The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 1

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ALABAMA Showers Koadar Mi Tobablr Tuesdwi sUfhtlgr cooler Tnav VOL 21. NO. 145. rtu report or ASHOCIATKD 'PBES8 "NASHVILLE, TEN MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3, 1927. TWELVE PAGES DDirc TTIDCC rVKTK TRAIVS ituwu AtuuA.

wmm rrr 4 mm 0) 0) Z1 Husttn. Hbeav 3une 1876- etobec 2, 1927 HORTON TO TAKE OATH OF OFFICE THIS MORNING Speaker Comes to City After Told of Governor's Death. mm Hemorrhage Fir.t Detected By Peay When the Chief Executive Failed to Speak After She Had Called To Him LIVES THREE HOURS AFTER ATTACK, Cares of Legislative Sessions Had Weakened the State's Chief Executive Earlier In the Year. 4 Vrt. 1 it- Born In Kentucky, Thirty-Eighth Governor, Married Clarksville Girl and Won Success As Lawyer In That City ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE EARLY Won Democratic Gubernatorial Nomination In 1922, Launching a New Career; Was Chief Executive Three Times.

Austin Peay, 38th governor of Tennessee, considered by many to have been the most outstanding of all the governors of the Volunteer State in its 131 years of statehood, was not a native of Tennessee. lie was born June 1, 1876, in Christian County, Kentucky, the son of Austin Peay and Cornelia Leavell Peay. For many generations the eldest son of the Peay family had been named Austin. Generally they were tall, straight, dark lads and the future governor of Tennessee was no exception to this rule. His father, Austin Peay, was a prosperous farmer of Christian County.

When the call to arms came in the sixties he. enlisted with the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Confederate wizard of tne saddle, and followed that gallant leader in every major engagement in which the command participated. The governor's father died before the ambition of his son to become governor of Tennessee was realized, but the photograph of the Confederate cavalryman was the first picture placed in his office by Governor Peay. It shows a man with features similar to those of his son and the picture was placed in the office as the redemption of the governor's first campaign pledgute the people of the state of his speech in the hard-fought summer primary of 1922. if imf BY T.

H. ALEXANDER. Governor Austin Peay is dead The valiant soul of Tennessee's great governor passed on at 8:05 o'clock Sunday night, three hours after he had been stricken by a hemorrhage of the brain. Twice in recent years snatched back from the jaws of death by medical science and the prayers and care of his beloved wife, the governor lapsed into unconsciousness suddenly as he rested Sunday afternoon at 4:50 o'clock. He died without recognizing his wife or his devoted friends and physicians.

Due to Overwork. The sudden of the governor, one of the most shocking incidents in the history of the state, was due to a cerebral hemorrhage. It was believed it was due mainly to overwork and worry a3 a result of an execution which was scheduled -to take place at the main state prison Friday morning. The governor hardly slept last week because of worry over this case, in which he finally granted a reprieve for 30 days. For years the governor had suffered from high blood pfessure and heart trouble.

His condition had been aggravated by an attack of pneumonia which he underwent last February during the legislative session. His closest friends have known for months that the end might come at any time, but none expected it so soon because of his improved appearance of recent days. Retting When Stricken. The governor was resting on the bed in his room at tho executive mansion, 2118 West End avenue, when Mrs. Peay, who was also in the room, noticed a change in his breathing.

He turned over restlessly. "Honey, what's the matter?" asked Mrs. Peay. The governor did not reply. The frantic wife summoned Dr.

Frank Fessey, the governor's personal physician, who had pulled him through two hard attacks of heart trouble and pneumonia. The physician raced to the house, but in a glance saw that the end was near. Four other physicians worked with the executive, but there was no hope from the first. They tried every expedient of medical science to prolong the quivering life line, but for the first time in the long illness of the governor, Dr. Fessey and his colleagues faced absolute defeat.

'He won't live an hour," he predicted. But he did live an hour. He lived more than three hours, and then, as gently and sweetly as a child gives up to sleep, the governor ceased to breathe. The house was crowded with friends who sat and stood in hushed and shocked silence. Even before the doctors brought word from the room they knew of the death of the governor from the hushed and dazed silence.

Even before the doctors tip-toed to the stairs from the sick room they knew of the death of the governor, for Mrs. Peay gave a poignant, stabbing sob. Then the silence drew down again about the mansion where death had struck so quickly. Brief Fight It Over. In a moment Dr.

