Connecticut western news., 1890-04-16


 drawing up his left shoulder that made one of his arms appear longer than the other In walking he stepped out briskly, with shoulders a little stopped, and @ gait that was rather shambling. But though his en- semble 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 a new suit of clothes. A cut away coat thrown loosely back, baggy trousers tride bunchy at the knees, and low cut vest, all with tinge of age about them; immaculate linen, broad comfortable shoes, and a remarkable hat completed his attire.
 He Died a Poor Man.
 MT. Randall was a poor man. He was twenty-eight years a member of the house yet no one has ever been found to reflect even in the slightest degree upon his iRteg- rity or honesty. He was proDably poorer in purse when he died than when he came to Washington away back in the Thirty eighth congress. He owned the modest residence in which he lived on Capitol hill. It is situated on c street and is not worth more than S5, ,0O0 The modest dwelling represents the savings of nearly half a life time. He made very little money outside of his salary, and indeed, had very little time to spare from hs public duties.
 Proof Against the Lobby's Temptations.
 The stories gleaned from the lobby as to unsuccessful attempts upon his virtue as a legislator are only unparalleled by the stories told by his friends as to the unyield- ing front which he always presented to the petition of friendship when it ran counter to his sense of public duty. A lawyer who was his bosom friend tells that he carried $1O,- 900 in his pockets for months having under taken to give it to Randall as a retainer in behalf of certain corporation, but could never muster the courage to give it to him or even broach the subject. On one occa- sion wealthy blanket manufacturer, know ing that Randall was poor man, and hay ing profound admiration for him, sent i'm @ check for $500 saying that as an old friend and constituent he believed it his duty and privilege to make this subscription to help pay his election expenses The check was promptly returned with a letter so curt that it would have mortally offended any one who did not make allowance for RandalI's infrmity of temper in this respect. When asked once if he did not carry his independ- ence or indifference in such matters to an extreme, be replied: "No, there is no middle ground in such matters. l draw the line at the beginning" His comparative poverty is monument to his sterling integrity.
 MT. Randall scorned pubic man who appointed any-of his own relatives to office. His brother wanted European consulship, and he could have secured it for him, for he was close to the administration at the time. But MT. Randall sturdily refused and did the same thing with other relatives. At the same time no man was more loyal to his friends than he.
 His Remarkable Reticence.
 One of Mir. Randalrs peculiarities was his remarkable reticence about himself and his affairs. About twelve years ago, when his name first began to be prominently men, tioned in connection with the presidential nomination of the Democratic party, O we'll known newspaper correspondent who wanted to compile his biography was sur prised to find no published data available. He sought MT. Randall and asked him for some of the details of his early life, telling him the purpose for which he desire them. MT. Randall told him, in his blunt W ay, :, that he would find all that was worth know ing about him ill the congressional direc- tory.
 The correspondent consulted that reposi- tory of the autobiographies of statesmen and was surprised to find that while the records of congressman hardly known out side of their own district contained between 500 and 800 words, less than 100 were em- ployed to chronicle the record of the man who was the leader of the house. As another instance of his reticence, it is related that just after the famous Oak View conference, where President Cleveland outlined his mes- sage to Mir. Randall, personal friend asked him what he had heard about it. II did hear," was Mr. Randall's laconic reply, ''that they got as far as free whisky" To Mrs. Randall he was singularly devoted
 In July, 1888, Mir. Randall was suddenly taken seriously ill in Washington with hem orrhage of the stomach. During the previ. ous three months he had undergone several very severe and trying surgical operations in Philadelphia, which greatly impaired his constitution The hemorrhage developed into inflammation of the bowels and his condition rapidly grew worse. He never fully recovered from this attack.
 By the death of Representative Kelley Mir. Randall was entitled to succeed him as the "father of the house" by reason of long est continuous service It may be said o1 him that he died in the harness-a public man absolutely without stain.