The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15

1913. he went to Burlington. where he en-
gagged in the grocery business. He pros
pered steadily and gained a wide reputa-
ton as thoroughly honest and trustworthy
man. In 1863 he. was elected mayor OF
Burlington. That event marked his initia-
ton into politics. and he remained in pub
lie life almost continuously until the day
of his death.
The confidence which his people reposed
in him was shown By the successive pro-
motions which were rendered him. After
his services as mayor of Burlington, he
was elected a member CT the Iowa Legis-
lature. He served three terms, ana was
twice chosen Speaker of the House. After
that he was twice elected Governor, and
by that title he has ever since been known
10 Iowans. Entering national politics. he
was elected 10 the Fiftieth and the Fifty
first Congresses when he served with
Chairman Mckinley on the Committee on
Ways and Means. He was defeated in the
succeeding campaign. but was made Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury under Presi-
dent Harrison, and came back to Congress
in 1888
Service in the Senate.
The Iowa Legislature elected him Scna
tor, with his term commencing on March
4, 1885. His first term CT service would
accordingly haze expired in March next
During the last session Of the Legislature
he was again in the running, and, despite
his age, was re-eleced. His death now
makes the appointment of q successor de-
voive upon Governor Shaw. pending the
meeting of The Legislature in January. Ii
! is expected that Mr.. Cummings viii again
| enter the race, and It seems certain that
! Representative Deliver will be a ca Hdidlte.
Indeed, II is declared that the Dolivsr
/ boom for the Vice Presidency was created
and nurscd for the purpose of getting Mr..
Dolliver in the public eye. so that he wou
| be available to succeed Senator Gear on
the latter's retirement from pubic life.
| = The dead Senator personally was most
| kindly and lovable man. his title of Cover
nor was Only alternated among his friends
/ by the soubriquet "Old Business, by
which he was known on account of his
! thoroughly reliable methods. His wide &C
/ quaintance with public men gave him a
! peculiar capacity for securing places for his
constituents and he was tireless in looking
| after the interest of friends whom he be-
lieved deserving. Few men in Congress had
| such a capacity as his in that respect
! One of his business-like habits consisted
in answering every letter on the day it
WAS received. He gave personal attention
even 10 the least important letter ad-
dressed 10 him. and often sent on: 100 an
swers day It was characteristic of the
man to promise nothing which he oou
not fulfill. but his word once pledged vas
as good as his bond
Some of His rChnracteristics.
Senator Gears success in politics was
| much helped by his marvellous memory.
No detail escaped his recollection and he
! ,ha oil for
| He was veritable library for information
touching on the legislation enacted for his
State The same memory served him in
good stead in meeting people. 1t is said in
| Iowa that he remembered every man to
| whom he had been introduced.
In the Senate he was Chairman Of the
Pacific Coast Railways Committee and
took part in the settlement Of the railway
bills. He was widely known as the old
soldiers friend and did much in their in
, terest.
He was nothing of a grandstand poii-
tician and he talked little, but he ranked
high among the conservative, thoughtful
men of the Senate. One of his curious
habits related to the low-crowned, broad
brimmed hat which he always wore. He
was most careful of the head-piece, and
rather than to leave it in the cloak room
he would take it daily into the Senate and
place 1t on the floor by his side. There it
was frequently stepped upon. to the great
CONSERVATION of the Senator.
Mrs. Gear took deep interest in the
Senator's work. She drove with him every
day to the Capitol and spent some hours in
the gallery where she could see him in his
seat. Mrs Gear is an active COMMUNICATE
of the Episcopal Church and her husband
was also n member. During his latter
years the Senator had abstained alto
gether from tobacco and liquor of any sort.