Fessey came down. "He's dead," he announced briefly, and the brief and bitter fight was over. i il. ii i i i ii FRIEND OF PEAY Elevation as Executive One of Many Honors Received. Henry H.

Horton of Lewisburg, speaker of the state senate, becomes governor of Tennessee, under the state constitution upon the death of the governor. Senator Horton Is already ex-of-ficlo governor of the state, but will not take the oath of office until this mornlrts. The oath will probably be administered at the Hotel Andrew Jackson by a justice of the state supreme court. The ceremonies will be as brief as the state law permits and will be private. The new governor came to the city last night to offer his condolences to Mrs.

Peay at the executive mansion. Ho was shocked and grieved by the death of the governor who was a close personal and political friend. He declared that the governor died a martyr to duty. Notified by Lindsey. After a brief conference with Mrs.

Peay In which she told Senator Horton that it was his duty to take the oath as soon as possible to avoid a hiatus or Interregnum In the state's affairs. Senator Horton returned to his rooms at the Andrew Jackson hotel. He found Dick Lindsey, county clerk of Davidson county, waiting there for him. Under the statutes of the state the county court clerk is obliged to give the speaker of the senate formal notification of the death of the governor. After being Introduced to Speaker Horton, Mr.

Lindsey stood and read his notification to him: "To the Hon. H. H. Horton, "Speaker of the Senate, "State of Tennessee. "Pursuant to the duties Imposed on me by the statutes of the State of Tennessee, I hereby notify you that 'Governor Austin Peay died at the governor's mansion on October 2.

at p. m. "DICK LINDSEY County Court Clerk" Plans Memorial Senator Horton was worn by the depth of his emotions and retired as soon as he had received this Ho had been motored to Nashville by his son, J. W. Horton, who also accompanied Senator Horton to the governor's mansion.

"This is terrible, Senator Horton repeated as he emerged from the governor's mansion. Senator Horton was elejteA speaker of the state senate Usi January by 'he endorsement o' tai a -ninistratiin senators He Is -i lawyer and resides on a farm near Lewisburg. He has been one of the most conspicuous leaders In the reforms inaugurated by the Peav administration and enjoys a statewide popularity. I'pon taking tho oath this morning. Mr.

Horton is expected to is- (Continued on Page 5.) Cordell Hull Grieved At Governor's Death (Hv AMwIatrtt PreM.) Washington, Oct. 3 Grief at the death of Governor Peay was expressed by Representative Cordell Hull, Democrat. Tennessee, who said that he wan "very distressed At the death of onu of the ablest governors' of the South and indeed, of the whole country." Other members of the Tennessee delegation were not available here tonight for comment most of them being out of town. his third term In the gubernatorial chair is indicated in a conversation he had with number of friends following tl.e election of H. H.

Horton as speaker of the state senate after the organization of the legislature in January. 1'nrmer State Senator Nervy Whitfield recalled the incident to-nieht. "It was at an Informal conference of several friends ami suiv porters of the governor ahout three o- I'mir days subsequent to the of ials for both branches of the general says Mr. WTiitfidd. "I was present when the Governor remarked, 'Well, gen tlemen, I am Rlad you elected Henry Horton speaker of the senate: he is an honest and man and will make a capable siin-i ss.ir or "What do you mean by that?" 1 asked.

"Just this, I don't feel that I tun going to live through my present term," Governor Peay replied, Senator Whitfield remembers. "That ended the talk along that line as some one else brought up ar.other bubject." asserted Ilr. Whitfield, who long had been one of the chief executive's warm personal friends. Mr. Hurst, the venerable father-in-law of the governor Is now on a visit to the West.

V'-V'-, BOND OF SORROW UNITES NASHVILLE AS GOVERNOR DIES "Great Executive" Is Consensus of Statement by Citizens. "1 am going to make Tennessee a good governor or kil myself trying." It was five ears that Governor Peav stood beside Mrs. Bruce R. Payne at a reception nt the George Peabody college, of which lie was a trustee, and made this statement. And Sunday night, when he heard of Governor Peay's death.

Or. Payne, president of Peabody and close personal friend to the governor, said, "He was a great man and he had carried out his program I have felt all along that ho was killing himself working for his ideals and his people. Though he has in my opinion given his life in this cause, I feel that he has realized his ambition In making himself one of the great'st and most valuable executive this state ever has hud." Doctor Payne's sentiments were almost identical with those of hundreds of other people who concurred in the view that Governor Peay (Continued on Page 2 GOVERNOR'S BODY TO BE PLACED IN CAPITOL ROTUNDA State to Pay Respects to Its Chief Executive, Tuesday. Funeral services for Austin Peay, Tennessee's thirty-eighth chief executive, whose tragic and sudden death at o'clock Sunday night cast a pall of sadness over the entire state, will be of the simplest. In keeping with tho life and characteristics of tho man.

