The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-29
A GOOD POKER STORY.
The Old Judges "Reminiscences of Con.
gressman Joe Cannon's Early
Struggles With Luck.

Struggles with Luck.
The best tale of poker thus far I'M
folded at this session of Congress was
brought to Washington by returning
member from Kansas. The Congress-
man got it from Judge John McLane,
hale old gentleman, now a resident
of Wichita, but formerly of Springfield,
ILL.,, where he knew at the bar Abra-
ham Lincoln, Lyman Trumbull, David
Davis, Ward Lamon, General Edward
Baker, Oliver Davis and all other old
timers. The Judge was prompted to
tell the reminiscence by reading in the
newspapers about the prominence at
tanned by Representative Cannon in
the speakership contest.
Il knew joe" the old Judge said,
''when he was poor saddle-bags law
yer in Illinois, struggling with poverty
and the luck to make an honest living.
He was one of the cleverest men ever
knew. Two qualities insured his sue
cess-his honesty and his energy. The
old members of the bar in the circuit
took fancy to Joe and used to put
opportunities in his way. His first big
stroke of luck was his election as Prose-
cutting Attorney of a judicial district.
The law in Illinois at that time was
very severe on card playing and pub
lie sentiment demanded its enforce
ment. Joe's income depended upon
the number of convictions he secured.
There was where his energy did him
good service. The name of Joe Can
non soon stood for the severeSt prose-
cutor the district had known. On one
occasion we were all attending court
in a distant county. David Davis was
on the bench and Joe Cannon was
prosecuting. The weather was cold
and the tavern accommodations were
not the best. Judge Davis had the
pick of the rooms, and Saturday even
ing we gathered as self-invited guests
about the Judges fire. Court was to
open on Monday. We had nothing to
do but to kill time. Cannon, Ward
Lamon. Dan Voorhees,, Oliver Davis,
Ed Baker. Lyman Trumbull and law
student named Mann were some who
were present. 1t wasn't long until the
table was surrounded and the cards
were being dealt. The game was in
teresting. We didn't stop until the
: bell rang for breakfast Sunday morn
ing. Sunday was day of rest, but as
soon as we had supper we started in
again and played until daylight Mon
dav morning. When the court opened
the Judge asked the Sheriff if he had
secured Grand Jury. The names
were called. Mann, the law student
was among them. The Judge looked
down the row and selected Mann as
the foreman. We were paralyzed.
Ward Lamon leaned over to Dan Vor-
hees and whispered:
".Great Caesar! What does the
Judge mean? Has he forgotten that
Mann was with us last night?"
I'VE tried to get the Judges eye and
to convey our protests against the Sc
| lection of Mann. The Judge couldn't
or wouldn't see what we were driving
at. Our suggestions that another and
an older man be chosen for foreman
fell ulheeded. Finally Joe Cannon,
seeing that the situation was getting
desperate went up to the bench and
whispered:
Judge said he, do you remember
where we were last night and what we
were doing?'
"'Oh, yes said the Judge, smiling
we were in my room having a socia
time.
the Young man you have selected fol
foreman was there also
"The Judge looked sharply at Mann
and then asked Joe:
'''Is he the Young fellow that raised
me out of $60?'
"The very same fellow said Joe.
"tAh, said the Judge, that change:
the situation
70 bo I'm.
he said in louder tone and with grea
dignity:
'"Mr. Mann, you can stand aside fo
this term of court
"The Judge proceeded to charge thu
jury, and dwelt especially upon the in
furious effects of card-playing. Tha
night we all met in the Judges room
The day had been dull one to all O
us except Cannon. At previous tern
he had got fifty indictments against tn
town people for card-playing. Most O
them had come into court on the open
ing day, pleaded guilty and paid th
fines, which in each case included 5
for Prosecutor Cannon. We knew al
about it, and we entered into quie
combination to empty Joe's pockets
One after another dropped out of tn
game, until at o'clock the only me-
at the table were Joe Cannon an
Oliver Davis, cousin of the Judge
The rest of us sat around ready TO bac
Oliver with the moral influence of on
presence. Occasionally Judge Davi
would glance at divers hand an
say:
".Play him, Oliver, for all the gam
is worth. I've got the money whe
you run out
After awhile Oliver turned to tn
Judge and said:
'''Let me have it. Cousin David; tn
crisis is upon us.
THE Judge pulled out 5000, slappe
it on the table and exclaimed:
"'Take that Joe Cannon, if you ar
able
Don't get excited, Judge sai
Joe, 1 will reach your pile in fe,
minutes
''And he did it. At o'clock in tn
morning he raised Oliver for the las
time. We all shook our heads. 10
swept the table. He had cleaned ou
the whole crowd. As he got up h
looked around and said:
"'Gentlemen, the next time YOU pu
up a combination asainst Joe Canno
make it strong enough to win. 1 al
prepared to lend you all enough. q
low interest, to pay your tavern bills.
st. Louis Globe.
The Diary of Tree.