Death

From 1900 to 1923 William Paul Dillingham represented his state in the United States Senate. Last week, after an attack of gallstones and an operation, he died in a hospital at Montpelier, aged 79. His death marks the passing of another of the Dillinghams of Vermont. First there was John, who emigrated to America in 1630; then great-grandfather Paul, who was killed under Wolfe at Quebec; later grandfather Paul, who served in the Revolution; still later father Paul, Governor of Vermont; and most lately William Paul, the Senator and ex-Governor, still in the line of descent.

The death of the Senator creates many vacancies in the Senate, for he was a member of five committees and took an active interest in nearly every question which came before that body. Not the least of his work was the writing of the greater part of the present Immigration Act.

From a political standpoint the death of Mr. Dillingham is not likely to have many direct consequences. Vermont is as nearly a solid Republican state as there is in the Union. One death is little likely to change its politics.

But in the interior organization of the Senate the passing of the Vermont Senator is likely to produce a considerable effect; for, following the death of the late Senator Knute Nelson, Senator Dillingham would have become Chairman of the Judiciary Committee (by rule of seniority). Following the death of Senator Dillingham, Senator Brandegee, of Connecticut, will become Chairman of that committee.

The reason that this new change is notable is because the Judiciary Committee handles all bills on prohibition, and Senator Brandegee is one of the most ardent Wets in the Senate. It so happens that in the House a similar alteration takes place. Representative Volstead, head of the House Judiciary Committee (defeated for re-election last Fall) will be succeeded by Representative Graham of Pennsylvania, a militant Wet.

Now the Drys find themselves faced in both committees by hostile chairmen. They expect poor service in obtaining further legislation, either to make our ships legally dry on the high seas or to extend the three-mile limit to twelve miles. The hand of death has fallen heavily on the Dry cause.