Head of U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Dies in Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 1924

Secretary Wallace Dies in Washington Hospital. . . Chief of the Dept. Agriculture Passes After Hard Battle. . . Henry C. Wallace, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture in Coolidge’s Cabinet, Died at Naval Hospital in Washington Yesterday Afternoon at 4 o’Clock—Funeral Tomorrow from White House—Remains to Iowa

By the Associated Press

Washington, Oct. 25—Henry C. Wallace, secretary of agriculture, died at 4 o’clock this afternoon at the naval hospital of toxemia poisoning, which developed after an operation performed last week in an effort to relieve sciapica. He was in his 59th year.

Death came after long hours of unconsciousness, and after medical science was unable longer to check the ravages of the poison. At the bedside were Mrs. Wallace and their daughter, Miss Ruth. No other members of the family were in the city.

Physician’s Statement

Dr. Joel T. Boon, one of the white house physicians, who had been in constant attendance since the secretary was taken to the hospital, issued the following statement:

“The secretary died at 4 o’clock. He slept very quietly. Mrs. Wallace and her daughter Ruth were present. Immediate cause of death was bacteremia, and the contributing cause was cholecytitis inflammation of the gall bladder.”

The death of the secretary, although expected throughout the day, came as a shock to official Washington and to his many friends, both in the city and the country. After the operation Mr. Wallace began to improve and it was thought that he was convalescing rapidly.

President Calls

As soon as Mrs. Wallace returned to her home from the hospital President and Mrs. Coolidge called upon her to offer their condolence.

The president cancelled all engagements for Monday and also directed the secretary of state to issue a proclamation declaring official mourning of the death of Mr. Wallace.

Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 11 o’clock from the East Room of the white house, which was offered by the president.

Members of the government and diplomatic corps will attend. The body will be taken Monday afternoon to the home at Des Moines, Iowa, where private services will be held and burial made there Wednesday.

Active pallbearers will be from the department of agriculture, while the honorary pallbearers will include members of the cabinet.

From the front page of The New Bernian, Sunday morning, Oct. 26, 1924

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