Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-01
CONGRESSMAN TOWNSHEND.
The Man ON whom the Tariff Reform
Mantle Is Expected 10 Fall.

Special Correspondence of the Globe Democrat.
SHAwNRETowN, ILL.,, Nov. 16.-Congressman
Townshend has received a notification from Mr..
Randall that the committee on appropriations win
meet in washington next week, and that his pres
ence is desired. He has replied that private busl-
ness will probably keep him at home until about
the 1st
Mr.. Townshends district is largely agricultural,
but he doesn't underestimate the importance of
the labor organization movement in the cities.
He looks for this organization to be stronger two
years hence than it is now. "It is my opinion, y
he says, "we should take care Of all questions per-
tanning to labor which may need legislation and
that, and it will be bad policy from party stand
point to ignore this movement"
MI. TownshendS district returns him for the
sixth term by majority up in the thousands, ,s65
or Whereabouts. This is district set apart for
democrats by republican legislature. There was a
falling off in the vote Of two years ago, but that
BILE to any democratic diSaffection with the admin
1stration, Mr.. Townshend thinks. 'The hold Mr..
which has impressed me everywhere have been
In the late campaign" he says. THAT man has
got the people with him believe the opposition
TO him by some OF the politicians really makes
him stronger with the farmers and the business
men In my campaign sounded the praises OF
the administration pretty loudly, and found
struck the popular chord quicker on that than on
any other topic. or course, had to say couldn't
accept the Presidents position on the silver ques-
tlOn ana my constituents were with me there but
we accorded the President the credit OF being
honest In his mistaken financial view and passed
1t by In that way"
MR.. MoRRrsoN's MANTLE.
The democratic editors OF Illinois are saving in
their columns that Mr.. Morrison's mantle OF tariff
reform falls upon Mr.. Townshend's shoulders. The
members from the nineteenth district has for a
long time had pronounced views upon the subject
OF the tariff. He has always been aggressive for
reform, but though acting with his party he has
probably had no unbOunded admiration for the
idea OF horizontal reduction Mr.. Townshend is a
believer In the theory OF the zollverein or tariff
union, and he has elaborated his views In several
speeches, which have attracted considerable atten-
ton. He was asked to-day ii he didn't think
cation OF the ZOllverein theory.
81 don't KNOW he replied rather evasively:
"new ideas take rather Slowly. We shall unboubt-
edly have some tariff legislation soon but whether
at This session 1t is difficult to say. Probably
neither the Morrison nor the Randall bill will pass
have thought that II the administration would
recommend something specific it would be well.
You remember that last year the President I'm a
general Way suggested that attention be given the
tarin. Now, II bill, not attempting to cover too
much ground, would come from the Secretary OF
the treasury, In the guiSe of an administration
measure, 1t would go through the House and
would stand a very good chance with the Senate.
DelleVe that some very much needed changes in
the tar1n might be brought about in that way"
BORN LUCKY.
There Is an element OF romance In Mr. Town.
shends political career He is only forty-sfx years
OF age, and one-fifth of his life he has been Con-
gresham. There is no telling where he will stop,
for he seems to have been born lucky. He is a
Marylander by birth, but when only ten years old
found home In Washington. There he became
page In the House OF Representatives and the pro-
tege OF Sam 8. Marshall, who represented the
ShawneetOwn district in Congress for twenty-six
years. When TOwnshend was eighteen he accom-
panied his congressional friend home to Illinois.
For a time he taught school in Fayette county.
Then he studied law in Mr.. MarShall'S Office at
McLeansboro. He was admitted TO the bar in
later hapama ha lnrE of
the circuit court at Hamilton county. Five
years afterwards he stepped from the cerkship
into the prosecuting att0rneyshtp OF the twelfth
Judicial circuit, and after four years there he
moved to ShawneetOwn and took a position in the
Gallatin National bank. For years he was men,
Der of the democratic state central committee,
and in 1872 he represented his district in the
tiOnal convention at Baltimore.
There came break in Sam MarShall'S long series
OF congressional terms. The farmers clubs did it,
Two years later Mr.. Marshall put forward his old
protege as the heir to bis former political prestige
Townsend carried the district easily, redeeming IL
to the democracy, and he has since held it without
any apparent desire by his party for change. He
married daughter OF POole's, the Shawneetown
millionaire. AS already remarked, there is no pre-
dieting the future OF a man who has had such
good luck in life.