The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-08
Something About Men Who
Have Filled the Chair.
SELECTION OF MR. CANNON
Choosing Him Nearly Year in Ad-
vance Of His Election an Event
Unique ard U preccdented in
the Hist,r of Congress.
Especial to The Tlmes-Dlspatch.)

t0pcClal 10 i Ne SllIueS"OlSE ItCU.J
WASHINGTON. d. c., Nov. 1.-The
selection of Joseph G. Cannon as: Speaker
OF the House nearly year In advance Of
his election records an unique and un-
preccdentcd event In the history OF Con-
gress. No other candidate for the honor
ever received this compliment The bal
lotlng on the 10th Of November will be
merely ratification Of an overwhelming
sentiment, which crystallized last winter,
when his party settled the matter by
declaring for him with an unanimity
remarkable and flatterlng.
In view OF Mr.. Cannon's accession to
tho Spcakership Tor the Etfty-eighth
Congress, the fruition. Of his splendid
parliamentary career has certainly long
been deferred. Since he entered upon
his duties as chairman Of the Appropr!a-
lions Committee in the Fifty fourth Con-
gress he has steadily grown In Influence
before the House His life Of picturesque
Incidents, his homely, but forceful.
speech sound sense, and determined
will, tempered with good humor and
comradcship. are qualities that commend
him to the entire country, Mr.. Cannon's
capacity for public service and high In
tcgrity have been proven by his admin
istration OF what is by far the most try
Ing and most responsible craftsmanship
under the Legislative arrangement or
Congress. His election may be cassed
as remarkable eventuality. in that ne
will not only be the member OF longest
service prior to the event. but the Oldest
man ever chosen Speaker OF the House,
He was first elected to Congress IN No
vember 1872. the year General Grant de-
feated Horace Greeley for the presidency,
In tenure prior to his elevation to the
chair sixteen years, MIR. Henderson had
led all the Speakers. Linn Boyd served
fourteen years; Randall thirteen; Reed
twelve; Macon, Varnum and Drowten,
Colfax and Crisp eight: Blaine and Car
Isle six; Stevenson four. and Trumbull,
Hunter and Banks only two years before
reaching the Speakers chair. The yourg-
est Speaker the House ever had was
r, M. r. Hunter, of Virginia, who was
only, thirty, and In his second term
when chosen. Speakers Henry Clay and
Howell Cobb were thlrty-tour; the former
OF tho Thirteenth Congress- In 1871; tho
latter OF the Thirty-first Congress In
ls4s; Dayton and Orr, thirty-four; Bar
bour, winthrop and Grow thirty-e!ght;
Muhlenherg, Banks and Blaine, thirty
nine; Polk and Colfax. forty; Stevenson,
Macon, for'y-four; Kelfer
forty-tive; Crisp, forty-sls; Varnum.
Kerr Randall and Carlisle, forty-elght;
Reed, flfty BOYD and Trumbull, fifty
one; sedgwck. fifty-three; William Pen
nington. sxty-three ohe Oldest next 70
Cannon chosen In 1880. after deadlock
of two months, when John sherman, then
thrty-six and serving his third term, was
the choice of the Republicans, who lacked
a clear ma jorlty of the House, sherman
peremptorily Withdrew at the expiration
OF two months, although he WAS within
three or four votes of the necessary ma
jority most of the time; and Cannon,
sixty-eight years old,
LONGEST TERM.
Clay and Pennington have the dis
tlnction OF being the only men
ever chosen Speaker in their drst
term In the House. The Oldest
Speaker after Pennington was Hendsr-
son. I In tbs LONG list. Clay held tho
Sneak ership longest. His national politl-
cal career was curious one He was
first a Senator for plecs OF term.