Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-05
SENATE LOSES
 ITS LEADER,
Allison of Iowa Dies at
 Dubuque Home.
LAWMAKER MANY YEARS,

Not Only Oldest Man In Upper House, but Also Held Seat Longer Than Any Other h Country's History-Sorn In Ohio, but a Resident of Adopted State Since Early Manhooa-Fiiled Prominent Positions In Senate and Thrice Declined Places In Presiden- tisl Cabinets.
 Dubuaue. Ia.. Aug. 5-W1lliam Boyd Allison. dean of the United States sen- ate, died of heart failure here. He was seventy-nine years old and had been a United States senator since 1873. Senator Allison had not been 1t the best of health for some time past.
 Mr. Allison was born at Perry, O.. March ?, 1929, in log house on his fathers eighty acre farm in Wayne county. O. Like many another who came out of the famous western re- serve into national prominence, he got a little education in the winter and q great deal of strength and experience on the farm. He made his way through a two years course at the Wooster academy and one year Of higher study at Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa, to which early seat of learning he travelled on foot and as which he cooked his own meals.
 Senator Allison was admitted to the bar in 1850. He was married to Miss Anna Carter of Wooster. O.. at Ash land. O.. in February, 1855. From 1850 until 1857 he practiced law in Ohio sand in 1857 he removed to Dubuque, Where he took up the practice of law.
 Helped to Nominate Lincoln.
 SenaKp Allison was a delegate to Ahe Nera blican state convention in 1S59lAH&to the national convention in Chicaao in 1860. He was member of the governors staff during the civil war and raised troops to fight for the integrity of the nation in 1861. In 1863 he was elected to congress and served continuously until 1871. In 1873 he was elected United States senator from Iowa and represented his state in this capacity until the time of his death.
 In 1881 he was offered the position of secretary of the treasury of the United States by President Garfield, but declined to accept the office. In 1889 he again refused this office when offered him by President Harrison. For the third time he refused the of flee when it was offered him by Pres ident Mckinley in 1897.
 In 1892 he was chairman of the in- ternational monetary conference at Brussels. He was candidate for the Republican presidential nomination be- fore the national Republican conven' tion in 1888 and again in 1896.
 The "Father of the Senate"
 To Senator Allison more especially than to any other man who ever occu pied a seat in the senate belongs tht title of father of the senate" He wa: not only one of the oldest men in tha body, but he held the record beyond all others for length of service there More important still. his service in tn, senate was such that his title to posi- tion depended not at all upon his ad yanced age or extended service. Sen ator Allison was at the time of hi death and had been for a third of century leader in fact as we'll as fl name.
 Mir. Allison entered the senate Marcl 4, 1873. and had served continuousl. ever since Ina king the longest perio, as a member ef that body ever covere' by any individual. When he died h had just completed the fifth month O the thirty-sixth year of his occupanc. of this important post. thus exceedinl by almost three years and q half tn service of the late Senator Morrill, o Vermont, who held the record for con tinuous service previous to Senator Al lison.
 Mir. Allison first entered the senat by appointment as the successor O Senator Harlau of Iowa. He enteret upon his first elective term in 1sT and was successive,y chosen by tn legislature of Iowa for the terms be ginning in 1885. 1891. 1903 and 1908 His present term would have expire, March f. 1909. but he had alread been elected for still another tern Thus if death had not interfered hi service in the senate was assured TIT til March. 1913. If he had lived untt that date he would have just com pleted his fftieth year in the senate.
 Entered Public Life Early.
 Going from his state of Ohio 10 low s3 1857. wsen only tweuty-eight year of age. he almost immediately entere upon public life as a member of th staff Of the then governor of his adopt ed state an-l six years later. in lSsE was eleetei for the first time 10 a sea in the national legislature as q men ber of the Siouse for the Thirty eight congress. He served in that body dul ius the Thirty-righth. Thirty -nintf TOrtieth and FoTty-first congresse and after oniy two years of retiremen entered upon his long and illustriOu career in the senate When he entere the house the civil war was at it height. and his service covered nc only that exciting epoch. but also tn scarcely less exciting time of recor struction and has been closely ident fiei with the history of the cOuHtr since then.