The age-herald., 1899-05-14
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE


 more than passing interest," said a news paper worker, '1s the appearance, or rather re-appearance of the Southern Ar gus, with Colonel Robert Mckee as edi-. tor. The New Argus as the editor calls it, is published at Montgomery The old Argus was established by Colonel Mckee in Selma in 1866, and for dozen years was the most powerful single factor in Ala bama politics. It was a four-page weekly with subscription price of 8 a year. Yet it attained what was in those days an un- precedented circulation. It was read all over Alabama, and did much to shape dem- ocratic policy. Colonel Mckee sold the pa- per in 1881, and within two or three years it ceased publication. The new Argus is likewise a four-page weekly, and will be conducted on lines identical with those which made famous the Argus of the past. The subscription is one dollar year. Col onel Mckee is the ablest master of Eng fish who has ever written for an Alabama newspaper, and he is certain to make the new Argus felt in the affairs of state."
 "The first number of the new Argus has two pages devoted to "a compilation of im- portant facts bearing on the political situ ation in Alabama, the purport of it all be- ing opposition to a constitutional conven- tion," continued the newspaper worker. 'The Argus is quite ardently on Governor Johnston's side. It declares that it is not fighting the governors battles, but says: He is in command in the present unpeas antness between the people and the com mittees and is acquitting himself with ability and courage The Southern Argus. a peoples paper, is very happy to serve under his leadership in this contention. Verify, verify politics does make strange bed fellows. Bob Mckee and Joe Johnston under the same blanket! An, well; ah, we'll There shall come day, possibly, when politicians cease from troubling and honest folk are allowed to rest. Meantime Governor Johnston Is drawing about himself influences, the whole tendency of which is subversive and destructive of conditions which the white people labored for years to create for thelr own salvation. The organic law is now not worth the paper it is written upon Look at the young man, Brandon, member of the house and adjutant general in ha-
  provision in the whole constitution"
 
 ''In connection with the home e-coming or Admiral Dewey, the Associated Press Washington dispatches say of B. F. Ste vens, No. Trafalgar Square, London, that the Mr. Stevens referred to Is the navy department agent at London to distrlb- ute all of the mail of the United warships in European waters,' remarked trav- eler in the lobby last night. "That is evi- dence of inexcusable carelessness on the part of some reporter. MT. Stevens Is the United States government despatch agent for Europe, and has been for twenty years and more. He is under the direct control of the department of state, and is paid salary of $2,500, as the diplomatic and con- sular appropria ton bill always shows. It Is his duty to take charge of the government despatch bags sent to and from Washing ton, and since he handles the official mail of practically all Americans on official duty in the old world, including diplomats and consuls, MT. Stevens is charged with grave responsibilities. He collects the pri- vate letters for any warship and forwards them to the consul at the port where the ship is to call. MT. Stevens is the most widely known American in Europe; and was for a time president of the American Society in London, an organization of mem- bers of the American colony there."
 
 Tt is forgotten that the late Roswell P Flower considered himself candidate for the presidency of the United States in 1Ss3 S4" remarked a man who has dabbled much in politics. ''Flower had ambition and barrel, but he got little encourage ment. The Cleveland tide was rising then, and hundred thousand men like Flower tt Ts. 4l..@1 ,l1 spent considerable time in Washington, where I knew a western congressman who interested himself in Flowers plans; and under his frank he caused to be sent out many thousands of Flowers campaign documents. There were extracts from the Congressional Record and other official publications. Flower had been a member of congress, and most of his own speeches were reprinted and sent out by the west ern man, the latter's secretary doing the work. In spirit, this was an abuse of the franking privilege, and thought it small thing for a millionaire like Flower to take advantage of the government to the ex- tent of depriviing it of possibly $2O0 in postage. Flower was very fat man with a very red face, and looked not unlike a prosperous English butcher. It was said that he was very fond of the pleasures of the table,
 CnarleS J. Allison, or Onlo, cousin or President Mckinley, is in the city to pay a visit to United States District Attorney Vaughan and Postmaster Hughes. In 1896 MT. Allison was one of the abIest and most energetic workers in behalf of his illustri- ous kinsman for the republican nomination for the presidency; and he had some mem- orable encounters with the supporters of Speaker Reed. His relations with the pres ident are of the most confidential nature, and he may be here on political mission. He is giant in stature and is said to possess great powers of mental and physi- cal endurance. It Is believed that MT. AL lison is making quite an extensive tour or the south.