The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-04
UNCLE JOE" CANNON
Personalities Of the Republican
Candidate For Speaker.
IsA UNIQUE FIGURE IN CONGRESS-

Takes Or His Tie and Collar az lie
Warns Up to His Subject In "a De-
bate--PopuIar With His Colleagues
and Noted For His vitriolic Word
ThFusts.
"Uncle Joe" Cannon, chairman Of
the committee on appropriations of the
house of representatives, is just now.
the most prominently mentioned Re
publican to succeed David b., Hender-
son as speaker of the house. says a spe-
cial dispatch from washington to the
New York World In addition to his
prominence as a legislator Mr.. Cannon
is one Of the most unique characters in
the house. 4 strong partisan. 'le is
well liked by the Democrats as well as
the Republicans. and he enjoys, the
distinction Of having many listeners
whenever he makes a speech.
M l&lnnon's friends say that he
LOOKS like President Lincoln Mr. Can
non does not tllipk 50 but he rather
likes tie colnparison
Il is III action Oh busy Legislative
day that sIr. Cannon lis seen. at this
best IT is nc uncommon thing fol, him
to seal.t in at noon in ailtagoniSm TO
Wildcat appropriations and continue
making speeches until the moment of
adiournment Next to being a senator
from Illinois Mr.. Cannon would rather
prevent the Republicans and Demo
Gratis from looting" the sseasur
Like his Old friend JuGge W S. Hol-
man Of Indiana, Uncle Joe Cannon
is "watchdog Of the treasury Wise
members of congress when they have
a bin carrying an appropriation always
consult Uncle Joe" before the bill is
brought up on the feol. IF he ap-
proves. the bill is likely to so through
without trouble. but if he disapTgoves
the bin is dead Mr.. Cannon can make
a five minute speech and practically
Kill any bill carrying All appropriation.
So earnest is he in his advocacy of re-
trenchment that he frequently is fol-
lowed by the Democrats,
Uncle Joe'ss personality is of the
most rugged type. He has reddish
gray hair and wiry whisI crs of the
same color. cut off square. Ills upper
lip is broad and clean shaved Because
OF the. peculiar formation of his face
he always appears to be sardonically
smiling Even when calling other
members of the house al sorts of
names the same smile apparently
plays about his face
lie shows large expanse of. shirt
front. and one day when he appeared
in the house wearing a colored negli-
gee shirt il created sensation Mr.
Cannon explained to his friends that it
was an accident that be wore the
shirt His laundry had not arrived,
and he sent a bellman from his hote,
out to buy a shirt, and he returned
with one which would have been a
credit to the fanciest cakewalk Be
cause of a bill which Mr.. Cannon
hoped to beat be had to put the shirt
on and wear it.
Mr.. Cannon chews tobacco and eli
gars. He seldom lights a cigar, hut de-
YOURS it inch by inch. Fl e wears boots
and is never quite so comfortable as
when sitting with his feet on his desk
and half chewed cigar between his
teeth.
He is, perhaps ctasulted oftener and
has more influence than any other man
in the house Of representatives Dur
ing the Mckinley administration he
was the presidents chief adviser. He
has been called in consultation by
President Roosevelt occasionally but
not SO frequently as with Mr.. McKin-
ley
e. When Mr. Cannon rises to speak in
: the house, there is instantly scatter
ing OF those sitting near him. He
waves his hands and arms wildly and
cnce hit Mr., Boutelle of Illinois, his
colleague, squarely in the back of the
head with hard left swing. Swings
and short jabs are his. speciality His
arms wave like the fails of windmill.
He is what is known in the house as
an %atmosphere FOUNDER" When he
warns up to his subject. he first takes
off his. necktie. then his collar. Next
he rolls. up his coat. and shirt sleeves
and takes a drink OF something out Of
a silver mug he keeps on his desk.
S: Thus enthused he starts in denounc-
ing whoever opposes him. He Is not at
all careful in his language and some
times uses illustrations which are off
color in parliamentary, debate. He
aptly illustrates all his points with
quaint stories which are understood
by everybody. He has flow of biting
sarcasm which he launches at almost
every one who does not agree with
him. He opposed the Hepburn Nicara
guam canal bill, and some Of the most
interesting debates in recent congress
es were when there two men got to-
gether.
In denunciation Of Representative
De Almond of Missouri, perhaps one