Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-22

THREE NEW STATESMEN
Who win Represent vireints IN tbs New
Congress-.
oorrssDondsnce Of The Evening Star.
RIcHMoNp, Va. Dec. n, 1891.
Virginia will have three new Representatives
| in the Fifty-third Congress. They are Msssrs.
| D. Gardiner Tyler, who viii succeed Rsprsssn-
tative John W. lawson Of the second district;
Claude l. Swanson. who succeeds Representa-
| tive Posie @. Lester Of the fifth. and J. W.
Marshall, successor to Representative buchanan
Of the ninth. While neither OF these three
Representatives-elect are calculated 20 set Wash
ington on FIRE with their eloquence or humor.
| II il expected by those who know their ambi-
tons and abilities that they will take q promi-
nent part in the deliberations of the House
The election Of Mr.. Swanson to succeed Mr.
Lester in the fifth is remarkable instance of
sudden elevation to high honor. Mr.. Swan
son is Just thirty years old and has never before
held public Office nor was he ever before an ap-
| plicant for Office until the recent contest in
which hs won signal triumph in view OF the
| prominent men apparently With claims upon
the public who opposed Mr.. Swanson for the
nomination. The sudden rise Of this young
| man from poor grocery clerk to the balls of
| Congress is interesting.
He was born at Swansonville, Pittsylvania
county, Va, March 81, 1862. In his early life
his father was wealthy, but reverses came, and
at the age Of fourteen young Swanson wac
forced to earn his living as daily laborer on
his fathers farm. Here he remained for two
years. He studied during his spare moments
| and at night while at work on the farm. and rs
o reward when he was only sixteen years Of
age, the earliest in which one could be granted,
| he received a frst-class certificate to teach
\ n mi Ia iyp6a e.,
make a lawyer Of himself, and from his savings
| Of the year, without any other assistance, at
| the age Of seventeen. he entered the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College He en-
tered the intermediate class and finished the
| year with the highest distinction. The
| following year he would have entered
| the senior class and received his diploma
| but was unable to do so on account of lack of
! funds He then went to Danvie, Va, in the
same county, and accepted a position in re-
tail grocery store, and by his many estimable
| traits OF character soon won the confidence of
the community. He joined a debating society
and at once demonstrated the fact that he had
| In him the making of an orator. His talent
was soon recognized by the public and he was
selected to deliver an address before a union Of
Sunday schools in that place. This occasion
marked a new era in the young mans life. The
immense audience was charmed with the elo-
quence and power of the young orator. Four
of Danvie's generous and wealthy citizens
then profered to assist him in securing an edu-
cation, which was accepted. He matriculated
at Randolph-Macon College, Virginia. and at
the close OF the first year he stood with dstinc-
ticn in all OF his classes; elected editor-in-
chief of the college magazine and won the
Sutherlin medal for oratory, the highest
honor in the institution.
He also won the debatcrs' medal of the Wash
ington Literary Society as the most effective de-
batter. He remained ut Randolph Macon Col
legs three years. and received the degree Of A.
IL. lie then entered the law class of tho Uni
vcrsty of Virginia, whore he completed the two
years course in one year, and was the success
full competitor out OF nine others for the ora
tors medal of the jefferson Society. Mr.
Swanson then began the practice of his profes-
sion at Chatham, the county seat of Pittsylya-
mia, where he rapidly arose until he was recog-
nized the foremost lawyer of his section aud
the firm Of Swanson d Whitehead monopo-
lized the legal business IN the county, For
several years past he took an active par: in
politics, but would accept no public Office until
he was offered the nomination for Congress
which is a fitting reward for his services and
ability.
In build he is tall and slender, with a fierce
shrewd eye, and il speaking displays fine ora
torioal qualities. He will probably furnish
surprise similar to one which Mr.. Bryan of Ne
braska produced.
d. GARDINER TYLER.
David Gardiner Tyler, the new member who
makes his debut in the House as the successor
of Mr.. John W. Lawson from the second dis
trict of Virginia, is the eldest son of ex-Pres-
dent John Tyler by his second marriage, which
took place during the last year of his admins
| tration, when he was united to Miss Julia GAR
diner Of Gardeners Island, New York He was
born at Sherwood Forest, Charles City county,
Va, and there resided until after the death of
his father in 1862. He was then still quite
| young and resided with his mother until he ar
rived at the age Of about sixteen years, when he
entered the Army of Northern Virginia and
| served CALAMITY until the war ended Being
| still mere boy he then went to Heidelberg,
Germany, where he was educated. He then re-
turned home and studied law at the University
of Virginia. after which he went to Charles CITY
| and began the practice of his profession. He
| lived at the old homestead where he kept bache-
lor's hall and practiced his profession in quiet
until he was prevailed on in the fall of 1890 to
enter political life. He consented to run for
the state senate and was elected, being the first
democrat who ever made successful contest in
his district since the negroes were given the
right OF suffrage. So acceptablv did he serve
In the senate that he was unanimously nomi-
mated by his party for Congress and was not
only elected, but. though running in a republi-
can district, received one of the largest majori-
tics given in any district in the state He is a
man of decided ability and an accomplished
gentleman, who will reflect credit upon himself
JAMES W. MARSHALL
Congressman buchanan Of the ninth congress
sional district of Virginia will be succeeded by
James ". Marshall, more familarly known
in the old commonwealth az "Cvcione jim
Marshall, and in his immediate district and
county simply Cyclone" He, too. like
most Of our great men, was born poor boy in
the little county of Craig some fifty years ago,
and by hard work and close attention to law
and politics, for which he developed a fond
ness from early youth. he has risen to his pres
| ent high and honorable position. He repre-
sented his and adjoining counties in both
houses of the assembly for a number of years.
and has doubtless had a longer term of service
in the legislature of Virginia than any man
from that section, which, OF osurse, makes
him peculiarly well suited to discharge the
duties OF Congressman.
As campaigner he is remarkable. not only
for his strong. forcible speeches, which are al
ways interpreted with pleasing and humorous
anecdotes and bright and sparkling wit, but for
his great physical endurance.
His forte is in debate, as doubtless the two
able republican statesmen. All Taylor of
Tennessee and Henry W. Blair of New Hamp-
shire, will bear testimony. He made one of the
most vigorous canvasses ever known in the
ninth district. and he often said to his repub-
lican opponent, Mai. Wood. you are not in IT,
! came true. He is often called Judge. and they
say he really was judge Of Craig county once
hr,k hay ,not