Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-07
ALLISON. DEAN
OF j. s. SENATE,
DIES SUDDENLY
VETERAN SUCCUMBS TO HEART
FAILURE AFTER LONG PERIOD
OF FAILING HEALTH.
LONG CAREER AS STATESMAN.
Always a Leader, Particularly in the
Framing of Tariff or Currency
Legislation.


DUBUQUE, Ia, Aug 4-Senator
William =. Allison of Iowa died Of heart
failure here at ! 40 O'Clock this after
noon.
The death of Senator Allison removes
from the Senate man who for more
than quarter of a century was one Of
its most prominent members. lie had
served continuously since 1873 and for
the greater part Of his term of service
he was recognized as one of the most
influential members of that body. As
chairman of the committee on appro-
priations much of the financial legisla-
ton passed through his hands. He had
not been in good health for some time
past and this fact had given rise to
some speculation as to whether he would
be a candidate for reelection, his term
expiring March ,, 1909.
Sketch of His Life.
William b. Allison was born at Perry,
O., March ., 1929. His parents were of
Irish descent, his grandfather and grand
mother having emigrated to Pennsyl-
wanna, where the future senator's father
was boru in 1898. Young Allison grew
up on his fathers farm, attending the
district school during the winter terms,
going to the academy at Wooster when
he was 16 years old. Subsequently he
spent a year at Allegheny college at
Meadville, Pa, and after teaching Il
country school for a while spent another
year at Western Reserve college.
Allison was admitted to the bar in
1851 and was soon engaged in politics,
obtaining the Office of deputy county
clerk. His political leaningS were to-
ward the old line Wings and Allison was
a delegate to the convention in 1886
which supported John G.. Fremont for
President. He removed to Iowa the fol
lowing year and has resided there ever
since. He rose rapidly and was chosen
one of the secretaries of the Chicago
convention of 1860 which nominated
Abraham Lincoln for President.
Career in Congress
Allison began his congressional career
in 1867, serving four terms in the
lower house. He was a member of the
ways and means committee most of the
time ne was in the House. In 1871 he
declined reelection to the House and the
following year defeated James Harlan
for the United States Senate, which Of
nee Ilt HIS uell CONTINUOUSLY ever since.
Senator Allison had a taste for finance
and questions of political economy and
he was chosen chairman of the Senate
committee on appropriations. He took
a prominent part in tariff debates, advo-
eating a course midway between that If
the high protectionists and that of the
revenue refOrmerS.
lie was chiefly instrumental in franz
ing the Senate tariff bill of the fftieth
Congress and pruned down the more ex-
travagant propositions of the Mckinley
bill which came from the House
What Now in Iowa?
Senator Allison was until his death
4 candidate for reelection to the Senate.
having defeated Albert G.. Cummins at
the primaries held on June j. The death
of Senator Allison boosts Cummins' can
didacy for the Senate, and it is believed
that the present governor will go before
the Iowa Legislature next winter as a
full-hedged candidate. despite the rebuke
he received at the June primaries.