The new North-west., 1888-04-06

SENATOR ALLISON AND HIS WASHINGTON
RESIDENCE.
attended college for some years, graduating
at tho Western Reserve college at Hudson, o.
In 1851 he was admitted to the bar in Wooster;
in 1854 Sc he took an active part in politics
as a Republican, and in 1857 ho located at
Dubuque, Ia, which is still his home.
Mr.. Ailison's law practice was soon largo
in Iowa, but he was invited to G front rank
in politics at once As delegate, writer and
speaker he was very efficient, and as one of
tho secretaries Of the memorable Chicago
convention Of 1860, he counted the votes and
announced tho nomination of Abraham Lin
coin. Only two years later he was nomin-
ated for congress, and entered tho house of
representatives in 1868 with Blaine and Gar
field, all three for the first time. Ho was
placed on tho committee on public lands and
that on roads and canals; and his first speech,
In May, 1864, was in favor Of bill giving
men in tho army and navy homesteads on
confiscated or forfeited estates in tho insur-
rectionary states. This was probably the
most radical measure he ever advocated; for,
as q rule, he has been cautious and conserva-
tive, paying moro attention to financial and
business measures than any other.
III 1870 he declined reelection to tho
but tho Iowa legislature chose Judge George
G. Wright for tho regular term and James
G.. Howells to fill out the unexpired term of
Senator Grimes, who had resigned Oh ac-
count of i'll health. Senator Allison's con-
gressional record has little reference to mill
tary affairs o. ''war questions" and his biog-
raphy barely notes that he 'sserved on the
staff of the governor of Iowa, and aided in
organizing volunteers in tho beginning of the
war for tho suppression of tho rebellion"
but he was in full accord with his party on
all the issues relating to slavery, war and re-
construction He was elected to tho senate
early in 1878, when new issues were coming
to tho front, and hero his business abilities
soon gave him great prominence.
He is really the author Of the s., ,000, 900
clause in the silver coinage bill, commonly
called the Bland bill. As it passed the
house it provided for the free coinage of sill
yer on the same terms as gold, at the ratio Of
sixteen to one. In the senate committee this
clause was sustained by Senators John P.
Jones, of Nevada; D. W.Voorhees, Of Indiana;
Thomas ". Ferry, of Michigan, and William
A. Wallace, of Pennsylvania, while Senators
]. s, Morrill,, Of Vermont; H, L: Dawes, of
MASSACHUSETTS, Thomas F: Bayard, of Del
aware, and Francis Herman, of New York,
opposed tho silver dollar in toto: 1t was
said at the time to be q straight alignment
Of the sscapitalist states" against the western
states. Senator Allison had the casting vote
in the committee, and he induced the others
to adopt the compromise as to coming from
100000 to s4,oo9,00o worth of silver per
month. The amended bill passed the senate
by 4S yeas to "a nays, and the house by 1876
to Il.
In person Senator Allison is stalwart and
well proportioned, with dark brown hair and
beard, both delicatsly tinged with gray.
His forehead is high and full, his eye clear
hazel, and the general cast Of his face shows
9 resemblance to the standard pictures of
Daniel Webster. He has been twice mar
ried and is for the second time widoWer.
He lives in a handsome mansion in Vermont
avenue, near Thomas circle, Washington,
and is an exceedingly pleasant host to those
who have the cntree Of his house.