Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-03
Politicians in Washington and
Turnout Nation Interested in
~ State Of Senator's Health
HE is CAPTAIN OF THE SENATE
Therefore There is Much Speculation
as to Who Will Control When ALI
SON Retire. - Will Be Contest Be-
tween Roosevet's Supporters and
opponcnts--WiIi Allison Return7
Special to Tlmes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. May S.--Washington
correspondents are taking it for grant
ed that the whole country knows that
Senator Allison's health Is very precar-
ious and that there is not only grave
doubts as to his being able to fill out
! his term OF office which will expire
March 4, 1909, but that there are grave
doubts as to whether he will be able
to return to Washington next Deem
Der, for the next session of congress.
The latest dispatch on that question
is In the Detroit News Tribune Of April
Is by Its Washington bureau. In Iowa
every time there is, mention of the con-
dition OF the health OF the Grand Old
Man whom Iowa has delighted to hon
or SO long, certain designing politicians
at once manage to have published in
tervie@s with Dubuque citizens In
which the attempt is made to induce
the public to believe that Senator Alli-
son Is able to be on the streets Of Du-
buque every day, and is In the full Wig
or OF his strength.
Washington correspondents who see
and meel him and Washington public
men who reach Des Moines. are frank
to admit, tho deploring the fact, that
the sun Is setting for one Of the ablest
men Iowa has ever kept In public life.
The Washington correspondents are
now concerning themselves with the
question of who viii be the successor
to Allison on the steering committee Of
the senate, a committee that. tho I'M
official Is yet SO powerful that it de-
termines what measures shall and what
measures shall not reach the floor OF
the senate and become laws
In column article the Detroit News
Tribune says: "A great and decisive
test Of strength between the supporters
OF President Roosevelt and his policies
and those who are allied with the con-
spiracy against him, is expected in the
senate next December in case Senator
William B. Allison, of Iowa, does not
return to the senate, as now seems
probable The test will come over the
selection of chairman Of the famous
steering committee Of the senate, the
unofficial inner organization Of the re.
publican senator's, which assumes to
decide which measures are to be per-
mitted td come up for consideration,
and which are to die OF hamilton. Alt
son has been chairman Of this commit
tee for a lumber OF Years, and has, in
deed been fntrusted with THE, selection,
OF It's entire m embership. ut is a body
without official standing and Its pros
.ceedings are not Of record, yet It di-
reefs the policy Of the majority in the
senate and Yields power second only
to that of the committee on rules in the
house
Naturally II Allison is not able to
resume bis duties in the senate with
the opening Of the Sixtieth congress
there must be a struggle for the cap
taincy Of the party in the senate, ard
when that struggle comes the support
ers Of the president are prepared To,
make a good fight for 1t, for with the
steering committee in their hands much
of the wearing opposition to the presi-
dents legislative program will dis
appear.
"On the face of the situation 1t
would look as If the out-and -out
Roosevelt supporters would be in the
minority in such a contest, but it must
be remembered that there are sena-
tors who are with the steering COM
mittee as now constituted, because that
lie the easiest way to get what they
want in the way Of legislation. These
senators are of the CALDER to stand
with the presidents friends if that
side seems likely to WIN and it is with
this floating element of the senate that
the leaders In the contest will have to
do business"
After pointing out that the president
has been able to get some reforms thru
by the force of his big stick and the
general influence OF his office, he
points out that the reforms which he
is to lay before congress next winter
are likely to incite greater opposition
on the part Of the reactionaries and
that If the president gets the steering
committee It will mean the unhorsing
of such reactionaries as Aldrich of
Rhode Island and Hale Of Maine. The
writer then says:
ut Is not at all certain of course,
that the friends Of the president could
win, as on plain count of noses, based
upon past performances, the reaction
airy element has a majority Of not less
than a dozen.
"In the meantime there Is much
anxious inquiry, from both sides, as to
the state Of Allison's health, while in
many newspaper OFFICES the record of
his long career in congress is being
furnished up and brought to date to
be ready for use at moments notice
for he has the look Of an old man who
may pay the last debt at any time"
REV. JOHN vANDERLAs DEAD.
Ackley German Resident Was Able
Preaoher-Grundy Center News.
Special to Times Republican.