Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-10-08
ALLISON OF IOWA,
Stories That Illustrate the Sena.
tors Marked Traits.
MAN WHO TOOK NO CHANCES
Anecdotes Told hbout His Great Cau.
tion-known as Mediator ~ Col.
lese-ssmple Of His piscreetness ~

lege-ssmple of His pisereetnsss n
Answering Some Pointed Question
senator William Boyd Allison. dc1a
OF the senate. who recently died nt hI.
home In Dubuque In, had the reputu
ton Of being the most cautious man 90
public life lie took no chances. but
always qualified his statements. This
was never more clearly shown tml
when citizen of Dubuque made be-,
that he could force the senator 10 say
Yes" 10 direct proposition Half u
dozen friends went along to see the
miracle performed. They entered AM.
sons office and chatted on various top
les. Presently a flock of sheep. newly
shcarcd, came by.
"Those sheep have Just been shcarcd.
senator" said the man who had made
the bet, winkiug at his companions.
senator Allison gazed earnestly at
the sheep. Then he softly replied "It
looks Ike it on this side"
one day In the senate this ancc3otc
was duplicated after a fashion Thor,
had been discussion about the wisdom
of appropriatIng a lump sum annually
for keeping the sidewalks and streets
of Washington free from snow and ice.
Mr. Allison was drawn into the discus
sion
"Snow has been falling on the streets
and sidewalks of Washington for many
years past" observed Mr.. Allison.
And viii for many years 60 como, "
intcrposed Senator Spoouer.
AS to that" replied Senator Allison,
Il will not prophesy.'
At college some Of the traits of char
gcter which have since been observe
in Senator Allison were conspicuous
An old claSsmate of his once said ul
him: Allison was a born politician
lie never gave offense. I was at col
lege with him and in his class. H
was known then as the mediator II
there was difference between stu
dents Allison was the arbitrator. He
always commanded the respect of his
teachers and the confidence of his
classmates. He was one of the few
young men l have known who had IN
a very remarkable degree the power OF
reserve. He had very many cordial
friends, but nc special intimates. and
even to the select few he gave no un
limited insight into the workings OF
his heart and mind. He was even the-
self reliant and discreet
The great pacificator Of the senate
was the name given to Senator Allison
by his colleagues. and the history OF
some of the MISUNDERSTANDING which
Senator Allison smoothed away and
some of the compromises he effected
shows that the title was deserved.
If there was one senator handler at
concealing his position on public qucs
tions than Mr.. Aldrich of Rhode Is
land It was Mr. Allison Of Iowa. on,
day he dictated long letter to his sec
retary in answer to some very pointed
questions Of constituent. When d,
had finished he asked. what do yug
think Of that replys"
The secretary thought hard for a lac-
ment and then, in haltlng tones. an
swered, "To be entirely candid. scna-
tor, 1t Is difficult to gather exactlr
what you mean"
Admirable. admirable" exclaimed
Allison, with almost childish glrc
That's precisely the idea I wished Ia
convey"
The late Senator Hoar of MasSachU-
setts in his "Recollections of Seventy
Years" has this TO say of Allison:
His chief distinction has been gained
by service of thirty years in the SEN
ate During all that time he has done
what no other man IN the country, ia my
judgment, could have done SO we'll lie
has been a member OF the committee on
appropriations for twenty years. most OF
the time rs chairman. and far rweutE--s.V IS
years m~laar of the committee au
finance. la has controlled more r...
any other mau-indeed more than amy
other ten muC-thc vast and constant.
increasing public expenditure Gmouu...
to more than a Thousand millions aulr.N N.
ly. Il has been an economical and v ST..
expenditure That is a H,nowIeGE. i.
which nobody else in the senate t&r.ps
Senator Hale Of Maine and Senator Cock
rcA Of Missouri can compare with him
he has by his wise and moderate counsel
drawn the fire from many q wild and
dangerous schene which menacod the
public peace and safety. He is Ike a
naval engineer, regulating the head OF
steam. but seldom showing himself on
the deck. ! think he hGs had a good deal
OF influence in some pe-tlous times in de-
Gliding whether the ship should keep safe
ly on or should run upon a rock and go
to the bottom.
Senator Allison had more sides 10
his character than the average public
man. He was fond of books, art and
travel He knew the politics of Eu
rope nearly as well rs the affairs of his
own country. Mr.. Allison was social
in his tastes and was one of the con
spicuouS figures in Washington society.
He was very diSniiied, very kindly ana
gentle in his manner, and he possessed
a very marked sense of humor that in
huenced his whole life. He never took
himself seriously and had one of the
egotism and vanity which so often be
long to men in high positions.
Archery by Mail.