The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18
Private +" John
Aliens Stories.

John ALLEN. the Mississippi congress.
man who is now q candidate for United
States senator.
A few years ago. when q candidate
for reelection to congress. he had for
his opponent a former Confederate gem
eraL At one Of their meetings the gem
ersl. with emotion. told his audience
how glad he was to be there
1T has been Is years since / have
been in this town. he said. Il then dS-
Tended IL in "a hour light against the
attack OF q band OF northern marauders
who came TO despoil US Of our liberty
and our homes. Some OF my listeners
win remember how accounted for my
stewardship. The invaders were re-
pulsed-those who did not remain dead
on the stricken field. Before I slum-
bered in my tent the night after the
battle thanked God 1 had been able 70
turn back the horde OF assassins from
the north"
When Allen came on to speak. he bore
warm testimony TO the truth of the 9TH
er's military deeds and saving OF the
town He said: las that noble hero
lay in his tent thanking Gcd that he
had saved your homes and preserved
your hresides his prayers and subse-
quent slumbers were guarded by a
humble private soldier who had fought
amid the death OF the "A dark hours Of
which he speaks. and at the conclusion
Of the fight, when the last Yankee had
fed, the humble private shouldered his
musket and, with generation for his
great heroic leader IN his heart cheer
fully. for the ensuing IL hours, guarded
the hero's tent. / was that private"
concluded Allen.
The cheers for the general became an
enthusiastic uprising for the private"
Allen got all their votes IN the conVen-
ton and was nominated. He told the
incident at Washington one DAY. Illus
trating how II was possible in politics
to turn defeat into victory.
1T was rather singular. too" some
one remarked. that you and the gen.
eral should come together at the same
place after so many years.
Il never had been there in my life be-
FORE" said Allen. with some surprise.
AS a matter OF fact. at the time the
general was in command in that part
of the country I was with the regiment
to which / belonged. lodging Grant
over toward Vicksburg. never saw
the man in the wartime: never heard
Of him until ten years after Il was all
over"
One Of the funniest things John Allen
ever did was when he made a speech In
the house of representatives just before
the vote upon the bill repeating the
purchasing clause OF the Sherman act.
Little General Tracy. not the ex-cab-
met member. but at that time a Demo-
cratic member OF the New York delega-
ton. had just made n speech thanking
other Democrats for the manner in
which they had flocked to the support
Of the administration and had followed
his lead in the effort to prevent a de-
probation OF the currency.
Tracy had really been one Of the floor
managers Of the fight for the repeal
bill. but he had led the dominant To- =
about as much as Allen had led tn 30
position. and Allen had not opened his
mouth in the discussion until this the
closing day OF the debate
There was no one among the $50 mem
bers OF the house who acknowledged
Tracys leadership. Notwithstanding his
activity. and when he made his speech.
thanking his personal following. the
house was astounded. The bill passed
by a majority of nearly 100. which In
cluded all the leading Democrats ana
Republicans from the northern and
eastern states and many Democrats
from the south
william l.. Wilson was the author OF
the repeal bill and. as chairman OF the
ways and means committee. was the
Democratic leader on the
floor and the personal representative %
Cleveland as well. Crisp had given the
aid Of his powerful influence as speaker
10 support the bill. while Reed. DinRiey.
Cannon and other Republicans had spo-
ken In its favor Tracy's effort was
therefore ludicrous enough. but tbs
house saw no humor In the situatiOa
until Allen arose.
He was on his feet the moment Tracy
sat down and began with the peculiar
drawI and nasal tone that charactcrizs
his utterances and add 90 their humor
Mr. Speaker he began. Il cannot
permit this debate 90 close without
thanking those who have 80 fOOllshly
followed me in my effort TO prevent the
passage Of this bill"
For 20 minutes be proceeded 90 Eatir-
re Tracy and Tracys speech In a man
1er that threw the house into an up
roar and rendered Tracy the most IN
man In the whole capitol
building.
lie made several references 90 Cen
raj Tracy and myself as the leaders
y the opposing forces and handled the
member from New York with 50 little
mercy and yet with such apparent good
nature that even silver Dick' Bland.
; no had led the opposition and believed
he repubiic would come 20 an end the
moment the Sherman law was repealed.
ay back in his chair and laughed until
he tears ran down his face.
affair o. ROSES.