The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-10-20

better than others.
The future senator soon gained a
local reputation as a speaker and it
spread to the surrounding counties
until he was frequently called upon
for public addresses, lectures, etc. In
1884 a friend the late DR.. Charles
Beardsley Of Burlington who was
chairman of the republican state COM
mittee, told the committee about this
wonderful young man from Virginia
with the gift of oratory and the brains
and industry and ambition to put
something besides high-sounding
phrases into his speeches. So Mr..
Dolliver was invited to be temporary
chairman Of the republican state con-
vention in Des Moines in April, 1884.
The speech he made then lifted him
from the obscurity of a country law
Office into national fame 1t was the
rising of new star in the political
fir lament and it's power and brilliancy
were at once recognized by the re-
publican leaders in charge of the ma
tional campaign. Mr.. Dolliver was
StllSu CcoI anu DOlS Conspicuous
part in that memorable campaign,
travelling for a time and speaking with
James G. Blaine, the republican nomi-
nee for the presidency n that year.
In every campaign since then Mr..
Dclliver has assisted his party wher'
and study have ripened him into an
orator who not only appeals to the
sentiment and arouses the enthusiasm
of partisans, but convinces the judg.
II ent of the honest inquirer who, with.
out partisan prejudice is seeking the
truth.
In 1885 the friends of Mr.. Dolliver
in the Tenth district concluded to
bring him out as a candidate for the
republican nomination for congress-
man. Cyrus G. Carpenter of Fort
Dodge, former governor and former
took leading part in this movement.
He was devoted admirer of Mr..
Dolliver, who was then less than 29
years old. In the campaign which
| followed Mr.. Dolliver developed more
| strength than any other candidate,
nominate. The opposition succeeded
| in combining against him and renom;.
mated A. j. Holmes of Boone county
for a third term Two years later
however, Mr.. Dolliver was nominated
in the convention at Webster City and
| fn ho five
as representative of the Tenth dis
trict
That was his first political office
and he was continued in the Fifty
second, Fifty third, Fifty-fourth Fifty
fifth and Fifty-sixth congresses.
On Aug. %, 1900, he was appointed
by the then Gov. Leslie M. Shaw tc
fill vacancy in the United States
senate caused by the death of Senator
Gear; he was elected in 1902 to sue
coed himself and reelected in 1907 fol
a term which would have expired
March 3, 1913.
His Tariff Record.
When the Dingley tariff was en-
acted Mr.. Dolliver was a member q
the committee on ways and means Of
the house.
He distinguished himself then fol-
the active part which he took in max
ing that law. Although more indepen
dent than many, he was then known
as standpatter. Iowa being an agri
cultural state he successfully advo
Gated protection for all products O
the soil.
During the administration of Presi
dent Roosevelt, in the height of agi
tation for the regulation of freigh
rate Mr.. Deliver, who had gone to thu
senate, filled conspicuous role. The
Hepburn-Dolliver law, amendatory O
the original act creating the interstat,
commerce commission, was to a larg,
extent the product of his labors al
though after that measure was re
ported to the senate it underwear
many changes of which he did no
approve.
During tbs life of Senator Allison
one of the standpat leaders of tn
; senate, Dolliver, then the junior low;
senator, was constantly within tn,
shelter of his keener colleagues guild
ance. After Allison died and was sue
ceeded by Senator Cummins, who ha,
long been known as a progressive
; Senator Dolliver Joined hands with hi
new colleague and incurred the en-
nifty of the republican political fac
ton with which he had so long beel
affiliated.
In debates with nearly every one O
the standpat orators, Senator Dollive
! contributed many of the brightes
pages of the congressional record O
the tariff session last year. He wa
one of the ten senators who vote.
against the Payne-Aldrich bill.
In the convention at Philadelphia il
: 1900, which nominated Mckinley 70
. the presidency, Dolliver probabl
would have been the nominee for vic
president If Senator Plat and othe
republican leaders then in power ha
not determined upon the nomination
of Roosevelt.