The National tribune., 1910-05-12

saved him from possible injury or death
and preserved to the country a life of
great potential usefulness. Perhaps
thru some subtle influence of those few
lays of great deeds and heroic sacri-
fees the developing character of the
boy was profoundly affected, and the
men who there gave their lives for a
noble cause bequeathed to him some Of
their courage and fearlessness which
have strengthened him in the many
legislative battles he has fought since
his first entry into public life; or per-
haps the days of his boyhood spent as
an apprentice in his fathers black
smith shop, which gave to him his ro-
bust health and powerful physique,
gave to him also his indomitable will
and taught him the value of striking
while the iron of opportunity is hot.
He was but d little older when he
saw Lincoln and heard him deliver his
memorable Gettysburg address-not
with understanding or appreciation of
its significance, to be sure, but with
that sense of awe and admiration which
boy instinctively feels in the presence
of great man. Forty-two years later
having himself become prominent in
the service of his country. he returned
to Gettysburg, and from the very spot
on which Lincoln stood delivered the
memorial address on May 30, 1907.
early days, young Tawney became con-
vinced that the West offered great op-
portunties, and the warm days of July,
1877, saw him making his way from
town to town, working in the fields or
at any task which would enable him to
get nearer his goal. When he reached
the Mississippi, thenr great artery of
commerce. he had little difficulty in Sc
curing work on one of the many boats
which then piled that river and thus
he landed in Winona in August. There
he decided to cast his lot with people
who were strangers to MIN. Having
learned the machinist trade after his
apprenticeship in his fathers shop, ne
readily found work. and many of the
seeing him walk to work with his din
ner pail at his side.
Studied Law.
Tho he had left school for work in
the blacksmith shop at IA. he had an
ambition to study law, and not being
easily deferred for want of facilities for
study, volume of Blackstone during
the evening hours while be acted as
watchman in bank, gave him his first
knowledge of the law. Within a few
years he gave up his work in the ma
chine shop. and early in 1881 entered
law office to study Law. July of the
netx year, five years after he left Get
tysburg, he was admitted to the bar
after which he spent a few months at
the law school of the University of Wis
consin, but upon the sudden death of
his partner he was compelled to return
home and begin in earnest the practice
of law. He worked diligently at his
profession for some years, interesting
himself at the same time in the politi-
cal and social life of the city. In 1890
he was elected to the State Senate, and
two years later was sent to Congress,
where he is now serving his ninth term
Being as fearless in the face of ardu-
Gus work in committee, where much
of the shaping of legislation is DONE
as he Is dauntless as leader in par
liamentary or legislative struggle upon
the floor of the House, he soon forged
to the front in the House of Represen-
tatives, until to-day he occupies the re-
sponsible position of Chairman of the
great Committee on Appropriations.
The prediction of Thaddeus Stevens
when he gave up his place as Chair
| man of the Committee on Ways and
Means to become Chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations at the
time of the creation of the committee
that this committee would some day be
the most powerful in the House has
been verified. Without doubt il is the
most important committee of the House
and one which is charged with more
arduouS work than any other. The
| work of this committee must be done
annually, while many other committees
consider legislation only at intervals
| The eight other committees having ap-
propriating jurisdiction prepare each
single bill, while the Committee on
Appropriations is charged with the
duty of preparing six bills, carrying in
the aggregate for the year 1910 $685.
79l, ,654.77, or AZ per cent of all the
appropriations made that year, which
were $SS4,305,774.60. One of these
bills, the sundry civil, alone carries
s137. 6.623.36. and is the largest but
one of the supply bills. 1t carries the
appropriations for Soldiers Homes and
National Cemeteries. The bill carrying
appropriations for the payment of PEN
sicns. amounting to s160,90S,0O0 for
| 1910, is likewise considered and report
ed from this committee. The commit
tee does not however, consider pension
| legislation.
| The commanding figure of Tawney is
a familiar one to the people of Wash
ington who occasionally visit the ses-
sions of the House, and his familiarity
with all subjects having to do with
public expenditures, as well as his ca
pacity for retaining facts and figures,
| is remarkable. He has little use for the
fine points of oratory. but has a con-
vincing manner, and rarely fails to i'm