Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-09
Shall He Appear as When in
Public Life or as Iowa knew
Him the Question
MODERN GARe iNcoNGRuoUs
Beside Lincoln and Associated With
Him in Public Mind, Harlan Would
Not Be Recognized by People of His
Own state-Lons Out Of Public Life
at Time Of His Death.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec AT what age
shall Senator Harlan be represented in
the statue that is to be placed in the
hall of fame in Washington? With
some men this would be small ques-
ton. Senator Allison has looked about
the same for generation. With SEN
ator Harlan it is vital matter be-
cause of the fact that when in pub
lie life he was young appearing man
of much. vigor with az husky beard but
smooth upper lip and bushy hair.
Both hair and beard We're very black.
When he died he was kindly appear
ing old man with gray beard and
moustache and very scant gray hair.
One not acquainted with the man If
shown two pictures of him of different
ages would not know that it was the
same man.
The executive council is at this time
considering the proposition and is en-
|deavoring to decide at what age the
man shall be represented in the
statue. Miss Nellie ". Walker Of
Moulton, and the others who will con-
test for the work of making the figure,
are delaying beginning work till the
council decides.
Represented as he appeared when he
died in 1899 would be as the present
generation knew him. Then, however,
he had long been out of public life,
having been defeated for reelection
to the United States senate by VIM. B.
Allison. 1t is argued that the statue
at Washington will be in existence for
thousands of years and future genera
tions will know Of Harlan in history
and not in retired life.
1t is argued that in future genera
tiors the school boy will read that
Harlan was in Lincon's cabinet and
going to Washington will see a statue
of Lincoln in "dicky" and tall hat
and old fashioned clothes of the period
of 1860. Turning to Harlan, who was
in his cabinet and consequently con-
temperaneous with him, he will find
man dressed in the clothes of 1900
with a collar and necktie.
There is still a further question in
the matter and that is should the
statue represent him as he appeared in
Lincoln's cabinet or as he appeared
later in the United States senate. 1t
will be remembered than in 1871 or
thereabouts Harlan made a great
speech in the senate on the San Do
mingo matter which has been con-
sidered the greatest speech in the SEN
ate since Webstef's reply to Hanes.
Harlan answered Sumner and Carl
Schurz. There is a considerable diff
ference in the appearance Of the man
when he was in the cabinet and when
he was last in the senate, the princi-
pie difference being in the shape of the
Whiskers.
1t is understood that his relatives
prefer the statue to represent him as
he appeared in the Brumedi painting.
in the portrait gallery in the Iowa hls-
torical building. This portrait cost the
state of Iowa $1,000 and is by a fam
Gus Italian painter. 1t presents him
about as he was when last in the
United States senate with a beard
but no mustache.
The famous paintings that attracted
so much attention after they were re-
moved from the supreme court room
may find a resting place on the walls
of the reading room in the Iowa his |
torcal building. When the fire oc-
Cured a couple of years ago the water
loosened these pictures from the walls
of the supreme court room. They were
the first decorative pictures to be put
in public building west of the Mis-
sissippi river. They were Greek myth
ology representations. 1t was found |
necessary to remove them after the
fire and the canvasses were rolled up
and preserved.
When Guernsy was employed to dec |
crate the state house. these pictures |
did not fit in with the scheme of dec
ora tions for the rest of the building |
Those who did not like the GuernSy
painting found additional cause here
for complaint Assistant Curator Har-
Ian dug the canvasses up out Of stor-
age and the matter is now being con-
sidered of putting them on the walls
of the reading room of the historical |
building. The paintings curiously
enough will just fit the panels that |
are available for that purpose Cur
ator Aldrich endorses the suggestion
and in all probability the executive
council will have them put on the
walls If he requests it.
The executive council is having the
spiral stairway just inside the east en-
trance to the state house torn out
and will put in it's place a straight
stairway The spiral stairway was
dark and gloomy and made 1t difficult
to use Furthermore it shut out the
light from the basement. The glass
floor in the rotunda of the state house
on the first floor is to be torn out also
and railing put around the opening
so as to provide for more light and
in the basement
Application was made today to Gov