Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-01-31
FOUND PEACE IN DEATH.
From the Washington Post ]

WINCHESTER, VA, Jan. "a
Ex-senator Riddlebersscc-- Giioi at
|2:3O c'ci0ch Lhis morning at his
nome in Woodstock. He had been
iconfhed to his room since the hOli
idays. He was UNCONSCIOUS tor
three weeks except at intervals
Ills funeral will take place to-mor
ROW afternoon. The interment
will be at Edenburg.
Harrison Holt Riddleberger
was in bis forty-sixth year at the
4 time of his death, having been
born October 4, 1874, at Edinburg,
Shenandoah county, Virginia.
During the war he entered the
sConfederate service while yet a
mere boy, but before the close OF
5hostiities he had risen first to ln-
sfantry lieutenant, and was muster
led ont a captain of cavalry.
At an early period after the war
he was elected a member Of the
3general a. sembly of Virginia. Be
dug a good speaker and fOrcIble IN
I the expression OF his opinions he
became exceedingly popular. Dur
ling his career in this body he was
he leader in a movement for the
settlement of the public debt Of
Virginia upon basis such as the
5peOple Of the State could pay
sThis led to split in t. ranks OF
{ the Democrats, and Mr.. Riddle
sberger became the leader OF the
.Readjuster faction OF the Democ-
racy, presenting the RIddleberger
ibill as the means of a reduction OF
:. the State debt.
The straight Democrats opposed
the measure with the Mccullough
bill. The struggle was fought out
i'm 1879, and resulted in the cleo
ltion of Legislature in which the
'readjusters bad control. The Rid
'lleberger bill was passed, and the
9policy it comprised has since been
Endorsed by both political parties.
One of the results of the agita-
.tion was the election of General
Malone to the United States Sen
ate as a Readjuster. At this time
,the L. S. Senate was practically
tiled, with a slight majority in ia
vor of the Republicans. by reason
of the cooperation of Senator Ma
hone. a proposition was made to
re. .organizs the elective officers of
the Senate, and Senator Malone Sc
cured for Mr.. RiddIebsrger the
,caucHs nomination for Sergeant.st-
Arms, then held by Richard j.
Bright. This was attempted dur.
{ slng the Inauguration of President
Z sGarfeld. The Democrats filibus-
tered against the proposed change,
sOn the ground that 1t was unprs-
acedented to change officers during
an extra session. 1t was evident
sthat the Democrats would filibus
ter indefinitely, and the Republi-
cans postponed the contest, intend
ling to resume it the following De-
scember.
In the meantime the assassina'
I 3tiOn of Garfield transpired, and in
sthe political turmoil following that
tragic event it was not thought
best to attempt to reOrganize the
Senate, even though there was a
svacancy caused by the death of the
sSecretary during the summer
3While this state of affairs existed
5the term of Senator John W. John
sSon, Of Virginia, was about to ex'
spire. The legislature vas in con
strol of the victorious Readiusters,
sand Riddleberger WAS made Sena'
Z tor. In 1888 be took his seat, the
peer and equal of the Senators
who had refused him a subordln'
ate position in that body.
BY this time he had shaken
loose from Democratic ties, and
( he took q seat on the Republican
side of the Senate with his col
SIeague, Senator Malone. ThelT
relations did not continue friendly
after the lapse of three or four
ears, trouble arising, like most
jiisagreements of this sort, over
matters of patronage.
Swayed strongly by his own
personal feelings, Mr.. Riddleber'
GERS affiliatiOn with the Republic
leans in the Senate in late years be-
icamo purely nominal. He was
hot consulted in party matters,
md cOrdiality ceased to exist be-
tween himself and the Republi'
Z Can Senators. Senator RIddleber
ger made no cOnceaIment of the
position he occupied toward the
iRepubIican party, IN his speeches
I he often alluded TO the indifference
4 iand GOODNESS of the party TO which
Z he was in measure Connected
{ He felt particularly aggrieved at
lSenator Iugalls because tue tier,
as presiding officer of the Senate,
had been particularly severe and
sarcastic in the treatment of the
Virginia Senator.