The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-14

strong army and navy, not to wage waf
but to insure peace and to be ready for
| emergencies IL they should come
don't believe the people object to
heavy expenditures II such expenditures
are needed and the money is properly
| handled"
"But is 1t SO handled, Mr.. Speaker?
| Some people think that a great part
OF it goes into the hands of the on
| cials?"
! That is not true" was the reply.
There may be and doubtless are public
| oficials here and there who forfeit
| their trust. but they are very few. The
| majority of the men in the service of
| the government are earnest, honest and
more economical as to government ex-
penses than they are as to their own
expenses I believe that the standard
OF offlcial morality is higher every
year. I have no sympathy with the
| idea that the country is going to the
devil. Our people are better. purer and
stronger than in the past, and the
trend Of public and private life Is up
| ward
The Campaign OF 1904.
The conversation here turned TO the
presidential race. and asked MT Can
non II he thought the Republicans
would have walk over.
'sThere are no walk overs In our
presidential contests" said the Speaker
Of the House of Representatives..
"Parties are too evenly Divided. IN,
deed. a change of per cent in the
vote will almost always throw the
election to one party or the lotner' !
think that the Republicans VIII hol
do II on the walk. They will have 10
ogbt steadily from now until the elect
ion. The Democrats have permanent
asset in the solid south, and this give
them the odds at the start
"Why would you not consent TO pc
n candidate for the vice presidential
nomination, Mr.. Cannon" ] asked
"Why should I wish to beT' replied
the Speaker. II am member OF the
House of Representatives. ana IN my
opinion the weakest and least efficient
member of that body has more de-
sirable place than has. the vice Fresl-
dent of the United States.
,"Tbe representative can do things; he
can vote and have an affect on legisla-
ton. The Vice President is merely q
figurehead, whose possibilities are all
in the dread future of the death OF the
president. He is the presiding officer
OF the Senate; but the Senate has SO
hedged itself about with rules that the
Vice President has no power whatever,
He has only the appointment of pri-
vate secretary. messenger ana
page. that is all"
MIR. Cannon and the speakership.
How do you regard the speaker
ship?"
ut is a very important once and one
Of great power and influence. 1t ranks
next the presidency among the public
offices, for the Speaker is the head or
the House of Representatives. which
is the chief originating, creating and
working branch of our national legis-
lature."
do you like the place9'A
Yes 1 feel honored by the conf
dence expressed by electing me to It,"
But does 1t not worry you? The
pressure of public business must be
enormous"
"Yes there is plenty to do" replied
the Speaker, but / have always been
busy man and think I was more busy
at the head of the appropriations COM
mittee than am now as Speaker. As
to worry I do not worry about anything
What is the use of that? I do the
thing that is before me as well as ]
can, and then take up what comes
next"
The Presidential bee.
IT should like to ask you Mr. Speak
er. II you have any ambition to go
higher. Would you not be glad to be
President of the United States?"
Glad to be President of the United
statesr' said Mr.. Cannon. "Of course I
should be glad to be President IL the
people wanted me and thought me, ut
for the election. There is no Ameri-
can capable OF filling that place who
would not be glad to have IT. The
President of. our people ranks higher
In my mind than any monarch who sits