The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-07-05
A GOOD POKER STORY. /.
The Old Judges "Reminiscences OF Con.
gresham Joe Cannon's Early
Struggles With Luck.

VI
member from Kansas. The Congress-
man got IL from Judge John McLane,
hale old gentleman. now a resident
OF Wichita, but formerly Of Springfield.
H.. where he knew nj 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 "Reminiscences by reading i'm the
newspapers about the prominence at
tanned by Representative Cannon in
the speakership contest.
II knew joe the old Judge said,
when he was poor saddle-bags law
yer in Illinois struggling with poverty
aud the luck 10 make an honest living.
He was one of the clcverest men ever
knew. Two qualities insured his sue
.cess-his honesty and his energy. The
old members OF the bar I'm 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 judicial district.
The law In Illinois az that time was
very severe on card playing and pub
lie sentiment demanded It's 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 scverest prose-
cutor the district had known. On one
occasion we were all attending court
in 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 rs Self-inyited 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 aud law
student named Mann were some who
were present. II wasn't long until the
table was surrounded and the cards
were being dealt The game was in
tercsting. 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
day morning. When the court opened
the Judge asked the Sheriff il he had
secured n 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-
hces aud whispered:
"Great Ciesarl What does the
Judge meang Has he forgotten that
Mann was with us last nightPN
I'VE tried 10 get the Judges eye and
10 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 unheeded. 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 doingY
"rOh. yes, said the Judge. smiling,
we were in my room having a social
time
Judge, continued Mr.. Cannon.
the young man you have selected for
! foreman was there also.
"The Judge looked sharply at Mann
! and then asked Joe;
els he the young fellow that raised
me out of $60P
"The very same fellow. said Joe.
"Ah, said the Judge. that changes
the situation.
Then turning TO the Grand Jury.
he said in louder tone and with great
dignity:
'"Mr. Mann. you can stand aside fol-
this term of court
"The Judge proceeded to charge the
Jury, and dwelt especially upon the in-
furious effects OF card-playing. That
night we all met in the Judges room.
The day had been dull one TO all OF
us except Cannon At aprevious term
he had got fifty indictments against tho
town people for card-playing. Most oil
them had come into court on the open.
ing day, pleaded guilty and paid til,
fines, which in each case included u
for Prosecutor Cannon. We knew al
about It, aud we entered into a quiet
combination TO empty Joe's pockets.
One after another dropped out of the
game. until at O'Clock the only mcr
AT the table were Joe Cannon ano
Oliver Davis. n cousin Of the Judge
The rest OF us sat around ready TO bacl
Oliver with the moral influence of our
presence. Occasionally Judge Davis
would glance ut divers hand anC
say:
"'Play him. Oliver for all the gam'
Is worth. I've got the money whci
you run out
After awhile Oliver turned to the
Judge aud said: