The courier-index., 1917-11-02

preme court of the United States.
The acquaintance began here pc
tween teacher and pupil ripened in
to a lifetime friendship.
After finishing his course Mr..
Allen settled at Tupelo where he
hung out his single and his practice
soon grew until he was in great de-
mand over the state.
On DECEMBER "a, 1872, he was mar
ried here to Miss Georgia Taylor and
their union was blessed with six
| children, four girls and two boys.
In 1916 he was elected district at
torney for the first judicial district
where he served four years. He
then ran for Congress, but after a
deadlock on the 36Sth ballot he with
drew in favor of Col Muldrow
| However, he was elected in 1885
and served until 1901 representing
the First District in the House of
| Congress.
1t was during one of his campaigns
that he was given the title of "Pri-
vate John Allen" by which title he
will always be remembered 1t was
in his race against Gen. Tucker.
During one of their debates the Gen.
eral told of his hardships while in
the service of his southland, how
often he had laid awake at night in
his tent, planning the battles for
! tomorrow, while outside the wind
/ blew, the rain and sleet fell, and it
( was bitter cold.
| In his rejOiner n Allen said that
what the general had said was true.
but that while he was laying awake
under the warm blankets planning
the battles, he was Standing on the
outside barefooted and with few
| clothes on, in the cold rain and sleet,
guarding the general while he slept
| He requested all the generals,
colonies and officers to cast their
| ballots for Gen. Tucker, but that as
| for him the ballots of the privates
would satisfy him.
1t was while in congress that he
came so much before the eyes of the
nation by his everready wit and
humor and his power in debates. He
never spoke to empty benches and
/ the applause and laughter was not
written on the record as a matter
OF form but because of genuineness.
There were few that cared to meet
him in debate, and the speeches he
| delivered in congress are among the
/
be long read and enjoyed.
! But it was not because he was so
witty, nor because his genial good
humor made of every acquaintance
friend but more than all it was
| because there was in his compo-
sition substratum of common sense
strain Of wholesome philosophy and
honest motive, that gave his words
made them OF permanent value.
Among some OF his famous speech
es are the Fish Hatchery at Tupelo"
his protest against extravaganza in
congressional funerals, his criticism
and ridicule of Belmont's consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill.
his debate with s. S. Cox on the
proposition to increase the pay of
the letter carriers, his tariff speech
es on both the Mills and Mckinley
tariff bills, review of the Gillian
war, and his several contributions
to the silver debates.
His first debate in congress was
In the Tombigbee River, and it was
only by his quick wit that he was
allowed to deliver it. 1t seems that
In the haste to bring up the rivers
and harbors BILL, and in the hurry
to get through with it, that the
chairman overlooked the request of
Mr.. Allen that he be allowed to
speak. And was closed before he
could get the attention of the house.
1t was requested that he be allowed
to speak anyway, but there was some
objection; however, Mr.. Allen brou-
ght the House uown and won their
consent when he said in his most
pathetic tone, We'll would at least
like to have permission to print
some remarks in the Record and in
sert laughter and applause at ap-
propriate places"
During the last years of his service
in Congress he made the race for
the Senate against McLaurin, but |
was defeated, and retired to private
life
He was appointed one of the !
commissioners of the ST. Louis |