Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17

assembly-room Of the Chamber of Com
merce at SIS o'clock, and will be IN
troduced by Mr.. S. II. Hawes, president
of the Chamber.
Invitations have been sent 10 the mem
bers of both associations, and TO other
prominent men in the city, and the au-
dience that will greet the distinguished
speaker will be one OF the largest ever
seen i'm the assembly hall. The ar
raneements for the event have been car
ried out under the direction of a joint
committee. composed of Messrs. 5. w.
Travers. S. II. Pulliam, w. IL. Palmer,
and S. G.. Wallace.
Mr.. Walker will be entertained to din
ner. at the Westmoreland Club by the
various organizations-.hnancia CONNER
cial social, and political-of the city Ihe
feature of the Congressman's visit mas
been taken up with enthusiasm by the
organizations, and the arrangements
have been made with the utmost care
and forethought. There will be about
twenty-five guests at the dinner.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Joseph Henry Walker was born in
Boston. Mass, December Il, 1879 His
father was Joseph Walker, of Hopkin-
ton. and his mother, Hannah Thayer
Chopin, OF Milford, Mass He attended
the public schools and the High School
of Worcester, and when l6 years old
went 10 work in his fathers boot-and-
shoe factory. Some idea OF the spirit
of improving his time that has always
cbaracterized him may be gained from a
knowledge of the fact that he worked at
the bench ten hours a day, and in the
evenings kept the books of his father 5
business.
In 1850 he was admitted to partnership
In the firm of Joseph Walker q Co., and
continued I'm this business with his father
until 1862. From that time he associated
with him his brother and others. under
the frn-name of j. II. & G.. NJ. Walker
The Walker boot, known all over the
country. was their product In. lSoo MI.
Walker established leather business IN
Chicago. He was director OF the Clll-
zens National Bank of Worcester, ana
a trustee of the Peoples Savings BANK
STUDENT OF POLITICAL ECONOMY.
Ever since he was old enough TO take
anv interest in public affairs Mr.. walk
or has been a close student or politico-
economic subjects. y number OF young
men in Worcester formed q young mems
rhetorical society, and to the penehts
derived from his participation IN It's al
fairs Mr.. Walker ascribes much OF his
when a young man of % he was elect
Cd 70 the Common Council OF Wor,es-
ter sitting In the board from one ward
az the same time that his father repre-
eented another ward in the same BODY.
He was President of the Council in 1893,
and during his connection with the city
Government took a foremost part IN ell
fecting many municipal reforms, when
are remembered to-day for the great good
resulting from them.
Mr. walker served twice in the lover
bouse of the Massachusetts Legislature
nna term I'm 1879 and 1880. and again in
,eo7 His work as chairman of the Com
noittee on Labor gave him a wide repu-
tot,on II was through his efforts that
tha ueeklv-payment bill was first passed
w, the House; and, though defeated in
~ Senate at the time. the impetus IL
thar received carried II through to be-
como a law a few years later. MT.
Sva1Lar also served on the committees
ON FINANCE, Retrenchment, and for Re
Sorm Of the Public Service. He was a
sormiaable candidate for Speaker OF the
House In 1887.
HIS SERVICE IN CONGRESS.
Mr. Walker held no other public office
mill he was elected TO Congress, and up
10 the time OF his first election to that
body he had lhNarlaply leiuSeu IT,
election to any office he held. He was
>.fected 10 the Fifty-frst Congress by
s,,hstantial majority, and was assigned
40 the Committee on Banking and Cur
rorcv ON which he has served contin-
nousiy. He was also placed on the Com
.st,tee on Coinage. Weights and
.,aasures He was one of the three con-
farreeg who framed the so-called sherman
,o,," Of July IA. 1890. His opposition to
sree silver caused Speaker Crisp to drop
Mr.. Walker from the colnAge COMMITTEE
g. the Fifty second Congress. but he was
nan,inued ~ on the Banking and Currency
committee. In the t!fty-third Congress
he was again assigned % that committee
and also TO the Committee on Ventilation
and Acoustics. whore he made a deter