The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-10

low his profession with great industry till
1867, when he was nominated unanimously
by the Democratic convention for Governor
of Ohio.
Ex-President Hayes was his opponent and
for sixty-five days in one of the most excit-
ing campaigns the State had ever known
both candidates appeared upon the stump.
Thurman was defeated, but had the satisfNc-
ton of knowing that he cut down the Re
publican majority from AZ 000-which il had
been the year before-to less than 5000
SENATOR.
Mr.. Humans gallant race for the Gov
ernorship, though unsuccessful, was not
without its compensation. The result Of the
spirited contest was that the Legislature
elected was Democratic, and naturally IL
made Mr., Thurman United States senator to
take the place of that sturdy old Republican,
Ben Wade.
When he took his scat there were only
seven Democrats in the upper House. They
were Garrett, Davis, McCreary Of Kentucky,
Casserlv, Nickers of Maryland, Bayard
Stockton of New Jersey, and Thurman The
last named soon took high position among
his colleagues, and us early as 1869 made n
speech on the so-callcd Georgia bill, which
attracted general attention, and was regarded
Us the official announcement that the Demo-
cratic party Of the south for the first time
since before the war was 10 fall into line with
the organization in other parts of the re-
united nation. Aftcrward his speeches ON
the Geneva award bill and the
PACIFIC RAILWAY FUNDING BILL
attracted wide notice and condemnation.
The Pacific railroad bill, known rs the
Thurman act" requires the Central and
Union companies TO set aside n portion Of
their income as n sinking fund to meet its
uHla Las L.
they mature. The interests involved are
enormous, and various devices have been
adopted TO defeat the purpose OF the bill, but
Its constitutionality has been affirmed by the
United States supreme court and thus has
been established for all time the precedent
which teaches that the government is the
master of corporations Of its own creating
This alone was enough 10 earn him the last
ing gratitude of his countrymcn. He was
always an able industrious and fearless leg
islator and had a rare faculty Of gaining aud
retaining the friendship Of his associates.
His intimacy with Senator Edmunds. his as
sociato on the judiciary committee, was for
years matter OF public comment.
Their warm personal attachment was
shown in many ways. They used 10 take
their senatorial "cold tea" always in COM
pany and their companionshi p was conyivial,
though IL grew out OF mutual admiration
for the Others accomplishments in the alb
struse principles Of constitutional law. Dur
ing long, tedious sessions ot the Senate when
members powers were
SEVERELY TAXED,
one or the other of them would slowly and
sOlcmnly rise In his place and look sigiii-
cantly at his brother senator Then the lat
ter would be seen "a rise slowly and sol
EMMY in his place aud then they would ~
out Of the chamber always from different
dOors-always slowly and sOlcmnly. Ia the
same manner they would go by different
stairways down 10 their committee room.
There they would meet enter together, and
then, invariably the door was closed aud
locked against the outside world What the
great law makers did while inside could only
be surmiscd. These eccentric movements
came Ia be noted IN due time aud are now
among the traditions Of .thc Senate.
AZ the same time lac was among the
most attentive, hard working CON
scicntious senators that ever Eat Ia that dis.
tinguishcd body. His long public service
left him comparatively poor aud the breath
Of suspicion never attached 81 any action ui
his. When his second term expired, In 1880
the Republican Legislature elected Gen Gar.
field To- succeed him. A. Garfield was
elected President that fall, John Sherman frll
heir 10 the seat which lac now holds Mr..
Thurman, since his retirement from the
Senate has remained IN private life except
during the short time he served ON the In
tcrnniional monetary conference. lie las
been sadly missed by his old associates in
the Senate. and his reappcamncc there ~
presiding olliccr would be welcomed by all
Of them.