Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-04-08

r.. Hoar, the distinguished statesman
Of pure and honored life whom Massa-
chusetts kept In the senate until his
death, casts a sidelight on the position
which Mr.. Allison held in the house, in
a tribute which he pays to Henry l..
Dawes of his own state. He says that
Mr.. Dawes was ''the leading and
strongest champion in the great body
which contained Blaine and Bingham
and Butler and Schenck and Farms
worth and Allison and Eugene Hale
and Garfield"
AIlison's Influence in House.
Again, commenting directly upon
the Iowa statesman he says: When
I entered the house William b. Allison
had already acquired great influence
there. He manifested there the quail
ties which have since given him so
much distinction in the senate. But
his chief distinction has been gained
by service of thirty years in the SEN
ate. During all of that time he has
done what no other man in this coun-
ty, in my judgment could have done
SO well. He has been a member of
the great committee on appropriations
for thirty years, for most of the. time
its chairman, and for twenty-six years
q member of the committee on finance.
He has controlled more than any 9TH
er man, indeed more than any other
ten men, the vast and constantly in-
creasing public expenditures, amount
ing now to more than $1,000 600, OOO
annually. 1t has been an economical,
honest and wise expenditure. He has
by his wise and moderate counsel
drawn the fire from many wild and
dangerous scheme which menaced the
public peace and safety"
1t is significant Of the position which
Senator Allison had attained in the
house that when he was elected to the
senate he had no apprenticeship to
serve there, but went Immediately into
the front rank. At the very first ses-
sion of the senate, after his entrance
to the body, a committee Of eleven was
chosen by the Republican caucus to
consider and report plan for the re-
sumption Of specie payments. and the
following were selected: John Sher
man, william B. Allison, George 8
Boutwell,, Roscoe Conkling, George r.
Edmunds, Thomas w. Ferry, F. F. Ere
Iinghuysen, Timothy o. Howe. John A.
Logan, Oliver p. Morton and Aaron A.
Sargent. This was the circle into
which he entered Immediately. None
of these men asked what Senator ALI
son had done.
When the Bland bill for the free
coinage of silver passed the house In
December, 1877, by nearly unani
nous vote, and the senate seemed on
the point of passing it by similar
vote, Senator Allison saved the coun-
try from going to silver basis by
drafting and securing the adoption OF
substitute which provided for the
maintenance of the gold standard and
the purchase of silver upon govern
ment account. This was one of the
most signal and far-reaching services
ever rendered to any country by the
practical genius Of a legislator.
Came Near the Presidency.
In all the legislation that has marked
the wonderful epoch In which the Re
publican party has controlled, almos
without interruption, the lawmaklni
body of the country, Senator Allison
has borne an honored and responsible
part. The best testimony to that is to
be seen in the respect and confidence
OF all his associates as they have come
and gone.
Senator Hoar says that no man ever
came so near the presidency and
missed it as Senator Allison did at the
convention which nominated Benjami.
Harrison in 1888. He describes con
ference of leading delegates from diff
ferent states, at which, he says, u
made very earnest speech in favor
az Senator Allison, setting forth what
I thought were the qualities that would
make him a popular candidate, and
would make him a wise and able pres
ident." This action of Senator Hoar's
after an association Of twenty years
! with Senator Allison in the discharge
of public duties, shows what Senator
Allison had done. Senator Hoar as
scribes the defeat Of Senator ll'son
on this occasion to the antagon SIN of
Chauncey NJ. Depew, then president OF
the New York Central Railroad com
pany.
70 attempt to particularize the leg
islation in which Senator Allison has
been effective would carry an article
beyond all reasonable lengths. A
mans usefulness in congress is meas
ured i'm no other way so well as by
the estimate Of his associates. He
helped to perfect the original interstate
commerce act, and supported the orig
inal antitrust act which has been
found to be so effective. He sup
ported the Elkins bill, and was the
confidant of President Roosevelt In
bringing about harmony in the Hep
burn-Dolliver bill.
A Grand Old Man.
Senator Allison's long and useful
career Is drawing to close. Old age
has come upon him, but happily it has
come with kindly and reverent touch
His mental faculties are untouched
his memory, that wonderful storehousC
80 co. to ;nvaIuahla to the senate is