Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-23

Is Famed as Story Te1ler-W1th
 His Feet on a Desk and Cigar In
 His Mouth, He Gets Close ssto the
 Boyss-Baked Apple Nils Favorite
 Lunch.
 Come in, boys, and make yourselves you've got to settle your troubles, but you can tell them to me, so that can enjoy your predicament It's a 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, a little over a 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. It 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 a good many generations of speakers. '.We used to go by the door of the speakers room ready to run in either direction" said 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 ssthe 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 Hams is close second.
 The other day member of the house 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- gressman came to the conclusion that Cannon and Williams must be having an extraordinary session over the com mittee assignments. Finally he asked 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.
 It is this democratic method ofstreat- ing the men lie has to do business with that makes Speaker Cannon the natu- ral 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 power in the land. Tn this he has the backing of an emancipated member ship who will follow his lead wherever he may go without question. Joe is as good Democrat as he is a Repub- lican.' said Democratic member the other day. And it may be added here that some of the Republican leaders think he is better Democrat than Republican, for he has consistently giv- 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 "the under dog" when the points for and against are even. When the session first opened Speak CT Cannon was entertaining some mem bers in his room when his messenger, Henry Neal. colored man who has