Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-21
ALLISON OF iowa,
Stories That illustrate the Sena-
tors Marked Traits.
MAN WHO TOOK NO CHANCES

| Anecdotes Told About His Great eau
touchdown as a Mediator at Col
lege-Sample of His Discrestness In
Answering Some Pointed Questions.
Senator William Boyd Allison. dean
of the senate, who recently died at his
home in Dubuque, Ia, had the reputa-
| ton of being the most cautious man in
| public life. He took no chances, but
was never more clearly shown than
when citizen of Dubuque made bet
that he could force the senator to say
| Eyes" to direct proposition. Half a
dozen friends went along to see the
miracle performed. They entered ALI
sons office and chatted on various top
les. Presently flock of sheep. newly
sheared, came by.
"Those sheep have just been sheared,
senator" said the man who had made
the bet, winking at his companions.
Senator Allison gazed earnestly at
the sheep. Then he softly replied. 1T
looks like it on this side"
One day in the senate this anecdote
was duplicated after fashion. There
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
I'LL
years past" observed Mr.. Allison.
"And will for many years to come"
interposed Senator Spooner.
LAS to that" replied Senator Allison,
II will not prophecy"
| At college some of the traits of char
ecter which have since been observed
in Senator Allison were conspicuous.
An old classmate Of his once said of
him: ALLISON was u born politician.
He never gave offense. l was at col
lege with him and in his class. He
| was known then as the mediator. If
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
1 friends, but no 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 then
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.
II there was one senator handler at
concealing his position on public ques-
tions than Mr. Aldrich Of Rhode Is
land It was Mr.. Allison Of Iowa One
day he dictated a long letter to his sec
rotary In answer to some very pointed
questions of constituent. When he
had finished he asked. What do you
think Of that reply?'
The secretary thought hard for a mo-
ment and then, in halting tones. an
swered, ITO be entirely candid sena-
tor, it is difficult to gather exactly
what you mean"
Admirable, admirablew exclaimed
Allison. with almost childish glee.
''That's precisely the Idea wished to
convey"
The late Senator Hoar of Massachu-
sets 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 sem
ate. During all that time he has done
what no other man in the country in my
Judgment. could have done SO well. He
has been a member of the committee on
appropriations for twenty years. most of
the time as chairman and for twenty-six
years member Of the committee on
finance. He has controlled more than
any other man-indeed. more than any
other ten men-the vast and constantly
increasing public expenditure amounting
| to more than thousand millions annual
ly. 1t has been an economical and wise
expenditure. That is a knowledge in
which nobody else In the senate except
Senator Hale of Maine and Senator Cock
rell 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. He is like a
naval engineer. regulating the head of
steam. but seldom showing himself on
the deck. l think he has had a good deal
of influence in some perilous times in de-
Gliding whether the ship should keep safe
ly on or should run upon rock and go
to the bottom.
Senator Allison had more sides to
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 as 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 dlgnified, very kindly and
gentle In his manner, and he possessed
a very marked sense of humor that in
fuenced his whole life. He never took
himself seriously and had one of the
egotism and vanity which 80 often be-
long to men In high positions.