Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-04-17

his party was in power For the past
few wears the stand which Mr.. Randall
had assumed on the tariff question grad
ually alienated him from the maiority OF
his party, both state and national: and
although no man impeached his fidelity
or sincerity 10 the principles of Demo
cracy. vet this separation from his asso-
ciates had undoubtedly greatly weighed
upon his mind, and added to the other
drains upon his physical system. In ap-
pearance Mr. Randall was what might
be called a peculiar man. His counten-
ance was rather boyish. but singularly
Winning and Attractive.
His feet and hands were small and
shapelv, but he had a way of drawing
up his left shoulder that made one of his
arms appear longer than the other. In
walking he stepped out briskly, with
shoulders little stopped, and gait that
was rather shambling. But though his
ensemble was striking, his dress added
to the oddity of his appearance. For
more than twenty-five years he wore the
same style of clothing and no one ever
seemed to have seen him in new suit OF
clothes. A cutaway coat thrown loosely
back, bagsy trousers a tritie bunchy al
the knees, and low cut vest, all with a
tinge of age about them; imm aculate
linen. broad comfortable shoes, and re-
markable hat completed his attire.
MIR. Randa l Was Il PUor Man.
He was twenty-eisht years a member OF
the house, vet no one has ever been
found to reflect even in the slightest
degree upon his integrity or honesty.
He was probably. poorer in purse when
he died than when he came to Washing
ton, away back in the Thirty-eighth
congress. He owned the modest resi-
dence in which he lived, on Capital Hill.
1t is not worth more than $1,000. and
represents the savings of nearly half a
lifetime. He made very little money
outside of his salary, and, indeed, had
very little time to spare from his public
duties Out of his salary he always
met the expenses incident to his election;
and while these were comparatively
light and would pass the severest
scrutiny, they were, nevertheless, a
heavy drain upon his meagre income.
He made it a uniform practice to return
all contributions made by friends to-
wards these expenses, which, with
characteristic independence, he pre-
ferred to bear himself rather than place
himself under obligations to any one.
The stories Cleaned from the Lobby
as to unsuccessful attempts upon his
virtue as legislator are only paralleled
by tile stories told by his friends as to
the unyielding front which he always
presented to the petition of friendship
when it ran counter to his sense of pub
lie duty. A lawyer who was his bosom
friend, tells that he carried $40. 900 in his
pocket for months, having undertaken
10 give it to Rainfall as retainer in be-
half Of certain corporation, but could
never muster the courage to give it to
him. or even broach the subject. When
asked once if he did not carry his inde-
pendence or indiffers nee in such mat
tiers to an extreme, he replied: mo;
there is no middle ground in such mat
tiers. l draw the line at the beginning ''
His com ilaratIve poverty is a monument
to his sterling integrity.
Dir. Randall scoraed q Public Man
who appointed any of his own relatives to of
flee. His brother wanted a European consul
ship, and he could have secured it for him, for
he was close to the administration at the time.
But Mr.. Randall sturdily refused and did the
time no man was more loyal to his friends than
he. Mr.. Randall was an indefatiga Bile and un-
remitting worker. He possessed the faculty
of application to a wonderful degree and
never tagged at the most laborious task. He
never lost moment while at work.
Mr.. Randall worked great deal at home
1t was his custom to take with him ON the ad-
journment of the house great pie of papers
with which he busiei himself during the even
ing. He was very fond of his home and family
and spent as much of his time as possible at
his own treside. And modest little home it
is. 1t is situated on c street, Washington, one
of the quietest thOroughfares of a quiet neigh
bOrhood. The interior of the house is as plain
as the outside: but though lacking in luXu- Y
there is all about that air of refinement and
culture which befitted a man of his tempera-
ment. Mr.. Randall had but
Few Amusements or Recreations.
church and dined out possibly once a week.
When questioned once about his amusements,
Mr.. Randall, with "A twinkle in his eye, dryly
remarked that the amusement from which he
derived the greatest amount of pleasure was
to be returned each election from district
which in other respects gave a Republican
majority. His habits of life were of the
simplest nature, and he always made it a rule
if possible to sleep ten hours, retiring early
and arising with the first CLEAN of day. One
of Mr.. Randall's peculiarities was his remark
able reticence about himself and his affairs.
About twelve years ago, when his name first
began to be prominently mentioned in con-
nection with the presidential nomination of
the Democratic party, a well-knOwn news
paper CORES pondent, who wanted to compile
his biography, was surprised to find no pub
lished data available. He sought Mr.. Randall
and asked him for some of the details of his
early life. telling him the purpose for which
he desired them. Mr.. Randall told him, in
his blunt way, that he would find
All That Was Worth knowing
about him in the congressional directory. The
consulted that repository OF the
aUtobiog Eaphies of statesmen, and was sur
prlsed to find that while the records of some
hardly known outside of their
own districts contained between five and six
hundred words, less than one hundred were
employed to chronicle the record of the man
who was the leader of the house. As another
instance of his reticience, it is related that just
after the famous Oak View conference, where
President Cleveland outlined his message to
Mr.; Randall, a personal friend asked him what
he had heard about it. 81 did hear" was Mr..
laconlc reply, that they got as far
as free whisky
To Mrs. Randall he was singularly devoted.
She Is a daughter of the late Gen. Ward, vino
was at one time a member of congress from
New York. She is woman of somewhat re-
tired TASTES. rather averse to taking an active
part in the social display of Washington Of
fetal life, and iii such matters had absolute
sway over Mr.. Randall. He never questioned
her
Decisions in Social Affairs.
In July, 1883, Mr.. Randall was suddenly taken
StTlOuSly III III w WIFI
of the stomach. During the previous three
he had undergone several very severe
and trying surgical operations in Philadelphia,
which greatly impaired his constitution: The
hemOrrnage developed into Inflammation of
the bowels, his condition rapidly grew worse,
and at one time it was feared that his recOV-
cry was an impossibiiity. He rallied, however,
and in the latter part of the month was re-
moved. BY advice Of his physician, from WASH
ington. lie was
Taken to a Country Seat,
"Castanca," near Wayne Station, Pa, which
had been provided for MIN. He remained here
till Dec. |, when he returned to Washington,
greatly improved, but not by any means d
well man. He never fully recovered from this
attack, and although keenly interested in
tariff legislation and in the maintenance of a
high protective policy by congress, he was
never able TO resume his seat and continue the
work he loved so well. By death of Repre-
Kelly Mr.. Randall was entitled to
succeed him as the Father of the House." by
reason of the longest continuous service. 1t
may be said of him that he died in the har-
ness. public man absolutely without stain.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-The arrange
ments for the funeral OF ex-Speaker
Randall were nearly complete last night
There was strong feeling among MEM
bers of the house that the funeral SER
vices should he held at the Capitol in the
hall of the house of representatives,
and Mrs. Randall was requested to con-