Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-02
THE PETITION DROPPED, .
TIE Country Prosperous, Though Wall
Street is Depressed.

Here Is a story on Uncle Joe" Cannon
which the returning Congressman are tell
ing around Several weeks ago the
Speaker-prospective journeyed to New York
upon invitation OF some colleagues and
others. There was a meetig of senators
and representatives at the Manhattan
Hotel. which had been called by New York
f1nanciers to consider the propriety of
circulating a petition among congressman
asking the President to call an immediate
extra session to pass remedial financial
legislation.
1t was lust about the time of slump
| in stocks and furry in Wall street. Uncle
joe Cannon. 1t seems was not impressed
even little bit by Wall street distress,
street and shown the scene. The meeting
at the Manhattan was arranged next day,
and about twenty congressman We're pres
ent in the room.
bustling in his hat one side of his head,
his cigar at an angle Of forty-five degrees in
the corner of his mouth. and his vest I'M
buttoned down to the last two buttons.
well what's it all abdut2' asked
Uncle joe" as he took seat and
laid his soft felt hat the floor on the
opposite side Of the spittoon. so he would
make no mistake.
why, the country has gone to hades,"
said the spokesman of the meeting. Trade
has all gone to pieces. there's distress on
every side. and the whole shooting match
has gone to hades."
well. 1 declare" said Uncle joe" as
Stunning an air of SURPRISE you astound me.
l had not heard about it. Guess we fell
lows out in Danville must be behind the
times. We had no idea that the country
had gone to h in a hand basket, while
we were jogging along in plumb ignorance
You see. never would have suspected 1t If
you had not told me. Things are so busy
out Danville way that we have not had
time to notice the collapse you speak of.
why, It's fact we are lust that plumb
busy. railroads and factories pushed, farm
ers handling smashing big crops, store
keepers busy as they can be. and every
body making money And you say things
have all gone to smash?'
Now. this is serious" said the spokes-
man. I'VE must do something to help out
the financial situation"
Shore" said Uncle Joe" as he bit off
the end of his cigar and massacred bunch
of flies on the rim of the cuspidor. Don't
let's hesitate If the country has gone to
hades. All those banks in Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio. as well as in the states west Of
the Mississippi, will be powerful surprised
and disappointed to hear about It,. They
are Just crowded with deposits; got more
money than they can place at profitable
interest, and they will be mighty cast down
to hear that the country is busted. What
are you all going to do about it, anyhow
By that time some of the members were
beginning to fdget about in their seats,
realizing that they were In the wrong pew
in trying to convince the Illinois statesman
of Wall streets plight The result was
that Uncle Joe simply laughed them out of
their intention, and the proposed petition to
the President was dropped like hot
potato. 1t was lust about that time too,
that word was passed around there would
be no financial legislation at the extra
session, and they say 1t all was due to
Uncle Joe Cannon's hard hearted indif-
ference to the distress of poor Wall street.