Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-22
Some Peculiarities of Uncle
Joe" Cannon, Who Will be
Elected Speaker
ALWAYS "sTRlPs" FOR DEBATE
When Cannon Removes His Collar and
Cuffs and Unbuttons His Vest the
Newspaper Men Look for Something
Good in the Debating Line-cannon
on the Tariff.

Washington, Nov. 22.-Will Uncle
Joe" Cannon keep on his collar aftei
he has been elected speaker of the
house of representatives? He couldn
keep it on as chairman Of the commit
tee on appropriations. He never got
..warmed up, during the consideration
of an appropriation bill without shedd-
ing his cuffs and collar. Whenever
the word was passed about the capitol
building that Cannon had removed MS
collar there was hurrying to get to the
press gallery, for the newspaper men
knew there was something doing
The Illinois man formed this habit OF
stripping for debate years ago. sta
tistics would probably show that he
never won a fight on the floor OIL the
house with his collar on. Years age
he used to excuse the act of removing
his collar, but of late years he dlo
not deem it necessary to apologize. IL
the Congressional Record were an up
to-date illustrated publication 1t Wouio
be full of pictures of Uncle joe with
his collar off, vest unbuttoned, and
arms extended, pleading in that old
fashioned way of his for economy. He
lis not the man to do anything for show
or effect. He goes out for results, ana
If he were asked why he always TOOK
off his cuffs and collar and unbuttoneo
his vest when he engaged in an impor-
tant argument he would probably an
swer that 1t was because he could work
to better advantage in that condition.
A glance thru a few pages of the
record of the last session of congress
recalls many scenes in which the mai
who is now slated for the speakershir
appeared at his best. Most readers OF
newspapers will recall how he replied
to James D. Richardson of Tennessee
the democratic leader, in speech that
consumed only about five minutes. Mr.
Richardson had taken advantage of the
liberty of debate allowed on an appro-
priation bill to deliver a carefully pre-
pared political speech. Referring to his
own party, Cannon said on that oc-
casion:
1--WE are not perfect and we do not
claim to be. We pull the wagon and we
do the work, and you find the fault
You have been at that now for over
Ia generation and still we have pulled
along. / think we will pull it for Q
generation more, and still you scold.
We cannot help 1t. 1t does you good
and / do not think 1t hurts u.s."
In the light of the recent election
and the new honor that is coming to
him his closing words on that occasion
take new interest:
I'VE have nothing to apologize for.
Peace and prosperity abound here and
everywhere turnout our borders as
never before in the history of civiliza
ton. Print your speeches, circulate
them, go on the stump. / will take my
chance that when the silent ballot
drops in November next you will march
up to the same old defeat"
The states of Indiana, Michigan. Illi-
nois and others that had old war claims
before the last session ought to feel
grateful to the prospective speaker be-
cause it was his strong plea that Sc
cured the passage of these claims.
Speaking with special reference to the
Indiana claim, which was under con-
sideration, he said in that CONVINCING
way of his:
1T is right in Gods chancery, it is
right in mans chancery. and l ask for
a vote on the amendment"
That from Cannon was enough and
the claims went thru
One day there was under consider
alton bill to sell some Indian lands
he ~
like the looks of it and this is the way
he expressed himself:
in the light of things that have been
done, not to speak discourteously of
anyone personally, I will remind my
friend of the old saying that we heard
when we We're boys-that hell is paved
with good intentions"
Cannon lost one battle in the last
house. He set his foot down good and
hard against the proposal to appropri-
ate 100000 to reimburse contractors
at the Buffalo exposition. The house
voted the money. On that occasion
he predicted that after the st. Louis
exposition there would be another de-
mand on congress to make good a de-
ficiency.
st. Louis is preparing to hold an
exposition, said he. Il trust it viii!
be success. Are we to say to her
that if it is not success we will under
write the venture? South Carolina
estopped this session of congress from
asking anything more, is here applying
for 100000 more another case of un
derwriting. And on this question of
expositions, If we do not call a halt if
Will run to state fairs and to county,
fairs; the United States will go regu
larry into the show business And a
little later We shall be buying Some
Buffalo Bill wild west show! There is
no time to begin to retain from sin
ming as the time before you have
sinned."
Immediately after the Buffalo appro-
priation had been agreed upon Charles
tons request for 100000 came IN
Cannon made this observation. seeine
that the appropriation would be
made:
What is the constitution-as an em-
inent son of New York who is now
out of congress, said-what is the con
stitution betwixt friends?"
NEW BIDS FOR TUEE SERVICE.