Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-06-18

thoroughly, but the convention nominated
Garfield BY reclamation. He has had no OPP
Liberals and Democrats united to beat him
but his majority was larger than ever. In
1874 the Greenbackers and Democrats com.
blned and put up popular soldier against
him, but they made no impression on the re-
suit. The Ashtabula district, as it is generally
called, Is the most faithful to its representa-
tives OF any in the North It has had but four
members In half q century.
In the Fortieth Congress General Garfield
was chairman of the committee on military
affairs. In the Forty first he was given the
rmanship of banking and currency,
which he liked much better, because it was
in the line of his financial studies. His next,
promotion was to the Craftsmanship of tho
appropriations COMMITTEES, which he held un-
IL the Democrats came into power in the
House in 1875. HIS chief work on that COM
mittee was steady and judicious reduction
OF the expenses of the government. In all
the political struggles in Congress he has
moderate style Of argument making him one
OF the most effective debaters in either House,
When James G. Blaine went to the Senate,
in 1877, the mantle of Republican leadership
in the House was by common consent placed
upon Garfield. and he has worn it ever since.
to the Senate to the seat which will be va
Gated by Allen G. Thurman on the 4th of
March, 1881. He received the unanimous
vote OF the Republican caucus, an honor never
given to any man of any party in the State of
Ohio. Since his election he has been the
recipient Of many complimentary manifesto
tons in Washington and in Ohio.
GARFIELD Az A LEADER.
As leader in the House he is more cautious
and less dashing than Blaine and his Judicial
turn of mind makes him too prone to look for
two sides of question for him to be an eff
ciens partisan. When tho issue fairly touches
his convictions, however, he becomes thorough
ly aroused and strikes tremendous blows.
Blaine's tactics were to continually harrass
the enemy by sharpshooting surprises and
picket firing. Garfield waits for an oppor-
tul,ity to deliver pitched battle, and his
generalship is shown to best advantage when
the fight is fair one and waged on grounds
where each party thinks itself strongest. Then
his solid shot of argument are exceedingly
effective. On the stump Garfield ia one of the
very best orators IN the Republican party. He
has q good voice, an air of evident sincerity,
great clearness and vigor of statement and 3
way of knitting his arguments together 60 ~
to make speech deepen its impression on the
mind of the hearer until the climax is reached.
OF his industry and studious habits great
deal might be said, but single illustration
will have to suffice here. Once during the
busiest part of q very busy session at Washing
ton, I found him in his library, behind big
| sight, but when glanced at the volumes saw
that they were all different editions of Horace,
or books relating to that poet. II find I am
overworked and need recreation, said the gen.
eral. Nov my theory is that the best
way to rest the mind is not to let it be
= l,-A l.
of the ordinary line of its employment. So
am resting by learning all the Congressional
library can show about Horace and the various
editions and translations of his POEMS"
GARFIELD At home.
General Garfield is the possessor of two
houses, and his family migrates twice year.
Some ten years ago, finding how unsatisfactory
life was in hotels and boarding houses, he
bought a lot of ground on the corner of Thir-
tenth and streets, in Washington, and with
money borrowed of friend built plain, sub
tended afterwardsto make room for the fast
growing Library. Tho money was repaid in
time, and was probably saved in great part
from what would otherwise have gone to Land.
lords. The children grew up in pleasant home
surroundings, and the house became centre
| of much simple and cordial hospitality. Five
or six years ago, the little cottage at Hiram
was sold, and for time the only
residence the Garfelds had in
his district WAS summer house
he built on Little Mountain, q bold elevation
| in Lake county, which commands a view of
thirty miles of rich farming country stretched
| along the shore of Lake Erie. Three years ago
he bought a farm in Mentor, in the same
| county, lying on both sides of the Lake Shore
Michigan Southern railroad. Here his fam
lily spend all the time when he is free from hi
duties in Washington. The farm house is
low. old fashioned, story and half building
but its limited accommodations have been sup
plemented by numerous out buildings, one of
which General Garfield uses for Office and lib.
rary purposes. The farm contains about one
hundred and twenty acres of excellant land, in
high state of cultivation, and the Congress-
man finds q recreation, of which he never tires,
in directing the field work and making i'm
and orchards. Cleveland is only
is post office and a railway station within half
a mile, and the pretty country town of Paines-
vile is but five miles distant. One of the pleas.
res of summer life ON the Garfield farm is a
drive of two miles through the woods to the
lake shore and q bath in the breakers.
General Garfield has five children living, and
has lost two, who died in infancy. The two old
er boys, Harry and James, are now at school in
New Hampshire. Mary. or Molly. as everybody
calls her, is handsome, rosy-cheeked girl of
ooouo AN' AAo WV JouuECA OOyo oIo AnMcu
Irwin and Abram. The Generals mother is
still living and has long been member of bis
family. She is an intelligent and energetic old
lady, with a clear head and strong will, and
keeps we'll posted in the news of the day and ia
very proud of her sons career, though more
liberal of criticism than of praise.
General Garfield district lies in the extreme
northeastern corner of Ohio, and now embraces
the counties of Ashtabula. Trumbull, Geauga,
Lake and Mahoning. His old home cous ty Of
Portage was detached from it year ago. With
the exception Of the coal and iron regions in
the extreme southern part, the district is purely
rural one, and is inhabited by population
of pure New England ancestry. It is claimed
that there is less illiteracy in proportion to the
population than in any other district in the
United States.
In person General Garfield is six feet high,
broad-shouldered and strongly built. He has
an unusually large head, that seems to be
three-fourths forehead, light brown hair and
beard, large, light blue eyes, q prominent nose
and full cheeks. He dr. sses plainly, is fond
of broad-b rimmed SLOUGH hats and stout boots,
eats heartily, cares nothing for luxurious liv-
ing, is thoroughly temperate in all respects
save in that of brain work, and is devoted to
his wife and children and very fond of his
country hume. Among men he is genial, ap-
proachabls, compsnionable and remarkably
entertaining talker.
A T,a6V's EurOnQan Outfit