Evening star., 1947-05-26
Perry Belmont, o6, Legislator,
Soldier and Diplomat, Dies
Son Of August B BeImont
And Kin Of Perrys;
Stunch Democrat

EcTIy ocluIOAes WAO 40SAA0 tAAAS
lin 96 years to serve In two wars
while cutting out q memorable ca
|reer as legislator, diplomat, lawyer
and author, died In Newport, r. /.
yesterday after a years illness.
His father was August Belmont
New York representative OF the
House of Rothschild, and from that
start he never lacked for money. His
mother was Caroline Slfdell Perry
and from her he inherited a heroic
background.
One of his grandfathers was Com
modore Matthew C. Perry, who
opened Japan to the Western world
and one of his granduncles was
Oliver Hazard Perry, hero Of the
battle of Lake Erie in 1912.
August Belmont passed on to his
son an uncompromising belief in the
tenets of the Democratic Party
which he never lost. Though most
OF his activity was crowded into the
first 40 years Of his long life, Mr.
Belmont broke political silence as
late as 1882 to urge election Of
Franklin Roosevelt.
Won Fame Before He Was 80.
Mr.. Belmont,s fame as an attor-
ney came before he was 80, when he
won q prominent case before the
Supreme Court. When he was 81 he
was elected to the House from Staten
Island, and during his eight years
service, he gained the respect OF
his colleagues as one who would not
back down to any, including the Re
publican Secretary Of State, James
G. Blaine.
Refusing a fifth nomination to
Congress, he was named Minister to
Spain by President Cleveland, at q
time when relations were strained
to the utmost.
With the outbreak OF war, he
served with the rank of major in
Cuba as inspector general Of the Isl
Division of the I'd Army Corps. Al
the age of Ct, he donned the uniform
again In World War I as a capita r
in the Remount Service. In Worl0
War II he was chairman of the
Newport Committee promoting the
sale of War Bonds.
Practiced Law s Years.
Educated by private tutors, al
Harvard, the University of Berlin
and Columbia Law School, where
he obtained his degree in 1875, Mr.
Belmont practiced la wfor five years
In the case of Western Union Tele-
graph Co. VS.. the Pensacola Tele-
graph Co., Mr.. Belmont won a deci-
sion in the Supreme Court for the
former company. Chief Justice
Waite delivered an opinion that
telegraphing is q part Of inter-
state commerce.
Mr.. Belmont's patriotic fervol
soon took the form Of politics, and
when he came to Washington as q
representative, skeptics eyed his
silver spoons rearing and expected
little. But as member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee hi
started an investigation Of the State
Departments policy in South
America.
The investigation resulted In 9
showdown with Secretary Blaine, ir
which Mr.. Belmont proved to salts
faction Of all that he was not to be
regarded lightly. Mr.. Blaine's show
ing against the aggressive young
legislator was said to have later hurt
his presidential chances.
Headed Foreign Affairs Group.
Mr.. Belmont's prestige rose pro-
portionately, and he finished his
congressional career as chairman o1
the Foreign Affairs Committee the
last two terms. ....-
When he returned from the Span.
ish-American War, Mr.. Belmont
married the former Jessie A. Rob.
bins in 1899 the same day she wa!
granted a divorce from Harry r
Sloane. He and his wife, daughter
Of Daniel Robbins of the McKessor