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An Unfortunate Decision.The announcement of Hon. W. B. Allison of his purpose to ask republicans of Iowa for a seventh term in theUnited States senate lias for the week•past been the chief topic in state political discussion.In the integrity of Senator Allison there is widespread confidence. Few men are born with his peculiarity of temperament. In the usual sense he is not a leader of men. He lacks aggressiveness. lie is so conservative as to seem sometimes almost reactionary. Through forty years of congressional life, however, he has done his duty as he has seen it, and for honorable living and public usefulness he is entitled to the respect and confidence of his state and nation. Senator Allison may be criticised for some things he lias not done, but little criticism will lodge against the things lie has done in public life. Men who say he has not had a strong hold upon the people of his state reckon without knowledge or without candor.And yet with all such just judgment upon a long and honorable personal and political record, it is the opinion of this paper that in counseling him to run for a seventh term friends have seriously erred, and in deciding to en-rte,r upon a contest Senator Allison i/ialces the most grievous mistake of a long and successful public career. He has reached that time of life when Nature cries for release from onerous burdens and when failing powers reduce to narrow limits the capacity for great affairs. At the expiration of his present term he will be past eighty years of age. Always of sound manhood and irreproachable habits, he has been splendidly preserved physically past the usual allotment of life, but by the hand of inexorable fate he was near two years ago served with notice that he must inevitably reckon with unconquerable disease. Further tenure of office can add nothing to his fame. The people of Iowa have given him all the distinction they can possibly bestow. What can it profit this great and good man to lash his failing powers beyond endurance in the desire to perform the measure of duty imposed upon his station? As an obscure senator he could escape much of public burden, but the large responsibilityincumbent upon his high rank will continually torture where once it afforded •inspiration unspeakable.
Newspaper Details
Spirit Lake Beacon
Spirit Lake, Iowa, US
Fri, Aug 30, 1907
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Nick N.
IL, USA 14 Apr 2021
Other Publications Near Spirit Lake, Iowa
Arnolds Park News
Spirit Lake Beacon
Standard Atlas of Dickinson County Iowa
