Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-17
D0LLIVER.


tain had been removed in a night; for
Deliver was a mighty peak on the po-
lit1cal landscape of his time, a strong
and militant figure IN Iowa and the
nation. His death brought an extreme
sense OF loss not alone to Iowa but 20
every community from Maine 70 Cali
fornia,
Tho born in Virginia Dolliver IS
peculiarly of Iowa He grew here.
rooted and burgeoned in Iowa. His
rise to erninence ard prominence IS
typical of the prairie lands and of mid
western opportunity and appreciation.
He was an orator born and by train
ing and capacity. Years ago when
Eagle Grove was "a new station on the
new Northweste rn line" and Dolliver
was a boy. 10 Yeoman. of Fort Dodge
recommended young speNbinder of
that city to make the address at a
Fourth of July celebration al the new
station. 1t was probably the first pub
lie celebration OF that future city. II
that Dolliver ever made. Deliver had
been back TO Virginia He had stood
beside the river at Harper's Ferry and
heard the voices o. mighty past The
editor who wrote this. then a boy and
a visitor from another state, saw an
audience of farmers and railroad men
and merchandisers lifted as by an in
cantation as Deliver swung into a
flight Of oratory he has never since
surpassed. It was the magic OF that
power which is accorded to a few men
once in a century, the Piper's gift TO
lead and charm and draw men 70 the
music Of voice and the majesty Of in
tellect. Later Dolltver got his chance
before the state convention and in the
types. Still later Blaine called him
east to profit by his silver tongue and
Deliver was a national character He
went 10 congress by grace of the voters
of the Tenth district, a district whose
voters have always been on the firing
line of progress. and later to the senate
by appointment
1t is impossible TO estimate and
judge Justly the official career of Ser :
ator DolIiver without considering the
causes which led 20 that appointment
and the circumstances which grouped
themselves about It. The appointment
was less opportunity than denial, Il
came when Gear had died inlrnedia tely
succeeding his reelection TO the SEN
ate at the end OF bitter and desper-
ate struggle which rent the legislature
and shook the state. Under the ben-
MAJ election law then put in force the
legislature held over. Let Senator Dol
liver's explanation published in the last
number OF the Outlook over his own
signature explain the reasons for and
the limitations OF that appointment He
says:
In solemn conclave the name of every
conspicuous public man in Iowa was
canvassed, the test Of his availability
being not whether he had served the
state faithfully. not whether he was
prepared by training or experience for
the high office, but whether If appoint
ed. he could hold his own in the legislat-
ure already elected in which the
strength Of Mr. Cummins had been
fully demonstra ted. The appointment
Of Mr.. Cummins vas not considered
because he had offended and defed a
power greater than the government o.
the state
That power greater than the gov
eminent of the state" explains much
that has been considered as inconsist
entn in the later attitude of the sena :
tor and reveals the load that appoint
ment laid upon his shoulders 1t was
one of those political mort ga ges which
retard development. II is due Dolliye1
that 1t be known and considered in the
final estimate Of his worth which m ust
and should include the burdens he car
ried in the performance of his public
duties.
Moreover for long years Dolliver ga,
under the shadow Of AlMson's suprem
acy. 1t was not until the rate law
lacked a champion that Deliver
emerged from that shadow Benehcen,
shade but shadow. But the champion.
ship of the rate law called for an able
body as for q strong mind. 1t was
neither fitted 10 the strength Of ALI.
son nor to Alisonian methods of &C.
complishment. It was then that Dol.
liver proved his capacity of Leadership
and his supremacy as . debater and his
capacity to give and take punishment
From that time on Deliver stood sep.
,aratS and Of hipself.
There came a time later, when b,
the vicissitudes Of life and death Dol
liver found himself free and unmort
gagged. Then he stood clone in his ow,
strength, a mighty power. facing TIL
Organization which had sought his en-