New-York tribune., 1908-08-05
SENATOR ALLISON.

The death of William B. Allison removes from
the United States Senate one OF its most 1mpor-
1ant and influential members He was one OF
the three or four Senators who by their nat
ural ability their long service their unremlt-
ting attention TO the laborious details Of legsia-
tive work and their consequently thorough grasp
of the problems of government and OF the fran-
ing of legislation have come TO exercise leader
shin on the Republican side of the upper house
in Washington They have been the experts
the past masters of legislation, TO whom the
Younger and the less industrious Senators have
turned for advice, and on whose Judgment
majority naturally relies They have made leg
isIation life work, and have followed 1t as a
profession from which no other opportunities In
political or civil life could lure them. MI ALI
son had been a Senator for thirty-fve years,
longer time than any other man has served ID
the upper house of Congress, and the men who
shared with him the leadership of the body rank
close to him in the length OF their service.
Mr.. Allison was q man Of patient industry,
persistent in his attention TO the routine Of leg
islation. He was practically always in his seat
at the sessions Of the Senate, and his vote was
sure to be recorded upon every important ques-
ton, while no one worked harder than ne ID
the committee roonl-not SNOWY service, DuL
one through which, under modern conditions
leadership in legislation is achieved. AS the gov
ernment of the country has become too complex
for all its details to be thrashed out In open de-
bate so 1t has become too complex for the lead
ership In Congress of the old-fashioned orator
The worker has succeeded the talker, and the
man who impresses himself on legislation Is the
man whose patient industry and long experience
have made him an expert. Such q man was Mr.
Allison. and at the height Of his career no Sen
ator occupied a more commanding position than
he among his colleagues He was one or the
first of the new sort of legislative leaders whlch
the complexity of modern conditions called ror
and he was perhaps the earliest to perceive the
growing Importance of the Senate. BY his re-
fusaI to turn from his chosen profession he put
an end to the old tradition that q call from the
Senate to the Cabinet was promotion IN puDhc
life He recognized clearly and made the most
of the possibilities of power and influence that
lie in continuous public service, such as a Sen
atorial career affords to the representative of
state with stable political conditions.
Senator Alison's influence was potent in all
matters of legislation. but he specialized in
finance and as chairman of the Appropriations
Committee he made his knowledge of govern
mont most effective OF his service in that ca
nacity Senator Hoar said He has controlled
.'more than any other man, indeed more than
'.any other ten men, the fast and constantly in
'creasing public expenditure, amounting now to
"a thousand millions annually. He mas oeen
..c,ompelled in the discharge of his duty to un-
"derstand the complications and mechanism Of
..nuhIic administration and public expenditure.
This is q knowledge in which nobody else in
| ..the Senate except Senator Hale, OF Maine, and
Senator CockreII. of Missouri. can compare
with him. He has by his wise and moderate
counsel drawn the fire from many wild and
dangerous scheme which menaced the public
peace and safety.