In tho main rotunda of the state ranitol tho remains will lie in state from 9 o'clock Tuesday morning until 4 o'clock that afternoon, while the public will have a last opportunity to pay Its respects to its dead. Funeral services will be aid by Dr. W. F. Powell, pastor of tho First Baptist church.

Nashville, where tho governor frequently attended, and tiie remains will then be returned to tin; seclusion of the executive mansion nt II IS West F.nd avenue, where it will remain In tho keeping of Mrs. Peay and a (Continued on Page 2 Flowers for Sick Children Last Act Of Governor Peay "As a little child" Sunday morning the chief executive of a great state entered a hospital ward where little children lay ill with flowers in his hands. He went In the spirit that the Master described as that necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. Late Sunday afternoon the same great governor lay on nls death hel. Currying flowers to the children on the sickbeds of St.

Thomas hospital was tho last act of Gov. Austin Peay who lies dead today. Typical of the spirit of service to Tennessee's childhood which has been manifest throughout Governor Peay's administration was the visit to tho Nashville hospital with flowers Sunday morning. For throughout his two and half terms Governor Peay's plans for schools and health programs, primarily to benefit tho youth of the state, had been paramount with him. 7,000 at Columbia Revival Hear of Governor's Death Columbia, Oct.

2. Word of the death of Governor Austin Peay reached tho thousands congregated for the House-Wall re. viv.nl service hero tonight in the closing minutes and the services were quicklv turned into a memorial meeting for the chief executive. Evangelist House offered praver in behalf of the people of the state and the family of the executive. Wat Timid as Youth.

Austin Peay first attended col-lego at Washington and Lee University. He was a timid, shrinking country boy and the college evidently did not take him into Its anus as he had expected. At any event, he was disappointed in Washington and Lee, and in future years did not hold the usual tender spot in his heart for the school. He soon entered Centre college. Danville, then a remote Kentucky college not yet celebrated because of Its "praying Colonel a phenomenal football team.

At Centre the future governor found academic life to his liking. He graduated there In 1895. a grave, quiet man. who was thoroughly, master of himself and his future. Admitted to the bar at Hopkins-Tllle, a short timo after 1 graduation, Uovernur Peays tnoughts at 19 turned to romance.

Be met Miss Sallie Hurst if Clarksville. daughter of a whole-tale rrerchant, John Hurst, and acion of an old Southern family. set out lo chtain the mon on Which to many He approached an old lawyer of the H.ipktnsvllle bar for a loan of $75. offering 'o lva his law library as security. "But you are rot old enough tnake a note." objected his friend.

"But I am old enought to pay a i debt," replied Austin I'eay. got the'money anil Mr. Peay and Miss Hurs' were married by the Rev. C. Boone, a liaptlst minister, who later removed to Mampnls.

Tears later when ho was introducing the governor to a political gathering In Memphis, the old minister -Jo Id the episode and declared he would never have accepted a mtinl-ficlent fee from the young lawyer had he known he was being married upon a small sum of borrowed money. Governor Peay Immediately entered upon the practice of law at Clarksville. He mado a great sue- 1 cess of his practice and before ne became governor was credited with having one of the most lucrative law practices in the tate. his income frequently attain. lng between $25,000 and JoO.imo per year.

Want to Legislature. i At 25 Governor I'f-ny went to the legislature as representative from Montgomery county. There ho began to show his singular quality of leadership. He became a can (Continued on Page 2.) TO CUT OUT VISIT flying Colonel to Abide By Committee. (By Aiioclatrd I'rtiss.) Little Rock, Oct.

Colonel rhnrlefi A. Lindbergh, scheduled to iHait Nashville Tuesday, would like to pay his respects to members of r-Arnnr Peay! family and the state of Tennessee in the passing of Its chlet executive, he said tonight, but he offered to cjit out the Nashville program altogether if deemed advisable. Action of the Nashville committee In charge of Lindbergh dav will be awaited. Clarksville Is Grief Stricken Over Death of Governor Peay News Spreads Rapidly and Residents Meet to Discuss the Sad Message STATE'S LEADERS DEPLORE DEATH OF EXECUTIVE Congressmen Join in Expressig Sorrow at Passing. Expressions of regret poured Into the state capital from all sec Hons of the state Sunday night as reaa wires carried to the puhllc the news of the sudden death at the executive mansion of Tennes see's thirty-eighth executive, des tined to go down in history, in the opinion of many, as perhap? the greatest of all Tonnessec's gover nors.

