Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-08-07
ALLISON, DEAN
OF j. S. SENATE,
DIES SUDDENL Y
FAILURE AFTER LONG PERIOD
OF FAILING HEALTH.
LONG CAREER AS STATESMAN.
Always a Leader, Particularly in the
Framing of Tariff or Currency
Legislation.
NEW DEAL IN IOWA POLITICS.

DUBUQUE, Ia, Aug. 4.-Senator
William B. Allison Of Iowa died of heart
failure here at 1:4O o'clock this after
noon.
The death of Senator Allison removes
from the Senate a man who for more
than a quarter of a century was one of
it's 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 3, 1909.
Sketch of His Life.
William B. Allison was born at Perry
O., March 2, 1929. His parents were of
Irish descent, his grandfather and grand
mother having emigrated to Pennsyl-
vania, where the future senator's father
was born in 1893. 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 Is years old. Subsequently he
spent a year at Allegheny college at
Meadville, Pa, and after teaching a
country school for 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 1856
which supported John @. 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 1862, serving four terms in the
lower house. He was member of the
| ways and means committee most of the
time he 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
| fee he has held continuously ever since.
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.
He was chiefly instrumental in franz
ing the Senate tariff bill of the fiftieth
| 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
a candidate for reelection to the Senate,
| having defeated Albert c.. Cummins at
| the primaries held on June 1. 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-fedged candidate, despite the rebuke
he received at the June primaries.