representatives abroad, and he took
leading part in sponsoring bill recent
ly passed by Congress TO provide new
quarters for the American diplomats in
the various countries.
Raised in Anti Slavery Home.
Born on farm near Salem, Ohio: on
May ID, 1869, Mr.. Porter as lad of
9 years was brought to Pittsburgh by
his parents. His father, David Porter,
came to Pittsburgh in 1913 shortly after
his marriage in Paisley, Scotland, to
Maria Hope. Here the senior Porter
Uook prominent part IN the anti |
slavery movement the Porter home be-
ing one of the stations in the under
ground railroad by which slaves from |
the South reached Canada. The family |
moved to Salem in 1865, but returned |
in 1877.
Young Porter attended the Pittsburgh |
schools and for two years centered his
attention on a study of medicine Later |
he read law with his brother. L. K. !
ma aS FVaSAk AI n h. IL
gheny County bar in 1893. For years
he practiced law, but with his election !
TO Congress in 1910 he gave his entire |
time TO public service. His only other |
public ONCE was city solicitor of Old [
Allegheny pittsburgh, a position he
held while practicing law.
In 1895 Mr.. Porter married Elizabeth |
Ramaley of Allegheny. Pa. She died in
1919. A daughter. Lucy Foster Porter.
married Richard Barrow, an ensign in
the United States Navy.