Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-02
Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
Former Senator, Dies
Abs After Fall
Longtime Republican
Leader Was Author of
Parcel Post Law

Jonathan Bourne, jr., IS, former
Senator from oregon, author Of the
parcel pest law and long a power
in Republican political circles, died
early today at his residence in the
Stoneleigh Court Apartments here.
His death was attributed to COM
plications resulting from a fall in
his home six weeks ago, when he
broke his hip. With him when he
died was his wife, Mrs. Frances
Turner Bourne, his only immediate
survivor.
Mr.. Bourne was born in New Bed
ford, Mass, February %, 1855. His
father, Jonathan Bourne, ST., was
the owner of the largest private
fleet Of whaling ships in the United
States at that time. The elder
Bourne was enormously wealthy and
welded considerable influence in
New England
Left Harvard to Go to Sea.
OF an independent nature, how
ever, young Bourne was determined
to make his own way. He became
interested in mining before entering
Harvard University, a member of
the class of 1877. Dissatisfied with
formal education, he left college to
go to sea on one of his fathers
sailing ships and was wrecked on
the Island of Formosa.
The ship which rescued MI. Bourne
took him to Portland, Greg, in 1878.
There he studied law and became
interested in many mining and COM
mercial organizations. At the same
time he began delving into politics
and was elected to the Oregon House
of Representatives i'll 1885. He filled
the same Office again in 1896 and
1897.
Impressed with corruption in
State politics, Mr.. Bourne launched
a campaign for popular election of
Senators. He was the father of the
Oregon system" which resulted in
Senators being elected by popular
vote rather than delegated by the
Legislature.
Was Free Silverite.'
A free silverite, Mr.. Bourne gained
a reputation as a political strategist
in the senatorial campaign of 1897.
Opposed to a candidate against free
silver coinage, but who already had
been pledged the backing of the
Legislature, Mr.. Bourne could pre-
vent the man being delegated to the
Office only by stopping the Legisla-
ture from converting. This he did
by entertaining a majority of the
lower house at his own expense until
the expiration date of the Legisla-
lures sitting. Oregon was without
United States Senator for two
years as q result.
He was elected to the United
States Senate in 1906 and took Office
in 1907, remaining until 1913.
In Congress, Mr.. Bourne was
chairman of the Senate Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads. He
also continued to campaign for pop
uldl NCliiliiCllI. NlilC hlllAioii
copies of a speech he made in the
Senate in 1910, entitled Popular
Versus Delegated Government" were
circulated throughout the Nation.
Funeral Set for Tuesday.
After leaving the Senate, Mr..
Bourne took up residence in Wash
ington. He organized and became
chairman of the National Progress
sive Republican League and the Re
publican Publicity Association. AS
such he backed the campaign for a
second elective term" for Theodore
Roosevelt. Later he fought Presi-
dent Wilson's League of Nations
ideas and the Belgian debt plan.
Though holding no Office in recent
years, Mr.. Bourne took behind
the-scenes" interest in national at.
fairs while managing his extensive
interests in Oregon. His latest ef-
forts were devoted to opposing the
extension of the power of the Fed
eral Government. His advice on cur
rent affairs was frequently sought
by Republican and Democratic men,
bers of Congress.
Funeral services will be held at
IL am. tomorrow at the residence.
followed by burial in Cedar Hill
Cemetery.