The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-03-13
A GREAT CAREER.

"A bhEA SAhEEh.
The political situation in the state
of Iowa at the present time presents
spectacle as interesting as any
which the country affords. The two
factions of the party are contending
fiercely over the United States sena-
tor. Governor Cummins has long had
designs on seat in the upper house
of congress. Senator Allison's term
expires next January. He is a candi-
date to succeed himself, but Cummins
proposes If possible to wrest the place
from him. The contention is necessar-
lily a matter for the people of Iowa to
decide, and yet interest in the matter
is far wider than the boundaries of
that state. Public sympathy goes out
toward the man who has so long rep.
resented that great state in such a
great way and to all who know his
record there will be a fond hope that
he may be allowed to end his career
with his harness on.
For Senator Allison Is one of the
distinguished men who have played a
large and magnificent part in the
history of American legislation. His
career has been one of unusual i'm
portance and he is not only Iowa's
grand old man" but he is more than
that-he belongs to the nation. Now
reaching his eightieth birthday, he Is
not as active as he once was in debate
but he is still recognized as wise and
kind, by nature harmonizing mems
differences and so sane that his advice
is eagerly sought for and respected
by his colleagues and the leading
public men of the day.
1t is we'll to glance over his record.
Any one is better American for hav-
ing done it. The public life of William
Boyd Allison spans a long period of
time. AS young man he affiliated
with the republican party in its in
fancy and was a delegate to the great
convention held at the Wigwam in
Chicago which nominated Abraham
Lincoln for the presidency. During
the civil war he was one of the staff
of the governor of Iowa and helped
to recruit and to drill and inspire the
young men who went forth at the call
OF their country to defend the flag on
the battlefields of the south.
He was a strong supporter of Lin
coin and when the war was over he
actively participated in public affairs
in the period of reconstruction and
from that time to this he has been
prominent in the nations history and
for the larger part of the time has
served steadily in the United States
senate, being elected by the people of
Iowa who loved him and who admired
him, term after term without opposit-
ion. Four different times he was ask
ed to go into the cabinets of different
presidents. Garfield wanted him,
Harrison urged him to accept a port
folio and twice William Mckinley per-
sonally urged him to take a place over
one of the departments as a member
of his cabinet. Each time he declined
but his influence has always been for
midable in the councils of the nation.
Four times his name was suggested
for the presidency in national conven-
tons. Only once was he an enthusi-
astic candidate for the nomination and
then he was beaten by a very narrow
The years have come and gone, pres.
idents have died, issues have changed.
but still Allison is a commanding
figure in the life of the nation. He is
still at the head of the committee on
which has to do with |
the spending of millions of money and |
his conservatism and integrity have (
done much to make those expenditures
wise.
What the outcome of the present |
contest may be is not clear to those
who live outside the state. Governor
Cummins would be doing a graceful
hing and nav ATTN, t,ih,,4a