The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-08

present house who have escaped the
destroying angel of politics are Bou-
telle, of Maine: Cannon, of Illinois:
Catchings. of mississippi: Grosvenor.
of Ohio: Henderson and Hepburn. OF
Iowa: Hit and Hopkins. of Illinois:
Ketchum. Of New York Lanham. of
Texas: McRae. of Arkansas: Muller
and Payne. of New York, and Rich
ardson. of Tennessee. Allen was
known in the Mississippi delegation as
Private John and had never been
accused OF cutting "A great tswath in
the field of politics. He was regarded
as Il quiet sort of fellow. with II
modest turn of mind. and a keen APP
probation of the ridiculous. 1t was
not until May ID. 1856. that Mr. Allen
gave them a taste of his quality. On
that day an effort was made to give
four employees of the former house an
extra months pay as gratuity. \
rattlng discussion followed. in which
Samuel j. Randall. William NJ. SPRING
er, William r. Morrison. Frank His
cock. Joseph G. Cannon. Thomas j.
Henderson. Richard Z. Boand, and
other crack speakers. participated.
Suddenly the stranger from MISSISSIPPI
pi secured the floor. He looked so
awkward and ungainly as he ran his
fingers through his hair and opened
up. that members stopped writing let
ters and reading newspapers to listen.
Tom Reed. who was lounging in the
aisle on the Republican side of the
house. stood with mouth open. paying
the strictest attention. And ii was Il
speech we'll worth attention. There
was no fustian or clap-trap about it.
No amusing stories were told. 1t was
the OutpOuring of Il rural heart. hor-
ritied at the extravaganza of the house.
II was logical argumentative and
heated. There was a fine streak of
sarcasm running through it withal.
that made it extremely palatable to
those who heard it. 1t was in this
speech that John made use of the SEN
tence frequently quoted: "If there is
any one disposition that has developed
itself over and above all other traits
of the American citizen. it is a willing
ness to serve the government"
When the statement was riveted by
the assertion that this Willingness to
accept government employment at the
compensation already fixed was so
unanimous and universal as to have
banished all fears that republican in
stitutions would ever fail here for the
want of men to hold the offices. even
Tom Reed gave vent to one hearty
guffaw. Aliens second speech was
against the proposition to tax oleo-
margarine 10 per cent. He had had
much trouble in securing recognition,
and in opening. said: There is an
evident disposition on the part of
somebody to suppress my impassioned
oratory. I wish to assure the speaker
and the house that 1t is not my pur-
pose, and have no desire by my fer
vid and persuasive eloquence, to over
persuade this house into the adoption
of any unconstitutional or hurtful
measure. Sir. I would sCorn to take
any such advantage of the weakness
of this house" Not folS-an instant
was he diverted by the uncontrolled
merriment of his colleagues. He was
as earnest and as solemn as deacon.
There was no foreshadowing of Il
smile-nOt even a twinkle in the COR
ner of an eye. He then proclaimed
himself n staunch friend of the COW,
and made an exceedingly effective ar
Gument against the proposition. He
found an able ally in cid George ID.
Tillman. of South Carolina, quaint
congressional character. the epitome
of honesty and unsurpassed in argu-
mentative warfare. He looked like
Horace Greeley. and had all of Mr..
Greeley's ruggedness of diction and in
tensity of feeling. Tillhan anaiyzed
the derivation of the word Oleomar-
garine, praised it's nutritive qualities.
and winged his way into prominence.
Allen was somewhat taken back. on
recovering himself, however, he toed
the scratch in magnificent style. He
said that he could not permit the as
sertion that oleomargarine is more
wholesome food than the best butter
produced in any Jersey or Alderney
dairy.
"The gentleman insists" he con-
tinued, that this Is one of the many
instances in which art has triumphed
over nature. l grant there are some in
stances In which art seems to have had