Representative Loren L. DeLano View All Years

HON. L L DELANO.

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to draft resolutions upon the life, character and public services of Hon. L. L. DeLano, an honored member of the Thirtieth General Assembly, beg leave to report the following:

Mr. DeLano was born in Washington county, Ohio, January 17, 1846, and departed this life at his home in Atlantic, Iowa, November 1, 1905.

In his early manhood he came west to Indianola, Iowa, where he studied law in the office of P. Gad Bryan, and after being admitted to the bar, removed to Cass County in 1868, which place was destined to be the scene of his future career as a highly respected citizen and a lawyer of marked ability. Nature had done much for him in the way of a comprehensive and analytical mind. He entered upon the practice of his profession with none of this world’s goods, but with a superior intellect, sterling integrity, and a determination to achieve the highest honorable success in the field of the law. From this determination he never swerved. He possessed rare powers of mental concentration upon any subject demanding his attention. He loved his profession and delighted most in those intricate propositions which continually arise to baffle and embarrass the practitioner in his progress in the law. He hated legal shams, detested legal trickery, and for the shyster he had the supremest contempt. His delight was at its zenith when he was involved in the mazes and labyrinths of the dry equity suit before an honest, intelligent court, and with an intelligent, truth-seeking counsel upon the other side. Under all circumstances his mental equilibrium was undisturbed and undisturbable, and when once he had mapped out the theory upon which he believed his case should be tried, there was no deviation to the right nor to the left. In argument of a legal proposition he was at once clear, concise, logical and convincing, and at all times dignified and courteous to court, jury and opposing counsel.

The character of the subject of this memorial was in all respects above reproach. He was the very soul of honor. His mission as a lawyer and as a citizen was to protect the rights of the oppressed as against the dominations of the strong, and no moneyless client was ever turned away from his office without having received all that the law could afford him. He loved truth and openness and frankness in all the affairs of this life.

Politically our departed brother was a Democrat of Democrats. His advice and counsel were always sought after and invariably followed in the councils of the local organizations of his party. Yet he never sought, nor willingly accepted, political honors. His delight was in the study and exposition of the laws governing the actions and conduct of his fellowmen. His election to the Thirtieth General Assembly as a Democrat in a county in which the Republican normal majority is from eight hundred to one thousand, shows the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens of that county.

As a member of the Thirtieth General Assembly he won the respect and esteem of the entire membership, and was universally recognized as a legislator of ability, and as a dignified gentleman whom to know was to honor, love and respect.

Resolved, That the foregoing memorial be adopted by this House, and that it be entered upon the Journal, and an engrossed copy thereof be sent to the family of the deceased; and further that copies thereof be sent to the Cass County Democrat and The Atlantic Telegraph.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 4, 1906.

C. A. MEREDITH,

O. P. WYLAND,

TIM C. CLARY,

Adopted April, 4, 1906.