The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-11
TRIBUTE no NILSSON.

AT the memorial exercises held in
the Senate on Saturday in honor of the
late William b. Allison, one OF the
speakers was Senator Cfrauncey DE,
pew who in part said: .,.
Nations like individuals, pass this
way but once. Golden opportunities
at the milestones are lost or won. The
triumphs OF one generation make
trouble for the next. Progress and de.
velopment create new issues and
statesmen confront fresh problems
with every advance, Senator Allison
was never spectacular. He was mod
est and retiring to degree. Many
of his colleagues filed large space
with their speeches i'm the Congression'
al Record, while his monument was
in the statute books. Because or the
radicalism of their proposals, or their
facture of epigrams, others had mead
lines and columns in the press, while
this tireless and unheralded architect
Of the public welfare was standing
guard over the treasury or making
laws which marked ,epochs in our his
tory .a ..... -
He rarely missed a vote. When
the bell rang for a roll call, coming
from his constant labor in the room OF
the Committee on Appropriations, he
was among the first to enter the sen
ate. His name was at the top of the
list. He never waited to find out how
the question was going, but answered
promptly, and that answer often de
cided the fate OF the measure. He had
he courage of his convictions and not
Of a majority behind him. .-.. ..
He represented an agricultural
state whose people often differed with
aim on economic and financial ques
tons. But singularly broad-minded
and intelligent constituency recognized
mis- honesty, character and greatness
and Loyalty returned him again and
again to the seat in which he shed
such luster upon Iowa. His closing
hours were passed in the supreme hap
piness that after thirty-five years OF
continuous service in tue senate and
after passing the limit of fourscore
the people had commissioned him fol-
another term.
"If, as | believe, those who meet In
the activities of this life are reunited
hereafter, it was wonderful band OF
immortals who greeted Allison. Presi
dent Lincoln had consulted him or
measures for raising money to carry
on the war; Johnson on constitutional
amendments, civil rights and genera
amnesty; Grant on the reconstruction
of the states, finance and govern
ment for the District of Columbia
still working satisfactorily and wholly
devised by, Allison; Hayes on the re
sumption OF specie payments; Arthur
ON the policy of a tariff commission;
Harrison on the Mckinney tariff legis
lation and closer relations between
the republics of the Western Hemis
phere by Pan-American Congress
Cleveland on the repeal of the ppr
chase clause Of the Sherman silver
law, and Mckinley on tariff, currency
the gold standard, and grave questions
arising out of the acquisition and gov
eminent of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. all OF them eramaking meas
ures. Three of these presidents had
urgently invited him to join theil
cabinets. and twice the presidency
had been almost within his grasp
When he first obtained the floor In
congress he addressed Speaker Schuy
Ter Colfax. and when he spoke last
forty-five years afterwards, Vice
President Fairbanks in the chair 70
cognized the Senator from Iowa. Sew
ard, Chase an Stanton. joan Sher
man, James G. Blaine and Thaddeus
Stevens were his associates and in
Inmates. When the future historian
writes the story of this remarkable
period and portrays the actors in thai
great national drama who contributed
to it's distinction. he will place among
the few in the front rank the name Of
William 3. Allison
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