The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-19


founding The Republican majority
for some years previous had been over
10000, yet, after superheated cam.
paign, the vote in an "uff year" was
much larger than ever before. Cen
eral Hayes majority was less than
5000, and the Legislature elected was
Democratic on Joint ballot.
Even now there is great divergence Of
opinion among shrewd politicians as to
the cause of this remarkable political
revolution. Judge Thurman barely
missed the governorship, and as soon
Rs the legislature convened he received
the far higher honor of the senator
ship. His earnest opponent, Hon.
James G. Blaine, has given him this
high compliment:
Blaine's Complimentary Opinion.
"His rank in the senate was estab.
lished from the day he took his seat
and was never lowered during the
period of his service. He was an ad.
mirably disciplined debater, was fair
In his method Of statement, logical in
his argument, honest in his ConClu.
sions. He had no tricks in discussion,
no catch phrases to secure attention,
but was always direct and manly. His
mind was not preoccupied and en-.
crossed with political contests or with
affairs Of state. He had natural and
cultivated lasts outside of those fields
He was a discriminating reader, and
enjoyed not only serious books, but in
clined also to the lighter indulgence Of
romance and poetry.
"He was especially fond Of the best
French writers. He loved Moliere and
Racine, and could quote with rare en-
joyment the humorous scenes depicted
by Balzac. He took pleasure in the
drama and was devoted to music. In
Washington he could usually be found
in the best seat of the theater when a
good play was to be presented or when
an opera was to be given. These tastes
illustrate the genial side of his nature,
and were a fitting compliment to the
stronger and sterner elements of the
man. His retirement from the'senate
was a serious loss to his party-a loss,
indeed, to the body. He left behind
him pleasant memories, and carried
with him the respect Of all with whom
he had been associated during his -
years of honorable service"
Rise up William Allen had mean.
while become "Foghorn" Allen in po.
litical slang and Governor Allen of
Ohio in sober fact. The old party had
got away up and then down again, and
Senator Thurman had leisure to in.
dulge In "reminiscences, while a fellow
Democrat here and there began to
nominate him for president He had
oontended with great men In the sen.
ate and they appreciated him The
party had never had so small a COntin.
gent In the United States senate as
urally the leader. His services on the
judiciary committee were great, but
his long fight to compel the Pacific
obligations to the government had
most endeared him to the people,
whipped the Pacific Railroads.
In this matter his firm friend person
ally and equally firm antagonist politi.
cally, Senator Edmunds, was his con.
stant colaborer. When the decisive
day came, the managers Of the railroad
lobby were rash enough to announce
that they had 20 votes secured in the
senate and could defeat the bill to a
certainty. Senator Thurman knew
that the bill must pass by midnight OF
not at all, The hours were rapidly
passing and the fihbusteriug Of the
opponents Of the bill promised to de.
feat it, when Thurman arose with a
rollcall Of the senate in his hand, and
said;
MIR President, l understand that
the opponents Of this bill are confident
Of victory, They claim they have
enough votes pledged TO defeat the bill,
and have here a rollcall Of the senate
with the names checked upon it of the
.l,T .ll 4
relied upon by the agents Of this power.
full lobby to vote against it. He then
said in substance that he would watch
the voting upon the bill with great in
terest and he would like to see how we'll
the vote would tally with the list with
which he had been furnished. Some
how the forty votes" were not forth
coming. The bill became law and
furnished the defeated Jay Gould with
material for one Of his dry jokes about
sending agents who Dragged too
soon" Since then the private sit.
tings" of Judges Thurman and Ed
munds in the Cloakroom have become
a current joke.
Early in 1876 the name Of Thurman
became prominent in connection with
the presidency, but he was a pronounced
hard money man" and it was not his
year in Ohio. The next winter in the
senate he took strong ground in favor
Of the electoral commission, and the
issue Of that method Of settling the
dispute as to the presidency caused him
an apparent loss Of popularity for time.
In the senate, however, he was easily
first, and when his party obtained a
majority he was chCsen to preside in
the absence Of Vice President Wheeler.
In 1850 he received the vote Of Ohio
and some votes from other states in the