The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-14

ment, both mentally and physically, and
has during this session of the legislature
made a splendid start in n career Of use
fitness. Mr.. Murphy is a native of Sal
isbury, a son of Mr.. Andrew Murphy, one
of the oldest and most popular citizens of
that town. He went to school in Sails
bury and at an early age was appointed
a cadet to Annapolis. lie has always
possessed brave and buoyant spirit ana
before he had been ut Annapolis very
long he concluded that Ii was necessary
to relate q few lines Of his independence
to one of the officers The result was ne
resigned and went to New York where he
engaged in industrial journalism and
made an EXTENDED tour for the new
South, through the Southern States
writing extensively of the South and its
resources. Subsequently he went to the
University to take q special course in law.
he became the private secretary Of Presi-
dent Winston which position he held until
'93.
He was licensed to practice law in "a
and opened an Office in Salisbury. His
friends pushed him into politics almost
Immediately and ran him far Mayor,
but he was defeated for the nomination
by the present popular Mayor, Capt w.
G. Coughenour He was nominated for
the legislature and elected by more than
500 majority. He made his county
good loyal representative and returns, no
doubt with the plaudits of all his friends
and his party generally
Mr.. Murphy is a young bachelor and
was one of the most popular of the young
he ef,t tal
many beautiful young ladies who cast
chances at him from tn galleries.
RODOLPH DUFFY.
1t is the universal opinion of all his
colleagues that the House did not con-
tain member more watchful or more
solicitous of the best interest, not only
of his own county and section, but of the
whole State, than Hon. Rodolph Duffy.
member of the House from Onslow
county
! Mr.. Duffy comes from that grand old
community, whose Democracy has not
been seriously shaken by the political up
heavals of the past few years. He is his
own successor in the House, having been
elected first in 1894. Mr.. Duffy stood
in the front ranks of the Democratic
members of 1895, and has been one Of
the wisest and safest leaders of the
minority during the present session. He
has had number of severe tits with the
opposition on the ultra partisan meas
ures, and his fights have been charac-
terized by ability of high order
In all questions of law and in the con-
tested election cases, Mr.. Duffy was the
recognized leader OF the minority. Ec
is an excellent lawyer and was more
than n master for the older members
Of the profession who led the Republican
side of the House. His presentation of
the Democratic contention in all election
cases did him great credit. His speech
in the Broughton-Youngc contest was not
surpassed by any during the whole SEES
sion. 1t was a clear, strong and unim-
peachable summing up the evidence; a
logical application Of the law to the facts;
and an appeal for honesty and fair deal
ing that rung out as clear as a bell and
convicted of partisanship all those who
shut their eyes to truth and voted to
keep Jim Young in seat to which he
was not legally elected He is a scholar,
a student, and an able and honorable
legislator.
In ordinary debate he is smooth,
easy and interesting talker; in a parlia-
mentary fight or a partisan contest, he is
bold and aggressive, and fighter to the
finish. He has been one Of the hardest
workers on the Judiciary committee on
the committee on Privilege and Elections,
and the committee on Blind Institutions.
Mr.. Duffy is a practicing attorney at
Jacksonville Onslow county; is a friend
of silver, an earnest supporter of the
Chicago platform, and an earnest
friend of Democracy as exemplifed in
its champion Of '96, Hon VIM. J.
Bryan.
CHAS II. McPEETERS.