The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-25
"PRIvATE JoHNv ron SENATOR


The Mississippi senatorial eleotion will
not be held for more than eight months
yet-the legislature meets in January.
nevertheless lively campaign 5or the seat
IS IN progress. Private John Alien is on
the firing line down in the low-grounds
and is making things warm for Gov
'Anse' McLaurin, the head of the famous
clan McLaurln which has of recent years
come pretty near to owning dlssisstnnt
politically. The Governor wants to be
senator He has had a taste Of sen
atorial life he likes it, aud wants more
OF II. He served short unexPired term.
OF about year. and has ever since been
laying pipe to get back 10 Washington.
Having pretty nearly the control OF the
political machine in Mississippi. it looked
as though he would have something of a
"alk-over, until Private John, who had
concluded that he would like to try life at
the Senate end of the capitol at Wash
ington for spell, appeared upon the scene
as a candidate.
Gov. McLaurin claims that he ought
to have the senatorship as a vindnation Of
his administration. Lately his administra-
ton has not had the support which he
could wish for 1t, hence he wants the
people Of Mssissippi-or rather the legis-
lature of Mississippi-to send him TO the
Senate by way of an Endorsement of his
acts as Governor. The Governor having
made his administration the issue. Private
Jd7fn sailed in ;trop tie raoos4 - ,
tearing it into ribbons. 1t seems that he
has an abundance of material to work on
and, with his wilt and wisdom and readI-
ness of repartee to aid in an attractive pre-
sentation OF his facts. he quickly had the
Governor on the defensive.
And then 1t was that the Governor dis
covered that he was being made the vic
tim of what he conceives to be mon
strous conspiracy. He is now said to be
telling the Mississippians about 1t. "Its
the gold-bug gang" he says, 1.-THE bad
gold bugs. that's back Of John Allen and
trying to beat me. The aristocrats don't
like me because was for silver; and thew
say that because I once drove oxen and
split rails. and because eat my greens
with knife. 1 amt fit TO be senator for
Mississippi" 1t is understood that the
Governor expects a heap from this state
ment He is sure that II will create
fellow feeling for him in the breasts of all
of the ox-drivers who manipulate their
greens in the same manner and convince
other persons of his democratic simplicity.
in contrast with the aristocratic CASTRO
nomic feats of John Allen. For it is pretty
well known that Private John is as fond
of good eating as he is of a good story;
that he frequents some of the SWEETEST
eating places in Washington and often
stretches his legs under the mahogany of
rich and influential men. And the Gov
ernor wishes to impress it upon his hear
ers and their friends that that sort of
thing is altogether wicked, gold-buggy and
reprehensible.
The fact is that Private John is a free
silver man. a strict adherent Of the Chi
cago platform. Notwithstanding he does
not eat his greens with knife. and often
enjoys a hot bird with trimmings" The
congressman Is a brilliant stump speaker.
which the Governor is not. and the Gov
ernor is a remarkably shrewd practical
politician. which the congressman Is not,
hence the contest is likely 10 be interesting
until IL is finished. II Private Johns wit
wins against the machine, he viii have
earned his promotion.