St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-06-13
He GAINED HIS POINT.
HOW Private John Allen Presented His
Case to President Cleveland

| L
Case to President Cleveland.
The great humorist of the last con
gress was "Private John Allen.n O
mississippi, who is personally the mos
popular man in Washington. There
are lew men in the country more
sought after than 'Private Allen" as
he delights in being called. Every
day Mr.. Aliens mail brings him letters
from all parts of the country inviting
MIN to banquets and to address public
meetings. Aliens appearance is of
great aid to him in affecting his audi
ences. He has long, sad face and
ne Is the last man in the world a per-
son would take for a humolist. He
| looks like the custodian of a great
grief. He never smiles when he talks
ana there IS pathos in his voice.
EX-Presldent Cleveland is fond Of
telling the story of his experience with
Congressman Allen. Allen had i'm
portuned the president time and time
again about the appointment of a con-
stltuent to a federal office. President
Cleveland was Overrun with work at
the time, and besides he had good
reasons for not wishing to make the
appointment just then. Aliens con-
stltuents were very impatient over the
delay and very anxious that the Re-
publican who then held the office
should be removed.
They made the life of their con-
gresham miserable for several months
and Allen began to feel that he would
lose his popularity on account of the
Office, and he decided that something
had to be done to bring the matter to
q determination very quickly, so he
resolved to approach the president in
a unique way.
Calling at the White House one
morning he was cordially received by
the president, who supposed he had
called upon official business and asked !
him what he could do for him.
'.Not thing, Mr.. President, said
the congressman. Il was out taking
my morning constitutional, and |
thought | would drop in and tell you
that | happened to be think
ing OF as | was passing by believing
rs you are an old lawyer it might inter-
est YOU
The president thinking that the con-
gresham had some new story that he
wanted to give him the benefit of, OK.
pressed his delight at receiving a call
rom him, and eagerly asked him to
'egin his story.
1t Is a case that | was employed
lpon, began Mr.. Allen. land through
l made the reputation of being Il
9rrible liar. The case had hung in
he courts for several years. and nv
llents were very anxious to bring the
flair to an issue, as they knew that
Ihen it was it would be to their ad ,
antage. Well, as | said, it had conc
n for several years, and at each term
[ court something occurred that COM =
elled a continuance of the case. :
ad been paid fee in advance, and my
Llents grew so impatient that they be-
an to lose confidence in M. would
I'll my clients that their case would
ertalnly come up at the next term of
)urt, but when the court met the case n
ould again be continued, although I t
ought hard always to prevent it.
lnaily my clients lost all confidence in =
e and thought that the case would
ever be disposed Of. a great many of
lelr friends shared this opinion, and
as losing my popularity very rapidly. q
lnally, through sheer desperation ! 1
ent to the judge and made an appeal V
him to help me out of my embarrass-
ent, but, Mr.. President, he wa a IL
en judge and refused to aid me. d
oWever the case was finally disposed 0,
and | re-established my popularity.
1t it made my blood run cold. Mr..
when | made promises in
'od faith and then had them broken &c
some one else. Now, Mr.. President,
an old lawyer yourself, could YOU
It feessorry for me?" =,
ALLEN" says the president, II will L.
nd the name of your man to the SEN
g to-day. You can tell your people W
at you have secured the appoint p,
ent.n ri