The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-12


about his sleeping in his tent that
night before the battle. know III!
about ii, for | was guardin" that tent
all night long in the cold and wet on
picket. And now | just want to say
to all Of you who were generals in
the war and slept at nights in your
guarded tents, like General Tucker,
you vote for him. But all you fellows
that guarded the generals tents in
the wet and cold, like me, you vote
for Private Allen.
That speech gained Allen his sobri-
quct and his election at one and the
same time.
One Of Mr.. Aliens most famous
speeches in congress was delivered in
the summer Of 1896, when Speaker
Reed and Major Mckinley were both
candidates for the Republican prcsi-
Dental nomination and as a consc-
Gucncr were saying little on public
questions.
Allen began by stating that there
had brcu considerable comment in the
newspapers rcSpcctin" the somewhat
unusual silence which had character
| izcl him in this session. "But, Mr..
Spcakcr,' he continued, "therc has
been little in this session Of congress
t" inspire Il Christian man to be To-
quarlonS. | am not The only one who
has been silent in these days. There
al" many Of us leaders who are not
talking much latcly.'
Mr.. Allen said the Republicans
were going to select for their candi-
date il man who had the qualities for
, which the colonel Of cavalry rcwi-
mcnt selected animals for his troops.
"llc must turn quick and go fast. -
On later occasion Allen had DIFF
icuItN in securing recognition. When
he finally got the floor, he said in Il
deeply injured tone:
"rhcrc is an evident disposition ON
the part Of somebody to suppress my
impaSSioncd oratory. | wish to assure
the speaker and the house that il is
not my purpose, and | have no de-
sire by my frrvid and persuasive clo-
qurnrc tn ovcrpcrSuadc this house III
t" the adoption Of any unc"nstitu-
ti"nal or hurlful measure. Sir, |
would Scorn to take any such advan-
ta"c OF the weakness Of the housc.'
One Of the most amusin" speeches
'Private' Allen ever made in the
house WAS in support Of the bill to
tax "lr"margarinr. Representative
Tlllman of South Carolina, brother Of
Senator BEN Tillman. had claimed that
ole" Is superior to many brands of
butter and that il waS an injustice to
the poor man to prevent his buying
if. In reply Allen told story of an
! old nc"r" who had eaten n box of axle
crease. thinking it cheese. Upon be-
ln,r asked how he liked it the old man
/ SsliG: "Fo, God. Boss. dat was de
ranS"mcst cheese eber has eat vet -
"Now. Mr.. Chairman commented
Allen, 81 have no doubt that if q
proposition were pending here to pre-
vent tire sale Of axle grease for cheese
the gentlemen from South Carolina
would deliver us a scientific lecture
and try (" persuade rs It VAS much
better and more Wholesome than
cheese and that it would be great
outrage ON the laborinm man TO sup
press the fraud,'
AT Il banquet given by millionaire
senator one evening Allen hesitated
as he was entering the magnificent
dining room and then remarked to
his partner:
"My dear young lady, let us pause
n moment or two. doubt if | can
restrain my feelings"
There scmed to be trouble on his
face, and the lady said:
"Why, Mr.. Allen, what is the mat
ter with you7'