The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-27

the sessions of 1858 and 1859. In
October, 1859, he was elected to the
House of Representatives over the Re.
publican nominee. lie was several
times elected Burgess of his native
borough, and is identified with the
leading business enterprises there. LII
May, 1875, he was appointed by Gen.
McCandess Deputy Secretary of Inter
nal Affaiis, and upon him fell the
labor of organizing the new Depart
ment of Internal Affairs created by the
Constitution of 1873, lie gave the
duties of the office his undivided at
tentlon. In May, 1878, he was nom
mated as Gen. McCandlrss' successor
by the Democratic Convention, re-
ceiving 156 votes to 67 for the two
other candidat, s. His Republican
opponent, who was elected to the office
in November of that year, was Colonel
Aaron L. Dunkel of Philadelphia, but
Mr.. Africa led his ticke, by from 1000
to $4,000 votes. In February, 1880.
Mr.. Hayes appointed him Supervisor
of the Census for the Seventh district
of Pennsylvania,ar office for the duties
of which he was peculiarly qualified.
In June, 1882, he was again placed on
the Democratic ticket Tor the office of
Secretary of Internal Affairs by accla-
nation, aud this time he was elected
through the Republican dissensions
which carried Patiison and the whole
Democratic ticket through. Mr..
Africas discharge of his official duties
have been painstaking and conscien-
tious from first to last, and he
thoroughly understands the duties of
an office of which he was practically
the creator.
WILLIAM j. BREMEN.
William j. Bremen, the nominee
for Auditor-General, was born in the
South Side, Pittsburg about 33 years
ago. His parents, Irish working people
were among the early settlers there.
He received common school educa-
ton, and was apprenticed and learned
the trade Of machinist. He follow
ed that trade until 27 years of age, and
saved money TO fit himself for the legal
profession. He read law with Colonel
j. X. p. Duff, his present partner. He
was delegate for Tiden at the st.
Louis Convention of '76, when but
little more than 2l years of age. He
has been delegate to several Demo-
cratic State Conventions, and is men,
Der of the State Committee now, and is
serving his second term as Chairman
of the Allegheny County Committee.
He was counsel without compensation
for the coal miners charged with con-
spiracy over in Washington county
is cousin of Gilbert Rafferty, the
coke operator, is unmarried and total
abstainer from Intoxicating drinks.
MAXWELL STEVENSON.
Maxwell Stevenson, who was nomi-
mated for Congressman-at Large, was
born on February l, lS47, near Lon
donderry, Ireland, of that Scotch Irish
stock noted for its pluck, energy and
ability. He was brought to Philadel-
phia in December, 1851, when not quite
five years old, and has been a resident
there ever since. His early struggles
for advancement were untiring and
severe, but no more striking than thou
sands of others. He left school be-
tween the ages of II and 13, after
reaching the class in Jaskson Grammar
School preparatory TO the High School.
During the years of 1859 and 1860 he
was engaged in hard unremitting work
on the truck farms of the "Neck" In
1861 he obtained work as an errand
boy in shoe store. A year later he
bought the outfit of a news stand. In
connection with this business he got
the right to canvas for subscribers to
the Ecening Telegraph and so salts
factorily was his work that Mr.. Charles
K. Watburton, the proprietor, without
regard to the boys youth, unhesitating-
ly and generously assigned to him an
important newspaper territory, Soon
| after this he bought scholarship" in
bnainess college and devoted himself
to secur'..; a thorough business train,
ing. He rapidly improved his mind
and from then until 1878 was employ
ed as bookkeeper, by several firms. In
all of these years Stcvenson's ambition
was to become lawyer, and TO that
end he had already, in 1870, registered
as student with f, Coppee Mitchell,
afterwards transferring it to The late
Judge !. II. Pratt, and on October 81,
1874, after highly credtable exami
nation, was admitted to the bar. being
at that time somewhat over 27 years of
age. Since his admission 10 the bar
his life has been well known to the
public. His first public interest in the
labor movement was as its unanimous
| ly chosen candidate Tor Cong ess in
the First District. 1t was hoped thai
the Democrats would also nominate
him, but the nomination in the con
vention was lost to him by a majorit,
of only ten votes. In this canvas
without an inside officer, with botf
organizations bitterly opposed to hin
he made plucky fight, getting coun
OF nearly 4,3OO votes. lie has eve
been an active Democrat from convict
ion, but deeply in sympathy with every
movement for the advancement of labo
everywhere. And that no man shoult
charge that his interest in the grea
struggle of labor for recognition
was prompted by mercenary or selfsl
motives, he has absolutely refused com
! pensation for any services rendered {,
any properly Unidentified member o
) organized labor.
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