Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-04-15
choke Off obstruction when the country was
In peril from IL.
Re-elected Speaker.

choke Off obstruction when the country was
In peril from it.
Reelected Speaker.
He was reelected speaker for the two fol-
lowing terms, serving in that position until
March 8, 1881. when tho Republicans took the
house for Il term. When the Democrats
again obtained control of the house. the
divisions in that party on the revenue issues
led to his defeat for the speakership and to
the election Of John c. Carlisle. But Mr..
Randall always retained the commanding
position his talents had won for him and
grew in reputation. As speaker he was not
tender in the administration Of his Office.
He was commander and ruled the house with
u heavy hand. While he was thoroughly
conversant with the rules and always judicial
in mis- decisions, he frequently denounced i'll
vigorous and emphatic language the unruly
behavior of some of the members. He was a
leader in the chair us we'll rs on the floor and
when he grasped the gavel he yielded a rod
of iron. From the first Mr.. Randall was rec
ognlzcd in congress as power and finally he
became the recognized leader OF his party.
He served in turn on all the important COM
mittees-tlIc committee on rules. on banking,
on elections and on appropriations-of which
latter committee he was the chairman and
dominating spirit when his party was in
power.
For the past few years the stand which Mr..
Randall had assumed OH the tariff question
gradually alicnatcd him from the majority of
his party, both state ana national, and al
though no man impcachcd his fidelity or sim
cerity to the principles of democracy, yet this
separation from his associates had undoubt-
eddy greatly weighed upon his mind and added
to the other drains upon his physical system
Ills Personal Appearan
In appearance Mr.. Randall was what might
be called Il peculiar man. His countcnancc
was rather boyish, but sngularly winning
and attractive. His feet and hands were
small and shapcly. but he had Il way Of draw
ing up his left shoulder that made one OF his
arms appear longer than the other. In walk
ing he stepped out briskly, with shoulders a
little stopped and gait that was rather
stumbling.
But though his ensemble was striking, his
dress added to the oddity OF his appearance.
For more than twenty-five years lie wore the
same style of clothing and no one ever seemed
to have seen him IN Il new suit OF clothes. n
Prince Albert coat thrown loosely back,
baggy trousers, a triilc bunchy at the knees,
and Il low cut vest, all with tinge OF age
about them, immaculate linen. broad, conf
Portable shoes, and a remarkable hat COM
pletcd his attire.
Mr.. Randall was n poor man. He was
twcnty-cght years member OF the house, yet
no one has ever been found to reflect even in
the slightest degree upon his integrity or hon.
esty. lie wits probably 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 1t is not worth more
than SjnD and represents the savings of
nearly half a life time.
Ia M Zid n nF
salary and. indeed had very little time to
spare from his public duties. Out of his sal
arg he anyways met the expenses incident to
his election, and while these were COMPARE
atively light and would pass tho severest
scrutiny they were, nevertheless, heavy
drain upon his mcagrc income. lie made 1t a
uniform practice to return all contributions
made by friends toward these expenses.
which, with characteristic independence he
preferred TO bear himself rather than place
himself under obligations to any one.
Ills UnyieldinG Integrity.
The stories cleaned from the lobby us TO un.
successful attempts upon his virtue rs II leGis
lator are only parallclcd by the stories told
By his friends us to the unyieldlnS front whicf
he always presented to the petition OF friend
ship when it ran counter to his sense OF pup.
lie duty A lawyer who was his bosom friend
tells that he carried $1,000 in his pocket fol-
months. having undertaken to give 1t 10
Randall rs n retainer in behalf of II certain
corporation, but could never muster the
courage 10 give it to him or even breach the
subject. On one occasion a wealthy blanket
manufacturers knowing that Randall was q
very poor man and having Il profound adj
miration for him sent him a check for 500
saying that as an old friend and constituent
he believed ii his duty and privilege To make
halo Il .l.,sfI
pcnses. The check was promptly returned
with n letter so curt that it would have NOR
tally offended any one who did not make al
lowancc for Randal!'s iniirmity of temper il
this respect
When asked, once, if he did not carry his
independence or Indifference in such matters
to an extreme, he replied: No; there is no
middle ground in such matters. | draw the
line at the beginning" His compare tvs
poverty is a monument to his sterling ntcS
rity.
Mr. Randall scorned public man who ap
pointed any Of his own relatives to office. His
brother wanted u European consulshp and hi
could have secured it for him. for he was
close to the administration at the time. But
Mr. Randall sturdily refused and did the
same thing with other relatives: 1T the same
time no man WAS more loyal to his friend:
than he.
A Hard Worker.
Mr. Randall was an indefatigablc and unrc
hitting worker He possessed the faculty OF
application to wonderful degree, and never
tagged at the most laborious task. lie never
lost a momen. while at work. 1t was his
habit to go to the committee room early IN
the morning, there to work away steadily Ill
the house convened, then he sat ut his desk
for a few moments until the order of.the day
was determined upon, but even during thai
short time he would be seen busiy employed
claim his attention in the proceedings he
would soon return to the committee room,
there taking mp his work just where ne left II
without the loss of moment.
The facility with which he turned from one
subject to another, taking up the thread
where lie dropped it, has been often remarked
In the peculiar character of the work upon
the great appropriation bills, where thous-
and separate and conflicting interests are tc
be served, this faculty was invaluable to him
Mr.. Randall worked great deal at home.
It was his custom to take with him on the adj
journmcnt of the house Il great pile OF papers
with which he busted himself during the
evening. He was very fond OF his home ana
family and spent as much of his time rs pos
siblc ut his own tireside.
His Washington Home.
And modest little home it is. 1t is situ'
ated on street.! Washington, one of the
quictest thoroughfares Of o Quiet neighbor-
hood. The place was bought by Mr.. Randall
sixteen years ago, when he was simple MEM
Der Of congress and possibly had no thought
of the distinction that awaited him.. The in
terror Of the house is as plain rs the outside;
but though lacking in luxury there is al.
about that air of refinement and culture
which befttcd man Of his temperament.
Mr.. Randall had but few amusementS OF
fecreations. He never went to the theatre,
very rarely to church, and dined out possibly
once IL week. When questioned once about
his amusements. Mr.. Randall, with twinkle
in his eye, dryly remarked that the amuse.
mcnt from which he derived the greatest
amount of pleasure was to be returned eacb
election from district which ~ other -