The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-04-17

a marked uegfto lhu hrlllrmtnt OF tht
vexed question which agltated the ooun'
try, While he could illIbuster when
necessary 10 defeat o bill he considered
very bad, ho was quIte able 10 choke Of
obstruction when the country was In
peril from II,
Ito Was ne-Eiseied speaker
for the two following terms serving In
that position until March ., 1881, when
tho Republicans took tho house for o
term, When the Democrats again OBJ
tanned control OF the house the divisions
In that party ON the revenue issues led
20 his defeat for the apeakerahlp and 10
the election Of John q, Carllale But
Mr. Randall always retained the com
manding position HIS talents had won
for him, and grew In reputation, AZ
speaKrr nc was not tender m tic ad'
minialration Of his oilico, Elo was o
commander and ruled the house with q
heavy hand, While he was thoroughly
cOnveraant with the rules and always
judicial In hIa decisions, ho frequently
denounced In vigorous and emphatic
language the unruly behavior OF some
Of the members. lie waaa leader In the
chair a. well ~ on tho floor, and when
ho graaped the gayol no welded u rod Of
iron. From the first Mr. Randall wai
recognized IN cOngroaa ~ a power, and
finally he became tho
Recognized Leader of Ills Party
IIe served IN turn on all the important
committeeman committee on rules, on
banking, ON elections and appropriations
OF which latter committee lac was the
chairman and dominating spirit whom
his party was In power For the past
few years the stand which Mr., Randall
had assumed on the tariff question grad
ually alienAtcd him from the ma jorily Of
his party. both state and national; and
although no man impcaChod his fidelity
or sincerity 20 the principles Of Demo
craoy, yet this separation from his aago
ciateg had undoubtedly greatly weighed
upon his mind, aud added 10 the other
drains upon his physical system. In ap
pearanco Mr.. Randall was what might
bo called a peculiar man, His counten'
auoo was rather boyish, but aIngularly
winning aud Atttaetvo,
His feet and hands were ANAL and
shapcly, but he had a way Of drawing
up hia left shoulder thatmade one Of hit
arms appear longer than the other. In
walking he ateppod out briakly, with
shoulders little stopped, and gait thai
was rather 0hGmhling. But though hil
ensemble was striking, his dress added
to the oddly OF his appearances, For
moro than twenty-five years ho wore the
samo style Of clothing and no one ever
seemed 10 have seen him In o new suit Of
1lothoa. A cutaway coat thrown loosely
back, bnggy trousers u trillo bunchy NJ
the knees, and low cut veat, all with O
tingo Of ago about them; immaculate
liuen, hroad comfortable Shoes and 70.
hat completed his attire,
MIR UandNl Wa, ~ Poor MHn,
He wau twonty.cight years q member Of
the house, yet no ono has ever been
found 10 reflect oven In tho slightest
degree upon his integrity or honesty
Ho was probably poorer in purse when
ho died than when he came TO Washing.
ton, away back IN the Thir,y-oighth
llo owned the modest rcsi
denoc In which no lived, on Capital Hill,
II is not worth moro than $4,000, and
represents tho savings of nearly half
Ilo made very little money
outside Of hi8 salary, and, indeed, had
very little time 20 spare from his public
duties, Out Of his salary no alwaye
met tho expensce incident !oh!s election
md while .atSj were comparatively
light and would pass the soveresl
they were, nevertheless, q
heavy drain upon hlq moagre income.
lie made II uniform practice 10 return
NIL contributions mado by friends 10.
wards these expenses, which, with
Independence, ho pro
ferrod 10 bear himself rather than place
himself under obligations 10 any one.
Tho Storlo, Cleaned from tho Lobby
ls 10 unsuccessful attempts upon his
virtue as u legislator are only parallolcd
by tho stories told by his frionds ns tc
the unyielding front which he alwayt
10 the petition Of friendship
when II ran counter TO his sense Of pub.
lie duty A lawyer who was his bosom
friend, tells that no carried $40 900 In hit
pocket for months, having undertaken
10 give II TO Randall ns retainer In DO,
half Of a certain corporation, but could
never muster the courage 10 give II u
him, or even hroaeh the subject Whor
nskod once II no did not carry his indo
pendenco or indifference In such mat
lers TO an extreme, he repliedi "Noi
thoro Is no middle ground IN such mat
tors draw the line NJ the beginning
His comparative poverty is monument
10 his sterling integrity
MIR Randall scored n Pablo Man
who appointed any Of his own relatlycs 10 OF.
flee. His brother wanted European consul
ship, and ho could have secured II for him, fOi
he was close 10 the administration ~ the timo
hut Mr.. Randall Aturdily refused and did the
snmo thing with other relatives, nj tho SAINT
limo no man was more loyal TO his friends thar
he, Mr. Randall waa nn indofatignblo and un.
romltting w0rkor. lilo poascgspd the faculty
Df application 20 " wonderful degree, and
never ilnggod at The most a6oiious task liz
never lnst il moment while nj work.
Mr. Randall worked n gront deal 40 homo
u was hia custom 70 take with him ON the ad'
lournmcnt OF tho house q gropt pile Of papers
with which ho hustled himself during tho oven,
Ing. llu was very fond Of his home and famlb
and spent HA much of his time 90 possible NJ
his own froBldc. And modest little homo II
Ia. 10 IN situated on O street, Washington, one
II the qulctcst thoroughfaics OF q quiet nelaR,
bOrhood. Tho interior Of the house ~ ~ plnlr
" tho outsidoi but though lacking In luxury
.hero Ia all about that, air of refinement and
culture which beilttod n man OF hls tompora.
mont. Mir Randall had but
Fcw Amusrmonta or Recrcatlona
He never went TO the theatre, very rarely tC
)huroh and dined out possibly onoo week
When questioned once about his amusomontB
Mr.. Randall, with u twinkle In his eye, dryll
that tho amusement from which ht
leriyod tho greatest amount of pleasure WA
20 bo returned each election from district
Witch In other respects gave Republican
His habits Of life were OF the
lmplcet nature, and he always madq II rule
I possible 10 sleep ton hours, retiring early
md arising with the first CLEAN OF day. ono
v Mr.. Hahdnll'e peoul lprltlqg was his romark
lblc rotlcence about himself and his affairB
About twelve years ago, whom his name nrai
began to bg prominently mentioned In con.
leotlon with the presidential nomination OF
ho Democratic party, u woll-known news. |
,nper correspondent, who wanted 10 compile |
lig biography, was surprised 20 find no pub |
lehed data available. llo sought Mr.. Randall |
nd asked him for some OF the details Of hit |
Arly life, telling him tho purpose for which |
% deeired them. Mr.. Randall told him, in /
ia blun,-ssay, that bs wenld and