St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-09
ALLEN AND HIS TONGUE.
1t Made Him Ridiculous and Got
Mrs. Paine Into Trouble.


Rev. T. F. Allen, pastor of the Lake
Street Methodist Episcopal church. and
preacher on Darkest England and
Darkest Minneapolis" has, in the opin-
ion of good many sober citizens, been
metamorphosed into a full-fledged,
double back action, iron-bOund, brass
nailed chump. He seems to have made
charges that he could not substantiate.
He quoted Mrs. Paine. matron of the
central police station, and some un-
named police officers, as authority for
his sweeping charges. Now his inform
ants repudiate his quotations. He seems
to have dropped himself down into
small hole and then tamped the earth
about himself
The reverend gentleman called on
Mayor Winston Thursday afternoon.
He says it was at the mayors request.
Anyhow, he called and was talked to-
Mr.. Winston demanded the preachers
authority. He admitted that he could
not SubStantiate his charges from per-
sonal knowledge. All he could do was
to quote his informers. But the in
quiry did not end there.
Yesterday morning Matron Paine was
called into the mayors office. She was
given an opportunity to deny the impu-
tation that she had talked too much.
She admitted that Preacher Allen de-
rived some of his information from her;
though not all. She admitted that the
story spread by him was scandalous
and outrageous. She denied that she
told him that every house on Nicollet
avenue was used for assignation pur-
poses. Mrs. Baine was asked If it was
true, as quoted in the newspapers, that
she said Mr.. Allen had betrayed
her confidence. She did not deny
directly. She took refuge behind
the admission that she had said some
few things to Allen about areformatory
and the statement that the reporter had
misunderstood Eer. She said she didn't
tell Allen that there was all assignation
house in connection with every saloon.
She had heard of but one such place,
and knew of its existence only by hear
say.
Mrs. Paine was given to understand
that she must not talk so much to
preachers if she wished to retain her
connection with the police department.
If she knew anything wrong to exist
it was her duty to speak to the chief of
police about it, not have it proclaimed,
i'll exaggerated form. from pulpits. In
closing his little lecture to her the
mayor said:
II don't have any respect for these
sermons, and don't care who knows
it.''
The mayors sentiment will be ap-
plauded. Every year some alarmist
breaks out in a new place and proceeds
to accuse the police department of being
in league with his majesty, the devil.
There is never any more foundation for
these vaporings than there was this
time-none. Mrs. Paine has promised
TO talk less in the future. There the
matter will probably end,
Mr.. Allen was asked yesterday what
he had to say in view of the undue
prominence he has received. He pre-
faced his reply by saying that he did
not desire to kick about the report of
his sermon. He added:
"NOw l did make those statements
and give those figures and facts-as pub
lished-from statements made to me by
those who ought to know. | did not go
but went to the place where l thought
| should get correct information-th
police lookup. When | went there |
told the officers what | wanted and
what | wanted it for, therefore If l was
filled up with misrepresentation am L
to blame?"
He said. further that he thought too
much had already been made OF what
he said. That opinion the public will
heartily indOrse. Knowing the average
Minneapolis minister as the parties in
terested should know them, and
understanding their penchant for
raising a hue and cry over a
shadow, it is, perhaps, throwing away
time to pay attention to their unwar-
ranted and outrageous diatribes. But
their ebulitions are carried on in so
public manner that it is difficult to
pass them by.
At the central station it is denied that
Rev. It. F. Allen secured his informa-
tion from police officers. AS a matter
of fact, he was guyed out of reason and
he never knew it. Several persons hav-
ing no connection with the police de-
partment told him some tales that
reeked with crime. He believed them
all and even elaborated on them. One
of the ioters said yesterday: eve made
regular lambs tail of the preacher"