The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-10-04
PRIVATE JOHN ALLEN TALKS.
Don't Take Office Ii You Can Earn a
Living, He Says.

Private John Allen, of Tupelo, Miss,
who for sixteen years kept congress
awake and convulsed the galleries in
the house, and then did the Cincin-
natus act, is at the Waldorf for a few
days and the lobby of the hotel has
been crowded with Southerners and
others ever since he arrived. It was a.
hard matter to come up with the ex-
congressman yesterday, for there were
so many friends that wanted to see
him and ask about that story about
the transfers" which Mr.. Allen got off
in st. Louis several months ago, or
some of the others equally as good, for
as a story teller and wit Private Allen
is still in the ring.
A bunch of men from Alabama and
Mississippi were gathered about him
yesterday afternoon, and one was tell
ing story about having some ZIP
proof" with the eX-congressman upon
one occasion. -
'I never carry a guage about with
me-" he remarked, "but you fellows
will give a wrong impression about
me here in New York.
''Do you know for years the bright
est newspaper paragrapher in Wash
ington was a close friend Of mine? I
used to live at the old Chamberlain in
those days, and every night promptly
at midnight that fellow used to come
around as regularly as clockwork and
sit and take something until half past
three. I calculated that he took up
Just year of my time by actual meas
urement. Well, he died. His example
made great impression upon me, and
I have profted by it. No, thanks; but
I'll go watch you boys.
"There has been some misunder-
standing as to how I was dubbed 'Pri-
vate,'" the owner of the title went on
in answer to question. "Some peo-
pie think that it was because I was the
only Confederate soldier, who after
the war did not call himself general,
a colonel, or at least major. The fact
is the title was the result of political
speech I once made My opponent
was a brigadier-general, real one,
and he made speech telling how the
country thereabouts recalled famous
battle that had taken place there and
how the night before he had slept in
his tent on that field. When got up
to speak I emphasized what he had
said about the battlefield and went on
to recall how it was terribly cold and
sleety night, and how the poor pickets
strobe back and forth on duty all
night.
"'And T am sure, gentlemen con-
tinued, that those of you who were
there will vote for Private John Allen,
who was on picket duty there that
night and helped to keep the Yankees
from getting you and the general who
was sleeping in his tent
"Our country" said Mr.. Allen, COM
ing back to the present, "is the best in
Mississippi, and we raise cotton. 1t
was pretty foody there from the mid
die Of June until the middle Of July,
and it looked like ruin for the crop,
but during the last three or four weeks
the cotton has come out all right and
We shall make more cotton than last
year.
"Land is higher in our county than
in any other in the State. The South
in fact is all looking up very much,
and I tell you that in the South you
are going to see more development in
the next ten years than in any other
part of the country. The people I
used to represent in congress are
much better off now than ever hoped
to see them in my lifetime. Why the
South is raising the best corn crop in
many years. For years it has been
spending heap of money for corn.
A good corn crop makes a good hog
crop. AS for wheat, Mississippi does
not 20 in for that, but I saw a state
ment the other day that this year. 5
wheat crop down there would be 5OO,-
900 bushels. Well soon get back to
wheat growing, but the trouble down
there is that there are no flour mills.
''In politics the principal interest
down there now centres in the sena-
torial election, which doesn't come on
until next year. However, the cam
paign is being anticipated by Messrs.
Alexander and Percy and by eS-GoV.