Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-11-13

Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois
| was realized when he was sworn in us
speaker Of the house Of representa-
| dves. There is only one step higher in
the political ladder. He goes into Office
with the hearty good will not only Of
large majority of Republican men,
| bers, but also Of vast majority of
Democratic members. His sobriquet of
"Uncle Joe' is indicative of the feeling
toward him. If the old theory that while
the school Of experience is hard one it
is the best be true, then Mr.. Speaker
Cannon ought to make an ideal pre-
siding officer of the able but turbulent
body in which he has been an honored,
influential and constantly growing fig
ure for almost q generation. He is as
familiar with the history, traditions,
rules, customs and workings of the
house-indeed, Of the whole govern
ment-as any man that ever welded
the gavel. He Is one of the best rough
and tumble debaters ever in congress,
and many persons wonder how he will
be able to stay on his high perch and
refrain from mingling cum gaudio in
the fierce contests on the floor, IN
which for many years lie has been a
most successful participant. Will be
sit dumb when the debate wakes hot,
or will be follow the example of Henry
Clay and take part in the historic CAB
tests? Few speakers since the great
| Kentuckian have done SO. heard
| Speaker Crisp make one speech in the
kn,, 81 1,sIl t,,,%
Speaker Reed and Speaker Henderson
both refrained from participation in
debates in the house, though it was
currently reported that General Hen
derson spoke with great force in Re
publican caucuses.
That Uncle Joe" will make an able
speaker none can doubt. That he will
expedite business is generally believed.
That he will be great success is uni
versally hoped.
After long and stormy career on
the floor he enters upon his high duties
without "entangling alliances" for when
General David B. Henderson Of Iowa
declined reelection to congress, there
by necessitating the election of new
L
great spontaneity and practical una
nimity year and half in advance Of
his formal election, thereby relieving
him of any necessity Of making prom
Uses. AS much as any speaker ever
elected he has free hand in making
up his committees. The unanimity
with which he was chosen was splen-
did tribute to him, considering the fact
that he had cut such wide swath in
the house, participating actively in
most of the bitter controversies of the
body, and in his capacity as A. Wiman
Of the committee on APPROPRIATIONS an
tagoniziEg so many members by killing
their pet measures.
He possesses much Of l'esprit de corps,
and many members hope that he will
make the restoration Of the house to
its ancient place Of honor in the legisla-
tive system special feature of his adj
ministration. 1t is notorious fact,
very much deplored by all thinking per-
sons, that for years the senate has been
usurping all legislative powers. Against
this Mr.. Speaker Cannon made many a
gallant fight on the floor of the house.
From his greater coign Of vantage he
can wage the battle with more success.
In this he will be supported cordially
by all who have the good OF the house
and of the government at heart.
Whether Uncle Joe" can do his
party as much service i'll the chair as
chairman Of the committee OH appro-
priations remains to be seen. He was
fighter from the head waters of Bit
ter creek and fought his party out Of
many hole. He was always dan
gerous man to tackle in debate, and his
readiness at repartee and his bitter sar-
casm frequently enabled him to turn a
rout into drawn battle, sometimes
into victory. If he gave hard knocks
with glee he received them in good
humor, biding his time to even up the
score. OF "Uncle Joe" it may be truly
| said that his scars are all in front, for
he never turned his back to the foe.
Coming.
"'Twas a famous victory" The
country is regaining its political sanity.
The turn in the tide has come. Greater
New York has redeemed herself and
has repudiated by an overwhelming
majority the motley aggregation of po-
litical Pecksniffs which she installed
in Office two years ago. Maryland once
more takes her legitimate place in the
Democratic ranks and will send q Dem
ocratic United States senator to col
laborate with Hon. Arthur Pue Cor
man in what is sometimes denominated
"the most august legislative body on
earth" Rhode Island rejects Gov
ernor Garvin, which proves that it was
not by duke that the Democrats car
ried Little Rhody last year. The Dem
ocratic tide is rising everywhere save
| in darkest Ohio, where Democratic fac
tional fights have reduced the party to
what your Uncle Grover would charac-
terize as "a woeful plight"
The Democratic revival began few
weeks ago when indianapolis broke
away from the Republicans and elected
a Democratic mayor. 1t gathered i'm
mense impetus at the elections on Nov.
3, and the signs Of the times indicate
the election of Democratic president
and house of representatives aext year.
with possibly a Democratic senate
consummations devoutly to be wished.
The results of the recent elections once
more illustrate the wisdom Of Abraham
Lincoln's famous mot, "You can fool
all the people part of the time and part
Il Of the DpOnla a II tho timo hI,t vo,, ooo,t