Evening star., 1936-02-09

Gam home but declined to deny ol
confirm the report. DR.. Calver re-
turned to the Capitol, called news
paper men and handed them thi'
statement:
"The Honorable Charles Curtis, for
mer Vice President of the United
States of America. died of a heart
attack at 1925 this date"
Meanwhile, in the living room OF
the home, Mrs. Gam walked back and
forth until immediate members OF the
family had been notified. Repeatedly,
she expressed regret that she had been
unable to reach the home few min
utes earlier.
He died easily" she said. "I'm
30 glad he didn't suffer"
Then she retired to her room, weep
Ing.
President Voices Regret.
From the White House, President
Roosevelt issued statement:
"I am deeply distressed to learn OF
the sudden passing of my old friend
Charles Curtis" the President said
whether they knew him as a Senator
as the Vice President of tine United
States, or as the man that he was in
his own right, his legion of friends will
remember him, always affectionately
and will mourn his passing"
IT was always fond Of him." said
Vice President Garner. Il was asso-
ciated with him in the House and
then the Senate. He was fine man
and good friend"
Mr.. Curtis successor as Republican
leader, Senator McNary of oregon. in
statement to the Associated Press
praised him as "a quiet and yet sue
cessful Republican leader" and pop
ular and efficient presiding officer
when he was Vice President" He
added:
He was an able and lovable char
acter."
Robinson Joins in Tribute.
The present Democratic leader, Sen
ator Robinson of Arkansas, called the
Kansan "an outstanding factor in
public affairs" while Speaker Byrn.
said, "He rendered long and distin.
guished service to his country anc
was splendid public servant" whose
death will be universally mourned.
Mr.. Curtis political career knew
defeats as well as significant vctorie:
before the Roosevelt landslide swept
him out of Office with President
Hoover in 1882.
The saga of Mr.. Curtis success wa.
publican, of Michigan today as ar
"epic of American opportunity"
Mr.. Curtis was born in 1860 on Q
farm near North Topeka, the son o
q Kansas pioneer, Capt. Orren A
Curtis, who had married girl ot
Indian descent. Mr.. Curtis was one.
eighth Kaw Indian, the only person
Of such ancestry ever elected to the
vice presidency.
Spent Boyhood With Kaws.
He was still an infant when hi!
mother died, and his wrinkled ole
Indian grandmother. Julie Poppin
daughter of Chief White Plume o.
the Kaws, took him in charge. HI
spent his boyhood on the Kaw reser.
vation. He liked that life so much
that once, later. he wanted to return
to it, but was dissuaded.
At Is he left the reservation. Ar
expert hand with horses, he quickly
found employment as a jockey or
Kansas race tracks. His love of horse.
and racing stayed with him through
out his. life. For years, in public life
and out, he was familiar figure at
the Maryland tracks, carrying his owr
elaborate form book and making pune.
tilious entries after each race.
But his career as a jockey extended
.oyer only year or so. He went te
school, supported himself by driving
"A hack in the evening, and ther
studied law. AS county prosecutor he
was a crusader against vice and
achieved such repu4 4ation that ha