The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-01-14
.sUNcIE JOE" CANNON
Character Sketch of the
Speaker of the House

oiA ilACo All IN Ohi(idi QlIcClOTy VI
congress comprise all that Uncle" Joe
Cannon, the new speaker of the house
of representatives, has to say about
his career. The most OF that is de-
voted to an enumeration Of the four
teen congresses to which he has been
elected. Many others devote half a
page to the story OF their lives. and
period of almost half the existence
of the American republic. He has
long been a leader in his party. 1t is
said hat Cannon has never set on
to get a thing without putting into the
effort everything that could be honest
ly adjusted to the end in view. He was
born in Greensboro, N. c., in 1896, but
his parents moved to Pike county In
Llama, when Joe was 4 years old. tt
elder Cannon was a farmer, and wher
he died his son, who was Their IA. con
tinued h work OF supporting the
family until he was %. He had Ion
been determined to become a lawyer
and in pursuance Of his purpose en-
tered the Cincinnati Law School. Af.tr
graduation he went to Terre Haute,
where he remained until 1850. when he
removed to Tuscola, III. He set out
% get the office of prosecuting attor-
| ley. and he got and held 1t for seven
years.
Those who have heard. or perhaps
t would be more to the point to say
'een. Mr.. Cannon speaking Ill the
ouse will appreciate the humor Of the
iituation. When he begins. he inter-
ocks his two little fingers. AS he pro-
.tesses he struggles vainly for some
ime to get them apart. Suddenly they
separate with a jerk. Inc Mr.. Cannon
hen begins a violent assault upon the
1alm Of his left hand with the ndex
niger of his right. He pounds 1t, he
iigs it, and finally, possibly when he
an no longer stand the pain. he puts
he palm out Of commission and de-
bends entirely upon his index finger.
which. in turn. he points In the most
aggressive manner at the various
members OF the opposition. That is the
beginning Of the climax. Gradually
Working his way to a desk, he begins
to pound it in emphasis with his left
hand. The temporarily relieved right
aand is not long permitted to rest. for
Is the finish approaches, 1t alterns.tes
With the left in pounding. until when
he grand climax is reached Cannon
3 stopped over. his. head the hub of a
apidly revolving wheel. of which the
spokes are his rapidly gyrating arms.
I makes a convincing spectacle,
though Mr.. Cannon's warmest ad-
nirer will not contend that it is i
graceful one.
1t would take a book to hold all the
stories told of Mr.. Cannon. This Of
tself indicates that he Is good-natur-
ID in privtae life, though he frankly
admits that he likes to have his owr.
way. Mr.. Boutelle. of Maine, on one
occasion. angered by Mr.. Cannon's OBJ
pections, said: There are some men,
Nj. Speaker. who would break up q
funeral If they were not sele :.ei TO
drive the hearse." But Cannon never
winces when the laugh Is turned
against him. He merely tries harder
to have things different next time,
and. what is more, he generally sue
ceeds.
AS chairman for many years of the
appropriations committee Mr.. Car
mons influence on legislation has beer
greater than that of n man In con-
gress save the speaker. In appearance
Mr.. Cannon is uncouth. He gives the
impression Of being "as tough as a
pine knot He detests being referred
to as the watchdog Of the treasury.
He declares that he only listens to
the barkings of the numerous self-ap-
pointed ~"watchdogs" and then inves-
tieates for the purpose of learning
whether OF mo- their growlings are
worthy of investigation. That Mr..
Cannon is sturdily honest even his de-
tractors have never denied. and he is
a concededly able parliamentarian and
fcrceful debater. though, technically.