As news of the governor's sud den death was flashed to other states telegrams of condolence began reaching the executive man sion frort- many neighboring states, expressing regret at the death, and the great loss sustained by tho commonwealth. ''Gov. Austin Peay will go down in history as one of the greatest executives Tennessee has ever known. "As Jere Baxter said when he had completed the Tennessee Cen tral. I love Tennessee, and I have left my impress across her to has Governor Peay by his labor, left his impress across the state's bosom for all time," declared Con gressman Ed Esllck of the Seventh district regarding the chief execu tlve's death.

"I deeply regret tho untimely death of Governor Peay. I feel that it Is a tragedy that the stata mus. lose such a gTeat governor before he has finished his third term. I offer my condolence to his immediate family," declared Con gressman Gortlon Browning of th Kiuhth district. Congressman Ewin Davis at Tup lahoma when informed here tonight of the sulden death of Gov.

Aus tin Peay, expressed himself as be ing very profoundly shocked. "The state, tie said, "has sustained a great loss." Congressman Joseph W. Byrns went immediately to the executive mansion upon learning tonight of the death of Gov. Austin Peay "Tennessee has sustained a great he stated to The Nashville Tennessean, "In the death of Gover nor Peay a loss that coming at this time Is In a sense a calamity. While having had political opposi tion, of course, In some quarters, Governor Peay will be conceded to have rendered valuable service to (Continued on Page 9 uisiue me nuuse um muuieu silence was unoroKen, out tne street outside was suddenly jammed with motor vehicles bearing friends of the chief executive from many quarters of the state.

In the short interval between his stroke and his death they had come to bring their messages of love and solicitude. The governor is survived by hiswife, Mrs. Sally Hurst Peay; one son, Austin Peay, and one daughter, Mrs. Percy Lamar Armstrong. Austin Peay, went to Paris with xthe American Legion, and is now touring the continent.

He was cabled Sunday night at Venice, Italy, of the death of his father and cannot possibly return under two weeks. Mrs. Armstrong was notified at her home in Memphis of the tragic death of her father and is en route home. Health Seemed Better The death of the governor was all the more shocking because of the fact that he appeared to be in much better health and spirits during the past three days as soon as he decided the respite for Herman Coggins, Nashville man condemned to die last Friday. This had weighed on his mind all last week and it is known that he did not sleep for three nights.

When returned Thursday fronj tour, gfj (Continued on Page (Ity AswM-iatfil Tre) Clarksville, Tenn-. Oct. 3 OlarksvilJu which clain cd Austin Peav as her own though ho was born a few miles away in Christian county. Kentucky. is grief stricken loniirht over the death of the state's chief execu-tio First news of Governor Pony's death i hoc over the radi- fi -u-X a i i i.ile most Ci.irk-vil-;ians v.

i re at church. The sail throughout the oily in a short while aud the streets were crowded with people seeking- details of the governor's passing. Governor Pony had lived in OiarksvilM since 1SDS when ht moved to opi a law offic and a short while was mar r'ed Sallie Hursl. iiighterl ef Mr. and Mrs.

John Hurst. i It was here that his two children Mrs. Percy Araistrong of Memphis, and Austin Peay, were uorn. In this city was laid the foundation for Governor Peay career as a statesman and for the great service he peifonned as the host governor that ever served the people of Tennessee. That Governor Peay had a premonition that death would overtake him before ho had completed Horton Dedicates Self To Peay's Policies Sneakjr Ileni) II.

cunJ.i night issued the ioliuwinc; "Governor Peay has iulicn a mtrtyr io duty. "His untimely death at tho height of his great service to the state was occasioned hy overwork. He give all of his great mind, all of his once virile body, all of his health, and finally life itself to the people of Tennessee lie loved so well, of his unselfish devotion to duly jealous ot his unparalleled accomplishments his enemies took advantage of his failing health to make their attacks more cruel, more unjust, more false, with each passing day. "The standard has fallen from his lifeless hands. The task is ours to raise it aloft and lo try to bear it again to the heights to which he carried it.

"Under the constitution of the Stale the heavy responsibility of the great office which Governor Peay adorned now devolves upon me for the remainder of his terra. God willing, 1 will complete his unfinished work. To that high mission I dedicate myself and summon all patriotic citizens to ray assistance." A..