Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-26

His Feet on a Desk and Cigar In
His Mouth. He Gets Close "tO the
BOys"-Baked Apple His FavOrite
Lunch.
"Come in, boys, and make yourselves
at home. Have a cigar. Now, John,
you've got to settle your troubles, but
you can tell them to me, so that l can
enjoy your predicament. It's q lot
more fun than having troubles of my
own"
This has been the daily mode OF
greeting from Speaker Joseph G. Can
non of Illinois, who presides over the
destinies of the house of representa-
tives, to Representative John sharp
Williams of Mississippi, the minority
leader, ever since Cannon, little over
n month ago, told Williams he would
have to assign the Democratic mem
bers OF the house to the vacant minori-
ty places on the house committees,
says Leroy T. Vernon, the Washington
correspondent of the Chicago News. 1t
may be said also that this is the mode
of greeting from the new speaker TO
every member of the house who enters
the speakers room and is more hearty,
more cordial and more welcome to the
membership than anything that has
been heard in the speakers room in
good many generations of speakers
I'VE used to go by the door of the
speakers room ready to run in either
direction" said a member of the house
as he was about to enter the room the
other day. Now we never go by with
out stopping in to see Uncle Joe" This
is true of Republicans and Democrats
alike.
When 1.-The boys come in it is to find
Cannon with his feet up on his desk
and a cigar in his mouth. Only upon
extraordinary occasions does he arise
from his seat to shake hands with his
visitors He rarely sits behind his desk,
but prefers to sit alongside of it, with
his chair pulled over close to the sofas
or chairs along the wall where he can
get close ito the boys" and at the same
time keep his feet on top of his desk.
Then he and the boys proceed to have
a that reminds me" talk, and Uncle
Joe is second to none in story telling in
the house, although John Sharp Will
liamS is a close second.
-~NtN-~G
stood outside the speakers door for
half an hour waiting for Williams to
come out. Men came and went, but
Williams failed to appear, and the con-
gresham came to the conclusion that
Cannon and Williams must be having
an extraordinary session over the COM
mittee assignments. Finally he asked a
man who left the speakers room what
they were doing in there. and he was
informed that Cannon and Williams
are having one of their story telling
matches"
1t is this democratic method of treat
ing the men he has 10 do business with
that makes Speaker Cannon the natu-
raj and real leader of the lower house
of congress. The senatorial combine
which used Ito deliver the votes of
the house on any proposition is a thing
of the past, and Uncle Joe has set
about to make the house once more a
power in the land. In this he has the
backing of an emancipated member
ship who will follow his lead wherever
he may go without a question. Joe is
as good a Democrat as he is a Repub-
lican," said Il Democratic member the
other day. And it may be added here
that some Of the Republican leaders
think he is n better Democrat than a
Republican. for he has consistently Civ
en- the Democrats the best of decisions
by the chair since the converting of the
extra session. They recognize his just
ness at all times and realize his lean
ing toward 1.-The under dog" when the
points for and against are even.
When the session first opened Speak
er Cannon was entertaining some mem
bers in his room when his messenger,
Henry Neal. a coIored man who has
served seven generations of speakers
in the same room. came in.
What shall l bring you for lunch,
Mr.. Speaker" asked Neal.
I'm q bit hungrier than usual today.
Neal, and 1 think you may bring me
something. Neal, do you know what 1
like better than anything else when I
am real hungry at lunch time?"
Visions came back to Neal of the
enormous midday meals Speaker Hen
derson used to put away when the
house had adjourned or taken a recess,
and he replied:
I think a nice order of chicken,
WITH
Hold on there. You are not buying
for a hotel. but for Joe Cannon" said
the speaker. You go downstairs and
get me baked apple"
Neal got the apple and has not yet
recovered from his surprise.
1t might be added that Speaker Can
non partakes of luncheons with rare
frequency. preferring to satisfy his APP
petite with n hearty breakfast and a
heartier dinner. After the latter meal
he is likely to put on his soft SLOUGH hat
and go out for an hour or two, rain or
shine He never carries an umbrella
unless the rain is a downpour. but rolls
up his trousers and turns up his coat
collar and pulls down his hat. rams his
hands in the side pockets of his over-l
coat and. with a cigar in his mouth,
takes a little turn downtown to see