The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-10-31
CLAIMED ALL THE CREDIT.
Chief signal Omcer Moore Got Ahead
OF That witty southerner,
John Allen.

-
Congressman John Allen, of Missis-
sippi, is becoming famous as a story
teller. He is likewise very quick at rep
artee and seldomge gets the worst of aver
ba lencounter. "IsawA Allen slienced but
once" saidagentleman who knows him
well the other day, 'and then / think
it was almost as much the temerity as
the wit Of his antagonist which did
the business for him. Allen has got
into the habit OF saying his say and re-
ceiving no back talk, so that it startles
him somewhatto ges a return fire from
an unexpected quarter, says the Chi
cago Chronicle.
1T was at a public dinner at the Mar
quette club in Chicago, where Allen,
happening to come in late enough to
lose his place on the programme Of
speech-making, had a splendid chance
tomake a target OF all his predecessors
when he was finally called upon. Among
the guests who had not yet spoken was
Willis Moore, chief of the weather bu-
reau in Washington. Moore Is a de-
mure looking man, with no p~retensions
as a speech-maker. Allen, looking
about the table, had spotted him and
seized the occasion to pour some hot
shot into his weather predictions,
among other things accusing Moore's
bureau Of making the weather as we'll
as prophesying about it. After he had
finished, the ~toast-master, to the sur
prise of everybody, called upon Moore.
It was not q pleasant situation for a
man only asligSiy accustomed to pub
lie speaking to be summoned imme-
'diately after a veteran like Allen, but
Moore faced the matter brayely and
spoke somewhat in this wise:
~ wa much interested in Mr.. Aliens
speech, particularly the part in which
he referred TO the work of the weather
bureau. because he was kind enough
to admit that it is we who did that
work. Not all OF you may understand
my surprise at such an admission, be-
cause you have not seen Mr.. Allen at
home, or learned his reputation among
his neighbors who know him best. l
remember a few years ago being in
Mississippi while Mr.. Allen was seek
ing a reelection. He had for an oppo-
nent an Irish gentleman with a de-
licious brogue, but, l hardly need add,
no match for the marvellous logic and
versatility of our friend. The people
all wondering what sort of a fig
ure this candidate would cut in a joint
lebate on the hustings with Mr.. Allen.
But he was not to be drawn into any
Joint debate. He knew better. He let
Allen appear before an audience
on a certain day and make an appeal
votes, based, W all oratory is, upon
modest disclaimer of any personal
AT this point Mr.. Moore paused for
moment, and a ripple Of merriment
passed around the table in recognition
If the reference to Aliens conspicu-
Jus use OF the first personal pronoun
n all his speeches. He then went on:
THE next day the Irish gentleman
would take the stump and say: ME
how many Of yez heard the
Ion. John Allen make his spache yis-
erday?" A multitude Of hands went
Up. Now, me frinds, the Good Book
ellis us that in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth and all that in them
3. How many Of yeg behaves that state
Up went a multitude Of hands
gain "Hiven be praised" CALCULATED
he candidate. fervently. "Oi'm glad to
ind % many Of yez still belasin' that the
ord did some Of these worruckA when
ohm Allen has claimed that he did thin
mr. I
As Mr.. Moore sat down all eyes
urned toward Allen. lie seemed 70 [
e chewing on a thought, but he never
Ittered Il. Hs simply shook his head
nd held his peace.