Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-25
GATHERED BY THE WAYSIDE

Des Moines. Nov 25.-The laying TO
final rest in a little cemetery near
Menlo Of James H Wilson, Prairie
Jim, marked the close Of decidedly
interesting career. To many there is
deep sense of personal loss
Mr.. Wilson was a plain man, COM
mon man, just an average man. and his
life was placid and International, but ne
played a large part and he played II
we'll. He neither rose to great heights
nor sank to any depths, but he lived up
to his capacity, interesting himself an
many of the activities Of life. He was
farmer just a plain farmer. and 10
the end he took more interest In MS
farm than in anything else. He was
a soldier in the war Of the states,
but he, profoundly believed that veter-
ans of the war should not rely on spe-
cial legislation for favors shown He
was a lover OF a good horse and was
well versed in the lore Of the track. He
had a good head for business and
habit Of making short cut for best re-
suits But while he was at the time OF
his death a member of the state rail-
road commission he will be best re-
mernbered as one who was of the old
school of politics and a nightly we'll
informed man on the history of Iowa
affairs during the past half century.
The fact is that during the past M
teen wears whenever the writer desired
verification of any fact of political his
tory in Iowa the last resort always was
to Jim Wilson. He knew men ana
measures. He had intimate knowledge
Of how things were done and why. He
had been a participant in the events
himself and not mere observer as he
went along. His knowledge was always
first hand.
Quite a number of years ago there
was notable deadlock in a republic
can senatorial convention in che Adair-
Madison district. Wilson was dele
gate from Adafr. The counties were
evenly matched. 1t was then and there
that Wilson impressed himself on his
neighbors as a political general. He
had been going to conventions long
time and was known to be reliable, but
from shat time on he was leader. He
came into the state house to hold a po-
sitiuu with john Herriott, state treas
urer, subordinate position but one
which he used to good advantage. Later
he had a hand in making his neighbor.
w. 3. Martin, secretary Of state and he
took a position with him. He was given
charge of the handling Of state publi-
cations He virtually created the de-
partment of documents, so far as 1t
could be done under the old law. But
while holding this subordinate place
there were many gatherings about the
~ he ys,t,i 6oc1 in thn and
there was much politics handled right
there. 1t was while holding down this
position that he went upon the state
college board. At one time he was
also secretary to the lieutenant gov
ernor and his friends joked with him
about being the only man who could
hold down three state positions at
once A few years ago Wilson ran for
lieutenant governor, not that he wanted
the office or cared for the salary, but
Just because. He was elected railroad
commissioner largely because he did
not want to drop out Of the activities
of life. He simply had a passion for
politics 1t was at the Cedar Rapids
convention of 1901 that Wilson was at
ager for the John Herriott candidacy.
one VI d. plS uSid SuAAiA1ii1Ss -
was not Wilson's fault that he failed
to land his man. He held the key to
the situation but could not turn it tow
ard his man. He could effectually estop
any other. Herriott was made lieuten-
ant governor. But all the big politicians
Of the state deferred to Jim Wilson on
that occasion.
The situation at the convention OF
1901 illustrated one phase Of the char
acter OF Jim Wilson not well under
stood. The fact is that he had had a
great deal to do with making the issue
on which that campaign was fought
and won. 1t will be recalled that the
issue Of railroad domination in Iowa
| politics was forced to the front by rea-
son Of the ruction on the state exect-
| tive council when John Herriott broke
| from his associates on the matter OF
| ra.ilroad assessments. There were some
dramatic scenes enacted about that
time. which are now forgotten. There
| were some notable pronouncenieI,ts and
arguments printed and circulated, and
I nh no