Butler, Smedley D., Sr: 4/1940

Death Comes to General Butler

'Fighting Quaker' Who Believed in Isolation for U.S., Dies at 58

Philadelphia, Pa., Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, who retired from the United State marine corps after fighting half way 'round the world and spent much of his later years urging that the nation keep its fighting men home, died late Friday in Naval Hospital.

"the Fighting Quaker" - he was born of Quaker parents in West Chester, Pa. - succumbed to a gall bladder and liver ailment. Butler entered the hospital May 27 for a checkup and rest after a speaking tour of several thousand miles in behalf of his isolationist views.

Since he retired in 1931, with 30 years' service in the marines, Butler took to the lecture platform with the same sharp tongue that often capitulated him into the public eye during his military and public service. He was the proponent of armed force only for home defense - he who had been a fighting man from the orient to France.

Won Medal Twice

He is one of the few men who twice was awarded the congressional medal of honor. Both were awarded for actions in connection with Central American uprisings.

The first medal was given him in 1914. With the American fleet of Vera Cruz, he and two enlisted men volunteered for the risky task of learning the strength of the Mexican troops guarding Vera Cruz and conditions of teh route to Mexico City. He obtained the information at Vera Cruz without much trouble, but the spying out trip to Mexico City was more dangerous. He was arrested many times.

"Because I carried a net and appeared to be studying the rocks," he said later, "they thought I was a nut and let me pass."

Later, with the taking of the customs house and the occupation of Vera Cruz, Butler received his medal.

The second medal came a year later for storming - with 23 men - Fort Reviere in Haiti. He crawled with his men through a drainpipe and captured the citadel.

Fights A Daily Diet

He served in Panama during construction of the canal, then went to Nicaragua, which was having revolutions. Hand fighting, close escapes and guerrilla episodes enough to fill a library of thriller were teh daily diet.

Once Butler, then a major, broke a siege by walking up to the commanding Nicaraguan general, seizing his mustachio with one hand, pushing a revolver out with the other and forcing surrender of teh whole force

Tropic service wore down his health and he came home, took a long furlough and started to manage a coal mine in West Virginia. The manager Butler went to replace stood ground with a gun and that was one more fight that Butler won. But as a coal operator he was a good marine. One good month showed profits of $2.25

In 1918 Butler got the distinguished service medal for his work commanding the great American debarkation port at Brest, France. Three years later - when he was 40 - he became a brigadier general, the youngest general oficer inteh corps.

Headed Philadelphia Police

In 1924, when Mayor Kendrick became head of Philadelphia's city administration, he cast about for a man of sufficient stature and ability to reorganize and command the city's police force. He obtained the services of Butler, who took a year's leave of absence from the marine corps. This leave was extended for a second year, but six months later, despite Butler's success, he was asked to resign by Kendrick as the pressures of politics became too heavy for Kendrick to retain Butler in office.

After leaving Philadelphia, Butler was sent to command the marine base in San Diego, Calif. He was soon on te front pages of the newspapers as a result of his order for the arrest of a colonel under his command for alleged drunkenness.

In 1931 General Butler caused an international incident by referring to Premier Mussolini of Italy as a "hit and run driver." charging the premier's car fatally injuring an Italian girl and that the premier did not stop. Henry L. Stimson, then secretary of state, and now named to be secreatry of war, sent an apology to the Italian government. Gen. Butler was ordered to stand trial at a court-martial, but it did not materialize. A short time later Butler resigned from the service.

He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter.1

• 1. Milwaukee Journal, 6/22/1940