Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-15
Mexico Audran County Missouri Thursday.
ives among the hills and that is op-
posed to the burden of an appropria-

AhcS 1AuOuH LILO ulils a1u kA<&e 10 oP-
posed to the burden of an appropria-
ton which would not, in his opinion,
insure to its benefit. Many MiBsis-
sippians there be who predict that the
commoner win yet occupy q seat in
the s'serene body of old men,"
Gen. E. @. Walthal, United States
Senator from Mississippi, makes no
secret of his pride In his witty col
league. "Allen never talks to empty
benches,n says the Senator. "When it
is known that he will speak every seat
is occupied and the galleries over
fiow''
When it grows duli in the larger
body of the national legislature Con-
gressman Allen is appealed to for a
story. When the house is unusually
stormy it falls to him to still the
troubled waters with the oil of char
acteristic anecdote. He often assumes
on his own responsibility to puncture
an opponent with some such weapon.
1t was by reply to Boutelle, of
Maine, that he came into prominence
as wit. It was during his first term.
Boutelle had closed speech that made
the "haughty soulsn of the southern
ers in the house tsswell with ire." Mr..
Allen claimed recognition.
ssThe gentleman from Maine has
filled prophecy heard well nigh
two decades ago." he said. IA young
friend and myself were debating after
Lees surrender whether we would 60
home or join the trans Mississippi
department and fight while longer
under Kirby Smith. Neither could
convince the other and we decided to
leave 1t to an old man whom we saw
leaning over a fence. He removed his
quid of tobacco and promptly gave us
the advice desired. LAY down your
arms, 60 home and go to work. We
promised to abide by his advice, and
were crossing the fields on our way
home when we heard a weak shallop
The old man was waving his battered
straw hat. We went back to get the
postscript. He was weeping. 4 reckon
my advice was right, boys, but it
makes me cry to think that twenty
years from now some fool in Congress
win throw it up to you.'"
Commenting upon the influence
which personal and especially financial
considerations have upon our view Of
political principle, he tells this tale:
ga man living up among the hills of
Mississippi had a NANCY, knock
kneed, venerable sheep of the ram
variety. One morning he looked at
the sheep as he leaned against the side
of the barn. Then he went into the
house and wrote strong plea to the
Mississippi Congressman, urging that
he vote against removing the tariff on
wool. That winter the ram died. The
owner hauled its remains to secluded
spot and went into the house and
wrote another letter to the Mississippi
Congressman. This time he said:
Vote for free wool. Bills dead.'
Appropos Of the criticisms which
constituents shower upon the men
they 'shonor," Mr.. Allen tells about a
| scorcher he received early in his Con-
gressional career. "It was customary
| at those times to be ready to provide
all applicants with seed grain. A
wor -hy old friend of mine whose early
| education had been neglected wrote
me per his son, making the customary
requisition.
ST dictated letter to my stenog-
rapher promising to meet the demand.
A letter came by the next mail. The
| son had written this also but the die
tation was the old mans. He had
taken exception to the type written
letter and told me needn't think be-
cause he couldn't write readin' that he
couldn't read writin'."