Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21

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k&X&%ISslslE& IA gagged receiving the
<sAsIS members OF the Geor-
gia colony In WASH
ANA III ington and acknowl-
n edging their congrat-
y. ulations. That has
been one OF Mr..
Walsh's most con-
slant duties since he
came to Washington. Not less pleasant
has been the acknowledgment OF the tele-
grams and letters of congratulation which
have poured in on him from every part OF
the United States. Looking for a newspa-
per which had been msIaid, Mr.. Walsh's
hand ran against big bundle lying on his
mantel. Those are some Of the kilograms
/ have received" he said to one Of his Wis
itors. And then he added, the newspaper
instinct stin strong within him: I've got
lots Of advertising out of this at least"
No one who has visited Augusta and met
Mr.. Walsh needs to be told why he Is popu-
lar. He has been for years the standing
reception committee of that thriving Geor-
gia town. No stranger has gone through iss
gates and come within the sound Of Mr..
Walsh's voice without taking with him on
his departure an exalted appreciation OF the
place. No stranger has known the warmth
of Mr.. Waishs hospitality and not gone
away with soft spot in his heart for the
genial Georgian. Aside from a personal In
clination to hospitality, due. perhaps to ma
tive good fellowship. Mr.. Walsh is an earn
est believer in hospitality as a means OF
winning friends for the home Of his adop-
ton. As a great many public men and
newspaper editors and business men have
visited Augusta in the last quarter of a
f..rv I'd of bor II
Walsh and partaken of his hospitality, 1t Is
not surprising that his appointment should
have brought a congratulatory response
from every part Of the United States.
The New Senator Described.
Mr.. Walsh is a man of medium height Of
rather portly figure He has a strong face,
but slightly suggestiv of his Irish parent
age. His silvery hair is brushed straight
back from a high forehead 1t Is stin thick /;
but for its color it might belong to a man
Of twenty-five. Mr.. Walsh has a slight
gray mustache, but no whiskers. The new
Senator wears the black broadcloth frock
coat SO much affected by southern gentle
men, q standing collar and bow OF white
lawn at his throat His shining shirt bosom
Is ornamented with a single button Of plain
gold. Mr.. Walsh uses q pair OF steel-bowed
spectacles when he Is writing or reading.
He affects q silk hat in pleasant weather
other words. in general attire Mr.. Walsh is
the typical southern gentleman, q fit sue
cessor In dignity Of bearing to the Senator
who preceded him.
Although he is Of Irish origin, Mr.. walsh's
speech has all the southern characteristics
little modified. He does not say do and
flo for door and floor. but he never gives
the letter r its fun value.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Walshs outline of
his political principles when he accepted
the appointment at Governor Northen's
hands, there has existed q belief on many
sides that, as a follower of Senator Hill in
his last campaign for the presidency. he
would follow the New York Senator In his
vote on the leading questions before the
Senate. When / asked Mr.. Walsh about
this. he paid strong tribute to Mr.. HILL
But of himself he said: 81 remember q fla
vorite saying of old Alexander Stephens.
Do you remember him and his high-keyed
voice? Stephens used to say: I'm totin' my
own skillet Well that is my position
am 'totin' my own skillet 1 am here to
represent the views of the people Of Geor-
gis, and I shall vote as I think they wish
me to vote, not following the leadership OF
the President, or Mr.. HILL or any other
man. ! am with the majority Of the demo-
cratic party on the tariff, and every other
question. / am not going to allow any
views OF my own to affect my position on
party questions. You will find in Jefferson's
writings letter to a man in Philadelphia
/ don't recall his name-who was editing q
democratic paper and who was so fierce in
his criticism of the democrats that Il was
feared that he would finally 20 out of the
democratic party. Jefferson wrote to this
man and said that when he held one view
and the majority of the party held another
he said to himself that his judgment was
only fallible; and II the majority was
against him, he must be wrong. ] believe
that If the majority of the democratic party
is for a measure. It is my duty to vote with
the majority.
IT have said" continued Mr.. Walsh, that
= -.
bill before the Senate. the repeal of the
state bank tax, the free coinage OF silver.
The people of my state are for these things
the democratic party Of my state is for
them. i am opposed to the issue OF bonds
because my people do not believe In them.
Beyond this general statement / shall not
go for the present. 1 have much to learn
and 1t is my intention to be in my seat In
the Senate every day so as to get as much
knowledge as possible No matter how
much general Information q man may have
on public questions, he has much to learn
about them when he comes to Washington"
1 asked Mr.. Walsh to tell me something
Of himself-of his early life.
Something of His Career.
Il entered a printers Office when 1 was
twelve years DID," he said. "and served an
apprenticeship for five years During all
this time 1 was going to night school.
When I had served my apprenticeship,
guess you know what that is-for three
nights in the week and went to day school
regularly. In 1859 / had saved some money
and came here to school at Georgetown. I
remained here until April, 1851. Then, on
account of the war, / returned to my home
in Charlestown; and year later Z went TO
Augusta, where / worxed as a printer on
the Constitution. I was made local editor
and news editor Of the paper after q time
At this time 1 was publishing a weekly pa
per called The Paci1cator' 1t cid not out
last the war. In 1896 was made business
manager OF the Chronicle and Sentinel
Then l became associate editor, editor and
then proprietor. After a time we bought
out the Constitution and consolidated the
papers"
Mr. Walsh has held elective office four
times-once as a member of the council and
three times as a member of the legislature.
He has never been candidate for an ap-
pointive position though, and never a cam
didate for any other elective position. He
came very near being Senator from Georgia
fourteen years ago. This Is how he tells
the story:
I'VE had one of the hottest conventions
the state has ever known. 1t lasted eight
days. / was in charge of the forces of Mr.
Colquitt, in his candidacy for the Senate
1t was the field against Colquitt. When
the fight had been going on for some time,
the leaders of the opposition proposed that
/ be their candidate. They offered me their
support. But / refused to abandon Mr.
Colquitt and would not allow my name to
be used. 1 was not a candidate therefore
though possibly / might have been nomi-
mated" ,sg
Mr.. Walsh is an ardent advocate of the
development of the south. His tongue
never tires of that subject. He has treated
. sv. 1,rx,I Trad