Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-12

election of G. W. Keifer. He was ever an out
spoken advocate of judiciously adjusted pro-
tective tariff, and never wavered from his posi-
tion except when monopoly and not protection
was the object sought to be attained. The free
trade papers were unanimous in their antagon-
ism to his candidacy for Speaker of the Forty
eighth Congress- ana Carlisle, of Kentucky,
was chosen to the position. In the early part
of 1885 Mr.. Randall made tour of the South,
and was received with much enthusiasm.
AN INTELLECTUAL GIANT.
Without being particularly scholarly man
finished orator, Mr.. Randall was
most powerful figure in American politics Of
the period. Differing from a majority of his
party on one subject that has been an issue Of
very recent years he was not an acknowledged
leader, yet during the past three sessions that
the leadership was elsewhere there were times
when the party turned to him as the man best
fitted to fight their difficult battles. There was
probably no other man from whom a few words
had such an influence upon the House in rela-
ton to fiscal affairs, and in parliamentary
struggle he always arose above the whole
House. When deeply in earnest on any sub
ject he attained the proportions of giant, and
with heavy blows dealt on either hand, be
brushed the hundred and one smaller men of
the House out of his path.
As head of the Appropriations Committee
and possessing wider knowledge Of fiscal affairs
than any other man in the House, he practic-
ally controlled the appropriations for the entire
Government Through him the policy of ire
trenchment and reform" became an attribute of
the Democratic party, and it was this battle cry
that drew support to the party and brought it
from the obscurity Of defeat in which ii groped
for years after the war; Whatever bitterness
may have arisen from the differences of opinion
on the tariff question, the ablest of the tariff
reformers always respected the iron-nerved
giant of Pennsylvania as one of the most power
full men in the party. He has stood for years,
extending back into the time when the party
was weak and disorganized, as the
CHAMPION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
and of honest and economical administration
of the Government. He has been not only the
watch dog Of the Treasury, but he has been the
guard-at times almost the lone guard-of the
party organization. He was undoubtedly one
of the greatest men in his party. They have,
perhaps had no other man before the public.
excepting Tilden and Cleveland, of equal
strength of character and determination with
him. He was practical rather than theo-
retical defender of the Constitution. He re-
rights and was the enemy of all jobs and
schemes to involve the Government outside of
its proper functions.
His first year as Chairman of the Appropria-
tions Committee of the House was signallzed
by the saving of $50 000 600 to the Government
After many years service in public life he was
one of the poorest men in Congress- and en-
joyed the distinction of being a man whose
honesty and absolute integrity of purpose was
never questioned. This, with his earnestness
and forceful manners, impelled by an infexi-
bic determination, gave his word tremendous
weight and influence in Congress.
He was man Of the greatest simplicity in
his mode of life. who chung to his home asso-
Citations and cared nothing for display. The
extent of his possessions is represented in the
very plain home he owned on street. near
First, on Capitol Hill. 1t is an ordinary fat
front house with two or three white marble
steps at the front door, and with plain white
for perhaps S35 or SI0 II is a neat, unpreten-
uous home. such as might be that of a depart
ment clerk.
HIS PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
His appearance and his manners added to the
force OF his reputation. In the heat of debate
his face was the ideal picture of power and de-
termination. When set in purpose and fired by
the energy of action, the muscles tightened in
his heavy jaw, his eyes bright and his form
erect and drawn up TO its fullest proportions.
he looked the personitcation of an irresistible
force. He was never known to hesitate on the
floor of the House At the time when the
Southern Democrats we're powerless to help
themselves or their party, he. as a Northern
Union man, was of inestImabie service in their
defense. Long hours of the day and night spent
on his feet In resistance of the force bill in the
Fortv-third Congress with hardly a ccrporaI's
guard to support him gave forcible illustra-
tion of his powerful qualities as leader.
prominently considered as desirable Demo-
cratic candidate for the Presidency of the
United States. He had been the four lmme-
diately preceding years close in the counsel OF
Samuel j. Tilden, and believing that the Sage
of Greystone was unjusty deprived of the
Presidency IN 1871 he vas an unwavering sup
porter of his claims to denomination Occupy
ing that attitude, he resolutely declined have
his own name canvasSed, and, in the opinion of
many of his friends, carried his loyalty to Mr..
TIlden to the verge of ruthless self-sacrifice.
L., T.,W.a lasa oil
Democratic Convention to lead the advocates
of the old ticket" The convention met in
Cincinnati Mr.. Randalrs headquarters were
at the ST. Nicholas Hotel There he was waited
upon by scores of influential delegates and
other party leaders, who begged that he would
drop 1iIden and enter the lists himself.
HIS WORK FOR HIS PARTY.
These overtures were firmly and even impa-
tiently rejected; but they were renewed with
fresh force when Mr.. Tilden telegra phed a
declination of denomination. Confusion fol-
lowed this declination and it is probable that
Randall is the only man who could have held
the Tiden phalanx together An attempt was
made to consolidate on Payne, but it was
failure. Too late, but even then against his
wishes, the name of Randall was thrown into
the convention. Hancock was the nominee,
but Randall, without organization or serious
effort on the part Of his friends polled over 100
votes.
There was a similar use of Mr.. Randalrs
name in the convention at Chicago in 1884.
During the Garfield and Arthur administra-
tions alike, while his party was In minority in
the Senate and in the majority in the House.
his hold the Democratic party had been |
greatly strengthened. More than ever he came |
to be recognized as the natural leader of the |
Democracy; yet by combination of revenue |
reformers and defenders of the whisky inter. |
ests he was beaten tor the Speakership in 1888 |
the opposition having the sagacity to select as |
their candidate Carlisle, OF Kentucky This
result gave Mr.. Randall less concern than his !
friends, and caused him no loss of prestige. |
From all paris of the country went to Chicago |
men who wished to make him their candidate |
for President. He went to Chicago too but |
intent upon other things. He believed the 4
platform of supreme importance, and to its |
proper construction bent all his energies to |
the sacrifice of his personal ambition.
he had bis way about the platform, and |
then, rejecting all offers of combinations in |
his own behalf, threw all his influence unre- |
servedly in behalf of The nomination of Grover |
Cleveland. Nevertheless some of his frieuds 1