Evening star., 1939-08-07
Urey yWoodson, 79,
Ex-A|ien Properly
Custodian, Dies
Kentucky Publisher
Was Prominent in
Democratic Party

Urey Woodson, veteran Kentucky
editor and publisher, prominent in
national councils of the Democratic
party for many years and alien
property custodian from 1888 until
six weeks ago, died today of heart
attack at Owensboro, KY, the As
Sociated Press reported.
Mr.. Woodson, for 50 years a pic
turesque figure in newspaper work
and politics. would have been 80
on August l6.
1t was as publisher of the Padu-
cab NeWs-Democrat that he recog-
nized unusual ability in young re-
porter named Irwin Cobb, who later
was to win fame as an author.
Others whom Mr.. Woodson nurtured
in their cub days we're Louis Brown
low. now noted journalist and city
administrator. and Buford Good
win, who became a prominent pub
Usher.
After serving six years as alien
property custodian, Mr.. Woodson re-
signed, effective June 26, explaining
that he felt most OF the work of the
office had been wound up on terms
favorable to the Government.
Published Book Recently.
He said he was considering writing
newspaper column to show up
these alleged columnists who try
to stir up trouble between the Presi-
dent and Jim Farley, national Demo-
cratic chairman"
Only few weeks ago Mr.. WoodSon
published a book called THE First
New Dealer" Its subject Is William
Goebel whose assassination in 1900
was one of Americas celebrated
crimes. Mr.. Goebel, who was sworn
in as Governor of Kentucky on his
death bed after the Legislature had
declared him the winner in a con-
tested election, was described by
Mr.. Woodson as originator of many
of the reforms which the Roosevelt
administration has put into effect.
Mr.. Woodson's Washington resi-
dence was at the Highlands Apart
ments. He had gone to his Ken
lucky home at Owensboro to vote
in the State primary Saturday.
He was born at Madisonville, Ky.
He began newspaper work in 1877.
when he was Is. and remained at 1t
continuously until 1929. when he re-
tired. still in good health, but want
ing some play time in life But,
despite his avowed retirement,
President Roosevelt persuaded him
to take over the Alien Property
Bureau four years later.
Mr.. WoodsOn attended his first
Democratic national convention in
1880 and after that never missed
one. He was a member OF the
Democratic National Committee
from 1895 to 1916 and from 1924 to
1928 and served as its secretary from
1904 to 1912. He was a member of
the Kentucky Railroad Commission
from 1891 to 1895.
Called Paper Weakly"
His first paper was the Muhlen-
berg Echo, which he described as a
weakly 1t was printed on a hand
press. Later he went to the Ovens
boro Messenger. which eventually he
owned. He then headed stock COM
pany that owned the old Paducah
NeWs-Democrat. In 1897 he and
others launched the Louisville Dis
patch as an organ for free silver
Democrats. When the Dispatch
stopped publication. he bought its
presses and installed them in the
,Paducah plant.
My idea of real hero" he once
said "is 12-year-old carrier of a
morning newspaper 1 can say this
with all modesty, because I gradu-
ated from that school-the only
school from which 1 ever graduated.
I had to work before I finished my
first year in high school,"
Like a host of his fellow Ken
tuckians, Mr.. Woodson rarely missed
a Kentucky Derby. He attended
more than 49,
At the Democratic convention of
Aooo A'Al. "OOooOll oCllt IlOlt 70
William Jennings Bryan, the last
speaker on the free silver debate.
saying: Now l see your opportu-
nifty. 1t means destiny" Mr.. Bryan
sent back this note: You shall not
be disappointed" The famous cross
of gold" speech and Mr.. Bryans
nomination for President followed.
Mr.. Woodson served as president
OF the Kentucky Press Association.
Funeral arrangements were un-
certain pending the arrival of men,
bers of the family at Owensboro.
Mr.. Woodson is survived by his
widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Woodson; two
daughters, Mrs. w. E. Overstreet of
Owensboro and Mrs. Hamilton Alex
ander of Washington, and five grand
children.