Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-05-13

One of Mir. Aliens most famous speeches in congress was delivered ill the summer of 1896, when Speaker Reed and Major Mckinley were both candidates for the Republican presi dential nomination and as a conse Quence were saying little on public questions
 Allen began by stating that there had been considerable comment in the newspapers respecting the somewhat unusual silence which had character ized him in this session. But Mir Speaker he continued, there has i been little in this session of congress to inspire a Christian man to be To- quacous. am not the only one who has been silent in these days. There are many of us leaders who are not talking much lately
 Mir. Allen said the Republicans were evidently going to select for their can- didate a man who had the qualities for which the colonel of cavalry regi- ment selected animals for his troops 'ie must turn quick and go fast
 On a later occasion Allen had dlfn culty in securing recognition. When he finally got the floor, he said in deeply injured tone:
 'There is an evident disposition o;l the part of somebody to suppress my l impassioned oratory. I wish to assur2 the speaker and the house that it is not my purpose. and I have no desire by my fervid and persuasive eloquence to oyerpersuatle this house into the aGop- l ton of any unconstitutional or hurtfnl l measure. Sir, I would scorn to talk" any such advantage of the weakness of the house.
 One of the most amusing speeches s"Private" Allen ever made in the house was in support of the bill to tax oleo- margarine. Representative Ti!lman or South Carolina brother of Senator Ben ] Tillman. had claimed that oleo IS su. perior to many brands of butter and l that it was an injustice to the poo: man 10 prevent his buying it. In re- ply Allen told story of ar old negro who had eaten box of axle grease thinking it cheese. Upon being asked how he liked it the old man replied:
 "Fo' God. boss. dat was de ransom. est cheese eber has eat yet
 ..Now. Mr. Chairman" commented Allen. II have no doubt that if prop 1 osition were pending here to prevent the sale of axle grease for cheese the gentleman from South Carolina would deliver us q scientific lecture and try to persuade us it was much better and more wholesome than cheese and that it would be great outrage on the la boring man to suppress the fraud"
 At banquet given by millionaire senator one evening Allen hesltated as he was entering the magnificent dln- ing room and then remarked to hls partner:
 .My dear young lady, let us pause moment or two douht if can re- strain my feelings
 There seemed to be trouble on his face and the lady said.
 "Why. MT Alien. What IS tAe in"..e with you!"
 II am sad," was his reply. For what reason?"
 "Oh, it makes me sad to l9ok al ms room. It reminds ne so much or HS own dining room at Tupelo
 Those who knew poor Ailen nhan- cial circumstances could appreciate the point of his joke.
 When showing one of his Mississippi constituents about the house. the de lighted countryman asked:
 "Who is the leader of this housef
 "Oh," said sAllen modestly. "you will find out when they call the roll. The first man on the list is the leader of the house. They are just now getting ready for call
 The Mississippian pricked ur his ears and listened. A moment later the clerk bawled out at the head Of the list:
 "John NJ. Allen"