Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-02-26
STlLlMAN TELLS FACTS
TELLS THE TRUTH ABOUT HEALTH OF
SENATOR ALLISON. I0wAS GREAT.
EST STATESMAN.
Weekly News Letter Describes Achieve.
ment Of Iowan in Seeking Appoint.
ment TO Marine Corps. Lobby.
lists a. the Capitol. Etc.

A
lists a. the Capitol. Etc.
| Washington. d. g., Feb. %. -Spe-
cial Correspondence: Two questions
appear TO be mooted" in Iowa. /
happen to be in position to take
both propositions out of the realm of
speculation. First as to Senator ALI.
sons health. The actual facts are
these: Senator Allison came to Wash.
ipgton the last week in November,
in good health. Just before the holi-
days he. with about 10000 other peo.
pie in town, was overtaken with the
'grippe" which this season has ac-
quired some new stunts in the way of
knocking people out. Senator Allison
had very severe attack of the grippe
and not until the latter part of jan
nary did he appear in the Senate
chamber. AT this writing he has
fully recovered from the effects of the
| attack; his countenance has taken on
a healthy color and the old twinkle
in his eye has returned. He is in the
Senate chamber every day and is
thoroughly in touch with every phase
of legislation and the work of the
great appropriation committee of
| which he is chairman.
The second question relates to the
subject of his withdrawal from the
Senatorial race. Rumors have been
in circulation and have been given
currency in some Iowa newspapers TO
the effect that Senator Allison would
soon withdraw from the contest and
some other candidate substituted. |
am able to say upon direct authority
of Senator Allison's friends there is
not and has not been the slightest
basis III fact for such rumors and pub
locations. Senator Allison will not
Withdraw has not thought,of with
drawing and will remain in the field
until the matter has been Fl ally de.
termined by the primary.
Reference has been made briefly in
the daily press of the appointments of
Franklin Drees. of Carroll. TO posi-
tion in the marine corps. The peo-
pie of Iowa l believe will be in
terested TO know in more detail the
achievements of this young man.
Mr.. Drees, who is about % years
old. came TO Washington some weeks
ago for the purpose of taking the ex-
animation required prior to appoint
ment into the u. s. Marine Corps
He suggested to Congressman Conner
that he would be glad if possible to
get temporary position in the con-
gressional library or elsewhere, pay
ing small salary. to pay his ex
penses during the period of prepara-
tion prior to the examination. Judge
Connor saw Librarian Putnam and
asked the latter if he would see Drees.
called and was given temporary
position When l remark that there
are about 1000 applications now on
file for positions in the library, all
backed by congressional recommenda-
tions, it will appear that Mr.. Drees
must have employed some form of
hypnotism on the Librarian.
Prior to the mental examination,
physical examination has been made
of Drees After week of prepara-
tion the day for the mental examina-
tion was at hand. The candidates
were on deck and ready for the ques-
tions when Drees was informed that
it would be useless tor him To take
the mental examination as he had
failed to meet the requirements of the
physical examiuation-he was fiat
footed and this physical defect stood
as bar to his admission into the
marine corps.
Drees was simply paralyzed. Such
a situation was wholly unexpected.
He did not know he was fiat-footed,
and if he had known it he was equally
ignorant that it barred him from the
marine corps. He hurried to Con-
grassman Conner with his troubles.
Judge Connor saw Assistant Secre-
tary Newberry OF the Navy, and
stated the case. Newberry shook his
head. II Drees failed to meet the
physical requirements nothing could
be done. as the rules were very rigid
on this point. Judge Connor urged
that Drees be permitted to go ahead
and take the mental examination any
way. Newberry said there was real
iy 10 use Of that-it would be only
waste OF time and energy.
"Well. would like to have you see
Drees. remarked Judge Connor. The
assistant secretary readily agreed to
this proposition. Drees came and
Newberry saw him. After a short
N ..r-oau Of sha dan, IN, Al y, .