The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-15
WASHINGTON CHITCHAT
Incidents In the Lives of Public
Men.
SPEAKER CANNON AND HIS HANDS

SPEAKER CANNON AND BIS HANDS
Uncle Joe Tells why He would Like
to Use Both In Presiding-How sem
ator NewIands' MaidenIy IDEAS
Were shocked representative
Rupert as "a Punster.
Uncle Joe Cannon confesses to his
personal friends that he sometimes
ehafes under the restrictions Of his of.
fee as speaker Of the house Of repre-
sentatives, says the Washington Post.
Way down deep In Ills honest old heart
Uncle Joe feels that he would some
times be easier in rough and tumble
debate on the floor than in the speak
er's chair struggling to WELD the gavel
with solemn dignity and in strict ac-
cordance with parliamentary law.
IF l could only use both hands in
presiding over this house." be remark
ed in all earnestness, II might handle
this speakership job with more salts
faction to myself and in Il manner more
acceptable to the brethren on the
] floor"
This honest confession was made a
few days ago to Representatives Over
street Of Indiana and Hull of Iowa,
who climbed up to the speakers table
at the close of very trying day In the
house to offer a few words Of encour-
agement.
IT'S no use he exclaimed Il can't
do myself justice in talking when I am
compelled by custom to keep my hands
still. / am i'll at ease when / try to
strike a dignifed attitude with one
hand resting on the book of rules and
the other leaning on the gave / give
more thought to controlling my hands
than do to what | am trying to say
Senator Newlands Of Nevada was de
livering his maiden speech in the sen
ate in support of his resolution inviting
Cuba to become a state Of the Union.
He had warmed up to his subject even
more than in the day when he attempt
ed to attach his annexation clause to
the Cuban reciprocity bin in the house
and was forced to desist by the shower
of waste paper and other missiles aim
ed at him by his colleagues, says the
Washington correspondent Of the New
York Tribune. AS the senator worked
himself up TO the peroration, he ex-
claimed in passionate tones, This argu-
ment furnishes every kind Of fuel that
eloquence needsp'
But the senator's tender solicitude for
his Grafton was destined to receive
severe shock. A few hours later he
was handed the notes Of the official
reporter Coming to the passage quot
ed, he read, This argument furnishes
every kind OF food that elephants
need" So great was his horror at the
garbled report that he appealed to the
nearest senator for sympathy. 1t hap
pened TO be Senator Hale, who is noted
for his sarcasm. Adjusting his glasses.
the senator from Maine scanned the
page and then remarked dryly, But
even elephants could not digest it.
Representative f. w Cushman OF
Washington, who Is also the humorist
Of the house. arrived at Washington
all breathless the other morning after
wild dash from Tacoma to save his
$1,000 mileage, says the New York
World He was sworn and took seat
smiling expansively
Heard any new jokes latelyf" asked
Representative Tawney.
NO" said Cushman, nothing that
sounded quite so gleeful as that swear
ing in | just got tell you, there Is Il
lot of humor in $1,000"
Il bought this coat for the reason
that it was guaranteed to be absolutely
waterproof said Representative Fred
Lands OF Indiana, but 1t leaks, though
under the circumstances / doubt If |
can get my money back OF have it ex-
changed
There appears TO be nothing wrong
with the rain coat" replied a sympa-
thetic listener after a careful examina-
ton.
Just let me show you how l was
bunkoed, sadly continued Lands.
Solely to guard against accidents on
my way out home | invested in d small
flask and placed it in the pocket of
this coat The cork worked loose, and
the contents trickled out, soaking right
through the material so that the mois-
ture is noticeable on the outside. This
flask was intended for a totally differ
ent kind Of irrigation
'The point il, however, the dealer
guaranteed the coat as waterproof but
nothing was said about its being whls- |
Ky proof; so fear am up against #"
1T was SO cold out at the Bennings |
track today that they had to break the |
ice in the water jumps" said friend |
recently to Representative Jacob Rup. |
pert, Jr., Of New York.
II don't see why. Rupert replied.
Most Of the horses are skates, are they
notr'