Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-20
THE TOSS or COIN
Had an Important Fearing on the Future
Career of senator Davis.

Trace City letter 81. Paul Pioneer Press.l
Il once cav a 5O-cent piece tossed up in
the Capitol at Madison. WIS, that ! think
| helped 10 make G. n. Davis senator from
Minnesota" So says Al. G. Randall. Of
this place. brother OF the late Governor
| Alexander W. Randall. of Wisconsin, after
| read ng about " tossing Tho com t. settle
differences III the Republican convention
| Al Detroit, Mich, and then relates the
story how it happened before the war:
Cush and ! used 10 be schoOl-boys to-
gether at Wapaca. Wis, sleep together,
and pound each other with the pillows.
| After schOol-hours Cush would read the
| law IN my brothers Office and | would at
TEND drugstore for Cush's father. After
Alexander was elected Governor We both
went 10 the capital and the Governor
appointed Cush assistant state libra
| rlan at a salary of 1850 per year and
was assistant private secretary. Cush
was now where he could read law TO his
hearts content and visit the Supreme
Court room 10 hear the law expOunded by
Matt Caravan. T.. Ryan. and other legal lu-
minaries. and well be improved the oppor-
tunitv. for ne always had book IN his
hand OF under his arm and never had any
time for the fOOlshness OF other young
fellows.
While Alexander was Governor there
was an election for United states sena-
tor. and Alexander, L. q. Howe. and {.
q. Washburn were the candidates before
the Legislature. with the Governor IN the
lead a. 10 votes and friends. while Wash
burn was credited with having the
most money. After number OF bal
lots Nashburn, from some unseen,
if not unknown, cause made large
gam, and Howe got scared and pro-
posed 10 the Governor that one OF them
should Withdraw in favor OF the other
Alexander knew that something must be
done quick without delay or long confer
ence. and proposed that they decide the
matter by the toss of a coin. Howe ac-
cepted and won. The Governor imme-
diatelv notified his friends OF the agree
meut and settlement ard Howe was elect
cd on the next ballot
The Governor was soon after appointed
by President Lincoln Minister to Italy,
and after year or two OF service ana
travel ne resigned and came home. When
Vice-President Johnson became President
through Lncoln's assassination Alexander
was appointed Postmaster-General by
Johnson. aud there was considerable OPP
position TO confirming any OF Ireslotlt
Johnson's appointments, but Alexander
had his old friend Howe IN the Senate
10 pull HIM through.
With Alexander in the CABINET ne could
look around TO see what he could do Tor the
benefit of ms old law student, who had
left Madison and gone 20 81. paul and
opened law office with Governor w. A.
German as partner He soon secured TOR
Cush the appointment OF United States
attorney for the State Of Mime
sofa. which position brought MN into
proninence and gave him a chance 10. eX-
ercjse the knowledge that he stored up IN
long years OF hard study. He was elected
governor of Minnesota soon after, and IN
due time was elected TO the United states
Senate and shall always think that 1t was
that sO-cent piece, Alexander and Howe IN
combination. that helped to make our
Senator Davis.