Evening star., 1943-03-21
Lowden
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one of the Illinois delegation to the
Republican national convention. He
was sent again in 1904 and in the
latter year sought the gubernatorial
nomination. The State convention
went through 10 ballots before Sc
lecting Charles S, Deneen as candi-
date. Mr.. Lowden was named ma
tional committeeman and held that
place through 1912.
Two years after the historic De-
ncen convention, Mr.. LoWden was
elected to Congress from the 18th
Illinois district to fill out the un-
expired term of r. r. Hit, deceased.
He was reelected to the Goth and
61st Congresses, declining further
terms on the plea of poor health.
In Congress he helped put through
the income tax amendment, deliv-
cred noteworthy speech favoring
publicity for the affairs of corpora
tions and supported labor and farm
bills.
In 1916, he was elected Governor
of Illinois. In his four years at
Springfield his executive and ad-
ministrative abilities were shown in
full.
He reduced the States taxation
by s7,000,000 a year through intro
duction of the budget system and
by consolidating 129 interlocking
and overlapping bureaus and boards
into nine departments. The result
was one Of the lowest tax rates ever
enjoyed in the State. When stormy
times came after the war he acted
vigorously, calling out reserve mi
litia to squelch the Chicago race
riots in 1919, intervening in the Chi
cago streetcar strike of that year
and calling a Governors conference
in the national coal-strike emer-
gency.
Advocated Prison Reform.
Penal reform also was undertaken
and remained one of the favorite
Lowden topics in subsequent years.
Projected into national politics,
Mr.. Lowden spent the intervals be-
tween presidential campaigns in
pursuing his investigations into pri
son conditions and agricultural
problems, with cooperative market
ing and good roads as measures for
farm relief. He worked. too, for in
creased efficiency in State govern
ment, denouncing the county system
as cumbersome and archaic and urg-
ing the redivision of States into
wider districts. He was active in the
National Institute of Public Admin
istration and chairman of its clear
ing house.
Leading farmer organizations
espoused many of Mr. Lowden's
ideas for agricultural relief, includ-
ing the ill-fated equalization fee,
embodied in the McNary Haugen
bill, to cope with grain surpluses.
Mr.. Lowden said repeatedly that the
farm problem was more than a
class question" holding that it in
volved "the future of American in
stitutions"
At "Sinissippi," on the Rock River
in Northern Illinois, he bred blooded
cattle, produced fine field crops and
conducted soil and plant expert
ments He also owned and managed
large cotton plantations in Arkansas
and Texas, where similar work was
carried on From 1921 to 1880 he was
president of the Holstein-F Friesian
Association of America.
At the Illinois place he and Mrs.
Lowden maintained recuperation
home for sickly children from Chi
cago, rebuilding their health until
they were in better condition to
Withstand city life. 1t was but one
of the many Lowden philanthropies.
He was trustee of the old Thomas
Orchestra Association in Chicago
and served on the boards of St.
Luke's Hospital, the Chicago Relief
and Aid Society and the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace.
AS a heritage of his teaching
days he kept up an interest in edu-
cation. While he was teaching Fed
eral Jurisprudence in Northwestern
University's school of law he donated
his salary to the law library. He
was trustee of the university and
Lowden Hall, on the Evanston
campus, was named in his honor.
He also headed the directorate of
the Pullman Free School of Manual
Training.
Hirst first alma mater, the Uni
versity of Iowa, bestowed the homo
rary degree of IL. D. upon him in
| 1918. Knox College followed suit
that year, Northwestern University
in 1919, the University of Chicago
in 1921, the University of Colorado
! in 1922, Lafayette and William and
Mary Colleges in 1923, Miami Uni
versity in 1924 and Washington and
Lee University in 1881. In 1924
| Syracuse University gave him an
| honorary doctorate in civil law.
/ His business activities included the
/ presidency Of the Pullman National
/ Bank, at the model manufacturing
| town founded by his father in law;
a dictatorship of the National Bank
Of the Republic, Chicago, member
| ship in the Executive Committee of
! the National Biscuit Co. and a lead
! ing role in organizing the American
Radiator Co.
Since 1880, Mr., LoWden had lived
a life OF increasing retirement
| From time TO time, however. he