The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-11-02

merhDer OF congress from MISSISSIPPI,
died at his home in Jackson a few
days ago. His demise marks the pass
ing of one of the most unique person
ages in public life in many years.
Allen used TO relate that he be
stowed the name ''private" on him.
self as q term of distinction. He
found that everyone else in public
| life in the South was a Major, 4
Colonel or General and he chose the
honor of being the only private. When
he first sought nomination for Con-
gress, Gen. Tucker, veteran of the
Confederacy was his opponent. Talk
| ing to the voters, the General said:
Seventeen years ago last night, 10Y
feIlow-citizens, after hard-fought
battle, on yonder hill, / bivouacked
under yonder clump of trees. Those Of
you who remember, as do, the times
| that tried mems souls, will not,
hope, forget the humble servant when
the primaries shall be held"
Thereupon John Allen arose ant
said: "My fellow-citizens, what Gen
Tucker says to you about the engage
ment on yonder hill is true. What
Gen. Tucker says to you about having
bivouacked in yonder clump of tree
on that night is true. 1t is also tue
my fellow-citiZens, that | was vidette
picket and stood guard over him while
he slept.
| Now, then, fellow-citizens, all Of
you who were Generals and had PRIV
ates to stand guard over you wni!t
you slept. vote foY Gen. Tucker, ano
all of you who were privates and storG
guard ever the Generals while they
slept, vote for Private John Allen"
| Allen later admitted that he ha5
drawn on his imagination and that thu
command to which he belonged was If
another part of the state on the niGii.
in question.
Aliens first words in Congress:
were characteristic. The river IN
harbor bill was under consideration
He wanted to offer an amendment
relating to the Tombigbee river.
In his haste to get the bill report
ed to the House, the chairman Of he
river and harbor committee over.
looked a promise he had made to Al
len and, when too late, made an effor,
to secure hearing for Allen. He
asked unanimous consent but someonr
objected.
"Well," said Allen, in his most pa
thetic tone, 81 would at least like tt
have permission to print some re
marks in the Record and insert laugh
ter and applause at appropriate pla
ces."
The novelty of this request con
vulsed the House and the permission
was readily granted. Unfortunately
however, the speech was never pr:r;:
ed.
One of Aliens best-rememberet
speeches in Congress was direc. e'
against the custom of large expcnd!
lures of national funds for the bury
ing of dead Congressman. After cit
ing the record of such expenditure:
he said:
"Sir, a dead Congressman has be
come very expensive luxury to tho
American people. If we die paupers
it is our own fault. We get a salary
Of $4,000 year with four times a:
much for mileage as it actually cost
us and five times as much for ata.
tionery as we use Any member her.
could save enough from his mileage
and stationery account to give him 4
decent funeral and burial. Just think
of it. We take sum of money whic1
represents the full gross earnings OF
60 workingmen for whole year tt
bury Congressman"
Aliens argument was without result
and few years later a millionaire
Senator was buried at cost of $4,000
to the government.
In debate on the taxing of o.eo-
margarine, Allen disputed the asser-
ton, made by another member. that
the artificial product was more nouc-
ishing than the best butter.
"The gentleman insists" he contiE
ued, 'that this is one of the many in
stances in which art has triumphcd
over nature. l grant there are somh
instances in which art seems to have
had decidedly the advantage as
shown by look in the window Of
Bells gallery, where the photographs
of Congressman are exhibited, bu. ]
deny that this is true of any like
ness of imitation of good butter.
81 know that what is good is often
a matter of taste, but taste sometimes
depends on how a man is raised Il