The Washington times., 1902-01-06
Their Friendship Not Blind.

lhe1r Fr1enuship Not Blind.
1t has not been a case of blind friend
ship, however. When Shaw has helped
Dolliver the aid received has always been
deserved. When Dolliver gave Shaw a lift
1t turned out that Shaw was the man
better fitted than any other to fill the
place to which he had been assisted ty
the now junior Senator from Iowa.
Years ago, before either man was very
much known outside the confines OF the
Tenth Congressional district, in which
they both lived, began the friendship
which has worked so much in the life
or each. Leslie NJ Shaw was known as
successful lawyer banker. and real es-
tate dealer with whom ii was dangerous
to engage in argument on financial topics.
That was in the days when many good
Republicans were trying TO straddle the
currency question by placing their faith
In bimetallism. Shaw was regarded
as a radical because he ever advocated
an uncompromising gold standard.
Shaw Helps to Nominate DolIiyer
Dol!iver was young lawyer in Fort
Dodge, who was much talked OF as a
candidate for Congress. He was nomi-
mated partly through the influence OF
Governor Shaw, and of course he was
elected Election is nearly always the
fate of Republicans nominated for office
in Iowa. In fact, as far as Congressional
elections are concerned, the Democratic
conventions are merely a matter OF form
calculated TO keep the party alive so that
it may perhaps some day be victorious.
Mr.. Shaw was nearly always delegate
to the Congressional conventions. He
WAS always an admirer of Jonathan p.
Dolliger He was, moreover, a man who
made any friends, and was thus a
source OF strength. Dolliver's name
came up fof denomination, which was
duly accorded it. He had made an eX-
cellent record in the House, aad the
people of the Tenth district decided that
he was a man TO keep there. Mr.. Shaw
however. was always on hand to see that
no chances of possible defeat crept in.
IN 1896, in the Presidential campaign.
when the battle OF the standards was be
ing waged. Shaw came out squarely for
the gold standard. and soon achieved dis
tinction on account of his unusually we'll
founded and eloquently expressed views
on the currency question. He spoke in
many parts of the State, and continued 10
gain friends. II gave him the foundation
for the step into public life year later.
DoIlivcr Urges Shaw for Governor.
Shaw first came into the strong calcium
of politics in the summer of 1897. There
was a deadlock threatened in the Repub-
lican State convention at Cedar Rapids
Three prominent leaders OF the party
were evenly matched. The situation be
came such that the wise ones began to
look around for possible compromise
candidates. Representative Dclliyer and
n faVr fri pl nd
laughed at. The unbelieyers said sarcastic
things about small country banker"
But Dolliyer persisted, as did other of
Shaw's friends who really knew his abil-
ity. and the upshot of the whole matter
was that Shaw was nominated with
suddenness that caused the newspapers to
caption their stories OF the nomination
with "Oh Shaw"
And, of course. the small country
banker" was elected with the usual large
ma iority, and entered upon an admins
tration SO successful that he was two
years later renominated with practically
no opposition. 1t was during the second
administration, which proved so success
ful that there was talk of breaking an un-
written law by according him a third
nomination, that Governor Shaw was en-
abled to do Representative DoIiyer
good turn.
Senator Gear died in July, 1900. Hall a
dozen possibilities for appointment to
serve in his place until the meeting OF the
Legislature. in January. 1902, when SEN
ator Dolliyer will be elected Tor the full
term, were at hand. After due cOnsIdera-
tion, Governor Shaw decided upon Dolli-
yer as the appointee, and the selection
gave general satisfaction, and its ad-
has never been questioned since
Dolliver donned the toga.
II 1t had been an incorporated boost