The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-20
ALLISON AND CULLOM.

by all who appreciate square dealing.
ALLISON AND CULLOM.
Personal Gossip Concerning Two
Republican Senators..One Cur.
riage Does for Both,
Wellman, In Ptttsburg News.
Contrary to the general impression.
no great amount Of gloom exists among
the Republican presidential candidates
who are not likely to be nominated at
st. Louis. A day or two ago / saw
Senators Allison and Cullom riding
down from the capitol In an open car
riage. They often ride together, and
economy Is as much an object with
them as companionship. One Of the
traditions Of life at the capital Is that
senators should never go to and from
the big white statehOuse in street cars.
OF course many do, for traditions are
playing out here. as elsewhere. but the
more punctilious senators ride always
in carriages. Allison and CullOm are
too poor to keep horses and vehicles
Of their own, so they are compelled to
hire cabs. Both live on Thomas cir Gle,
just across the street from one an
other, and one carriage does for them
both. On the occasion Of which / speak
the two senators were In fine humor.
They were laughing immoderately and
evidently had been cracking jokes at
one another's expense anent the presi-
dential campaign.
The manner in which Republican
senator's have been moved down by the
Mckinley cyclOne-that is what every
one calls II here-has become one Of
the standing Jokes about the capital.
The senators prod one another on their
failure to get in out Of the storm, and
the honors are pretty we'll distributed
Allison rather has the advan age OF the
others, for his state stood up to him In
fine style. If Allison is as popular IN
Iowa as he Is in Washington, 1t is no
wonder that the McKinleyites were un-
able to break in his territory. Every
one In Washington loves "old Billy
Allison" rs his intimates sometimes
call him behind his hack. and every one
would like to see him president. But
for the peculiar manner in which the
masses Of the Republican party have
demanded Mckinley this year Allison
might have seen his ambition gratified
during the coming ten months. He
had the best position Of all the field
candidates. as every one comedies. He
had more promising chance than
Reed or Morton or any Of the other
minor candidates. This was true large
ly because Of his popularity in WASH
ingtOn. No one was against him, and
II the field had ever been able to COM
bine on candidate Allison would prob
ably have been the man.
NOT A sULKER.
Allison has long been a presidential
aspirant in a mild sort Of way, and
experience has taught him wisdom.
When the Iowa Republicans first Or
fianized for the business Of pressing
| the senator's name for president some
| Of thin suggested that there was no
| use Of re-electing him to congress.
There were others who aspired to that
| seat, and they thought this good
opportunity to arrange things their
own way.
Allison Is sure to be nominated for
| president" they said. "and the best
way for US to show all the country our
faith in him is to elect some one else
| senator In his place. Then every one
will know that we mean to make him
president
When this little scheme was report
ed to Mr.. Allison he smiled softly and
replied: 1T is very kind Of my good
friends to show their confidence in my
future In this way, but you tell them
that l would rather have one actual
election to the senate than all the
promises Of the presidency that can be
made to me in advance Of the meeting
Of the national convention"
The result was that Mr.. Allison Sc
cured his reelection. and Is now con-
graduating himself that he did not fall
into the nice little trap that had been
set for him.
Unless he should some day be called
to the presidency, 1t is not improbable
that MI. Allison viii finish his days In
the senate. His chances for beating all
records as to length Of service in that
body are very good. Already he has
been elected to another six-year term
and is good for another term after that
| Allison Is one % the kindliest and
! gentliest Of men. I remember a story
Of him which illustrates his temper
ament. When I first came to Wash.
ington as newspaper correspondent
I heard bit of rather interesting gos-
sip about him. 1t was not anything
to his discredit. and yet was Of such
nature that the senator would natural.
ly prefer nothing be said about it. In
fact, 1t was scarcely a legitimate topic
| ioi u hCWopupSi oAtASiS, WV was utA
able to resist the temptation to pub.
lish It. A few days afterward I met
Allison. I expected he would give me
q good lectur!ng. and I knew that
deserved it. But he came up, shook my
hand warmly, and said:
II noticed that little story you printed
about me. Now, my boy, let me give
you little advice. That sort Of thinf
won't hurt me. can stand any amount
Of 1t. But 1t will hurt you. You can
afford to print such things. My advice
to you Is not to do it,and whenever
can be Of service to you come and SCI
me-"
Could there have been q more effectiv,
reproof? and the result Of 1t was tina
Mr.. Allison taught me very goot
lesson. ard we have been fast friend.
ever since. He could not have done m,
O greater kindness.
SHELBY M. CULLOM.
Senator Collum Is much such a man
Culom is no. thin skinned at all. HI
Jokes and laughs over his own defeats
and set backs. He recognizes that tn,
world is full Of strife, and that ever!
man has his own fight to make, and h,
simply smiles whenever correspond
ent finds II necessary to dig him one II
the ribs Mr.. Cullom Ii as plain a. I
pair Of old overalls. He has no affec
ton, no frills. have interviewed hin