The Tupelo journal., 1911-06-16
Allen Iount Debate a,
WinOna.
BY GEORGE MORRIS

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representing Senator Leroy Percy and
former Gov. James X. Vardaman, re-
s~pectfully, candidates for the United
States Senate. subject to the action of
the Democratic primary to be held
Aug. /, terminated in a performance
here today seldom riyalled and never
excelled, a series of interruptions and
sensations probably not equalled in dis
play of passion and thoughtlessness in
the political annals of the state. Those
who predicted that something would
happen when the debators struck DR..
B. F. Wards town have reason to
congratulate themselves on their fore
sight, for John Allen had not spoken
ten minutes when DIR. Ward was shak-
ing his fist in Aliens face and the en-
tire aggregation was wild and scramb-
ling over each other in order to get a
little nearer the principals than the
other fellow.
BIount likewise had not proceeded
far when he gave u~nintentional offense
to w. S. Hall, who presided, and for
thirty minutes the crowd serged some
more.
The famous Gulf & Ship Island pass
No. 864, was numbered among the
guests here today. 1t is not an unusual
looking pass, very much like the k nd
Tennessears use during the sessions of
the legislature, and gives evidence of
having performed a service, namely,
that of having furnished immunity to
Gov. Vardaman and party from the
rayage OF the ticket sellers and the
extortion of the railroads, which still
contend for a uniformly passenger rate
of three cents a mile.
Recalls Former Debate
Thirteen years ago there was held
another famous joint debate, and the
affair today brought wildly to the
minds of those who were here then and
interested In politics. which also means
those who were here celebrated be-
cause of the principals, because of the
office they sought, the speeches they
made and the enemies they had. 1t
was on a memorial day some fourteen
years ago that John M. Allen and
Anselem J. McLaurin met here and en-
gagged in a debate which today is writ
ten among the Sunday schoolpicnics of
our grandfathers, but which was noted
in its day and is all right in it's class
yet.
The debate was the first between the
two candidates for the United States
senate, just as the one today is the
last between the champions of
the candidates for the same office. John
Allen and his competitor spoke that
day in a cotton shed. On that occasion
Judge Blount sat beside Mr.. Allen and
cheered and encouraged his following.
They had come from the University of
Mississippi in the same class and each
had fought the others battles and
gloried in the prowess of the class
mate. One attained high rank as a
member of congress and the other Gel
ebrated as a judge. Their paths had
never crossed and political ambition
had not withered the friendship that
began in college and ripened to their
youth. Once they divided on the can
didacies of George and Lamar and the
first political letter Judge Blount ever
received was from Allen, asking his
support for Lamar. Blount supported
George until the caucus eliminated him
and then he supported Lamar with AL
len.
Never until Allen left the camp of
Vardaman had there been a difference
between them and the scene today was
materially different as affecting these
two individuals from the spectacle of
fourteen years ago. There has not
been a joint debate here since then.
The people in this country have never
forgotten and probably never forgiven
John Allen for some things he said
then. He evidently said something
uncomplimentary about Populites which
was not buried with Popul;sn, and
demonstrations on more than one oc-
casion today showed that old passions
still ranked, and the opportunity of
giving vent to them was used to the
limit. =
Allen on the Alert.
More than once some fellow let fly
a grudge that he had held all these
years, but John Allen, who took care
of himself then. took ARE of himself
today. The speaking was held today,
beginning at l o'clock. under q cotton
shed. made famous by Sam Jones, and
which. on NOR. than n occasion has
sheltered revival meetings as well as
every political gathering of conse-
qlence since its erection. There were
seats provided for 1.5OO and somebody