Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-07-10
SENATOR ALLISON.

which is not due until next year, Mr..
Ingham has already made it clear that
he will bear no part in the campaign
of detraction against Senator Allison.
| The senator, it says. ''has great and
unique career. Iowa cannot afford to
say anything or do anything to put
the great question mark behind it,"
mot one word,' it adds, that
would plant thorn in the tosom of
the kindly, honest, faithful and de-
serving man who for more than the
lifetime of one generation has
brought honor TO Iowa in a public
career that the nation has honored." !"
That is the feeling of n man who
has come close enough to Senator Alli-
son to know the strength and attrac-
tiveness of his character. This express
sion is not prompted by personal
gratitude, by the expection of favors.
or by antagonism to another candi-
date. The Register and Leaders po-
litical affiliations are elsewhere; it
even intimates that it will not support
Senator Allison for another term. but
these facts do not affect it's estimate of
the work he has done or of the char
acter of the man.
Senator Allison has lived his own
character and it has not always been
understood. Some of its best and
most lovable traits have been misrep-
resented and caricatured In the first
place he is judicially minded. He
instinctively sees all sides of ques-
tion. He would have made great
judge on the bench, but in politics
where extremists attract the most at
tention such man is certain to be
called a trimmer. When the excite
ment is over on subject, and the
public interest has shifted to some
thing new, it is usually found that
the so-called trimmer was about right
all the time. Senator Allison is in
stinctively kind hearted, consider
ate man. If the number of men and
women without political influence
whom he has helped to places where
they could earn livelihood could be
known. it would be pronounced by
practical politicians the most amazing
waste OF political assets on record.
But his very gentleness of manner,
although the expression of his nature.
together with his natural reserve and
unwillingness to be hurried to a de-
cision, has often been treated as an
artifice. Senator Hoar, in his book
refers to this reputation of being un-
willing to commit himself, and COM
ments: 'But he never avoids voting.
His name, since he has been senator,
has been first or second alphabetically
on the roll of senate. He is found in
the senate chamber unless engaged in
the committee room on work which
requires him to be there during ses-
sions--and he always votes when his
name is called. +"
That Is not coward S record.
Senator Allison's method of dispos-
ing of the patronage of the state has
been characteristic of him. He had
the power to control all the federal
offices in the state. Other senators Of
his influence have used such power to
build up state machines by which
they completely controlled the state
politics. Senator Allison gathered
the state delegation into conference
and helped to apportion to each con-
gressman an equal share with himself.
He has none of the instincts of po-
itical boss.
He is constitutionally judicial.
thoughtful. temperate, moderate and
reliable OF course those character
istics do not suit all temperaments.
He is not volunteer to "charge hell
with a bucket of water. - His career
may not appear to the fiery heart Of
youth as quite so attractive and splen-
did as others. But if the chairman Of
the great committee on appropriations
was to be made to order the makeup
of Senator Allison would need chang
ing less perhaps than that of any
other man Of his time. That has been
his life-work and by unanimo is judg-
ment it has been faithfully performed.
"He has done." says Senator Hoar,
a Lifetime observer at close range.
"what no other man in the country,
in my Judgment. could have so we'll.
Down to this time his work upon
the two senate committees, appropriate
ions and finance, has been Iowa's
greatest contribution to the govern
ment of this country.
| Under any conditions than Just
those which exist in Iowa today,
when men are wrought up to frenzy
by the antagonisms and contests they
have. gone through, the would be a
common pride in the man who. in
performing great duty with distinct
ion, has reflected honor upon the
state. His career compares in every
respect with that of Senator Morrill,
of Vermont, whom the people of that
state were proud to re-elect at the age
Of SO. and who passed from his labors
soon afterward, knowing that the un-
animous benediction Of his people
was "well done, good and faithful
servant. "-Ft. Dodge Messenger.