Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-04-16

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
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"
Allison's Influence In House.
Again, commenting directly upon
the Iowa statesman he says: when
/ 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 member Of
for thirty years, for most of the time
Its chairman, and for twenty-siX years
a 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 100000
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
honse 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 SEES
sion of the senate, after his entrance
to the body, committee Of eleven was
chosen by the Republican caucus to
consider and report a plan for the re
sumption of specie payments, and the
following were selected; John Sher
man, William h. Allison, George \,
Boutwell,, Roscoe Conkling, George i.
Edmunds. Thomas w Ferry, +. IT, Ere
linghuysen, Timothy O. Howe, John A.
Logan, Oliver z. 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 a 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 4 silver basis by
drafting and securing the adoption of
substitute which provided for the
maintenance Of the gold standard ana
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
publican party has controlled. almost
without interruption, the lawmaking
body Of the country, senator Allison
has borne an honored and responsible
part The best testimony TO that is to
I've seen in the respect and confidence
OF al! his associates rs they have come
and gone.
lNnf mo ntFn
came so near the presidency AMI
missed It as Senator Allison did ut the
convention which nominated benjamin
Harrison IN 1883. He describes n con
ference OF leading delegates from diff
rerent states, mt which, he says. u
made very earnest speech in favor
of Senator Allison. setting forth what
| thought we're the qualities That would
make him n popular candidate, anu
would make him 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 Allison
on this occasion to the antagonism Of
VI.
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 I'm congress is meas
ured in no other way so well as by
the estimate Of his associates. He
- thn i.vin oil In np cta 10
commerce act. and supported the orig
inal antitrust act which has been |
found TO be so effective lie sup |
ported the Elkins bill, and was the
confidant Of President Roosevelt In
bringing about harmony in the Hep
burn-DolIiver 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 storehouse |
Of facts. invaluable to the senate, is |
uDimpaired, his position and influence |
in the senate are unrivaled. He stands |
practically alone in the national coun-
ellis ms q representative OF the heroic |
age of the party, and OF the group OF
men who saved the Union Ia the hour
or dire peril
What should be the attitude OF the
Republican party towards Senator Al |
llson?' 1t is Of far less importance 10
Senator Allison than To the party IT.
self and 10 those who 1ippantly ask
what he has done, and say that senti.
ment should have nothing to do with
the case. II Will he sad day when
such service as Senator Allison's. and |
such associations MS these to which the
people OF Iowa are related by his ca
reer Inspire no sentiments OF reYer-