The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-07
DEATH OF HON. L. R. BoLTER.

DEATH OF HON. L. r. BOLTER.
The death of Senator Boter removes from west
ern Iowa of its most prominent citizens For
over quarter of century he influential
man in Harrison county, and in the halls of legis-
lature at Des Moines he ever stood man to be
considered in the passing of important measures
He was lifelong democrat in politics, having a
record before the civil war in his party councils
As a lawyer he had few equals in handling jury
particularly when acquainted with the men to be
addressed He made use of every legitimate art-
fee to bring the jury to his side of case and wa
remarkably successful
1t was as politician and candidate for office
that he was best known by the people of Crawford
for he state senator for many years A
friend, talking of his capacity as winner,
speaks as follows in the Sioux City Journal:
ssBut as politician Senator Bolter shone par
ticularly, especially in his vigorous days He
knew how to get votes, both by personal work and
by public campaigning. He adept in maxi
ing s'corn field canvass Ordinarily, in the
court room in the legislative halls at Des Moines,
Senator Bolter was somewhat careful about his
personal appearance and looked the gentleman of
the old school that he But when he went
out among his farmer constituents he dressed to
suit them. He usually wore boots and almost in
varlably one of his trousers legs was caught up
his boot top, his coat looked rather rusty his plug
hat was somewhat shabby, and he failed to
have with him rusty looking granger pipe--some
times cob, sometimes clay, sometimes briar,
bur always the worse for wear. When he dropped
into little country town he usually made early
trip to the corner grocery and asked for 1o-cent
sack of "Killiknick," or some other we'll known
farmer brand ofsmoking. Opening uphis purchase,
he would around to the crowd in the store and
say: ''Well, boys, wont you have smoke with NE?
Tain't fancy tobacco, but its good enough for us
fellows" Nobody refused to fill up and then the
senator stuffed his black looking pipe and
| lighted up. He knew how to meet the everyday
man and be a good fellow with him, and he usually
managed to capture his vote when he needed it
This description of Mr.. Boilers campaigning
calls to mind the contest when he ran against Mr..
III. B. Romans for senator. Mr.. Boter acknowl-
edged afterwards that he then had his velest chase
to succeed. He had given many damaging votes
IN the senate In various measures over which the
people were much interested, and his record was
used with telling effect 1t became necessary to
convince the farmers that he loved them, so one
day he appeared in Denison with the cob pipe
above described, dilapdated black coat and
plug hat which was brushed the wrong way The
democratic boys took him in tow and he made
school house campaign with good effect. 1t did
not carry the county, however, and he was saved
defeat by the railroad employees at Missouri Valley
voting tor him enmasse, although he made claims
to hating railroads vigorously.
He was man whose memory will long remain
green in Harrison. The younger men of his party
are not the equals of the ssnobe Roman" from
Harrison. He was unique personality. Many is
the tale which can be told of his speeches before
juries and legislative bodies which are highly cred
table to his ability as a lawyer and politician.