Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-19
CANNON TALKS TARIFF
Speaker Lays Particular
Stress on That Subject
TO WEST VIRGINIANS
TOPIC CAREFULLY AVOIDED ny
DEMOCRATIC ORATORS.
Tour Through State a Succession of
ovations - Sledge-Hammer Argu-
ment at Morgantown Yesterday.

oi west virginia Speaker Cannon has per-
sistently talked of the protective tariff
! polcy OF the republican party, a subject
that is being avoided by the democratic
! speakers who come into the state Local
| politicians who address the people here all
| talk about the state tax question so that
| If the tariff is to be talked of at all II must
be by the men of national reputation who
are touring the state.
1t is not likely that more effective tariff
| talks are heard anywhere than those OF Mr.
| Cannon His appearance before audiences Is
always the signal for enthusiastic greet
| ing. Every one in West Virginia seems to
| think they must refer to him as Uncle
Joe" and he is Uncle joe everywhere.
| The term is always used affectionately. and
| never lightly. So it is when Uncle Joe
begins his talk to the people they listen
| with the devoti1l of children and disciples.
| Meetings Serious Affairs.
Mr.. Cannon's public meetings have been
| serious affairs. His quaint humor and his
picturesque personality contribute much to
| the interest of his address. But there is
never moment from the time he begins
until he takes his seat that he is not there
| in the attitude of a serious man presenting
| a serious question that he regards as vital
| to their interests.
| He does not play for applause. and he is
| not frequently interrupted. Now and then
| his quaint humor in the narration of an IL
| Illustrative story throws the assemblages
| into convulsion of laughter. But he never
| tells story that does not aptly illustrate
| the point he aking. He generally
| speaks for about hour and a half, and
during that time 1t is rare occurrence
| for any one to leave his audience. He has
never failed to conclude with a burst of ap-
| proving applause
| Bede's Breezy Style.
Representative ]. Adam Bede of Mlnne-
sofa always follows Speaker Cannon with
a short, bright and breezy campaign speech
| that has all the vigor of the new northwest.
He illustrates his remarks with apt stories
| and keeps the audience constantly stirred
| up with hiarity. He talks good republican
| doctrine, and sends his arguments home
| with force. Mr.. Cannon is generally ac-
companied by Mr.. L. White Busby, his
secretary, and Mr.. Fl. F. Dodge, who never
fails to make a shorthand report of his re-
marks.
While sticking to the tariff the main
issue of the campaign Mr.. Cannon refers
| to other subjects that have been touched
| upon by democratic speakers who have
come into the state. such as imperialism.
| extravaganza, and general abuse of the
| resident.
In the Coal Region.
The party is now passing through the
heart of the bituminous coal region. West
Virginians claim that this is the richest
| bituminous region IN the world, and on
every hand are evidences of the coal and
| timber industries of the country generally
Everywhere town improvements are under
way and new houses are being constructed
In considerable numbers.
AS the party is traversns the roads that
skirt the Monongahela river the Speaker
and Representative j. Adam Bede who Is a
member of the committee on rivers ana
harbors, take occasion to see the nature OF
the improvements that have been made
here Everywhere coal tipples are seen,
while here and there great coking works
are in full blast.
Thus the great industry of the state Is In
that way kept constantly before the atten-
ton of the speaker, who never fans 10 zen
his audiences about the way Nova Scotia
coal might come down into the United
states in competition with the American
product if the tariff should be removed by
the democratic party. Then he always
makes IL plain to them that II anything IS
done to cripple the industries of the coun-
| try at large the effect would soon be felt In
| West Virginia coal lelds
Portraits of Lincoln Displayed.
| In the decorations of the towns where
meetings are held portraits of Lincoln are
always given a prominent place The re-
| semblance of Uncle joe to the immortal
Lincoln is now and then referred to, and
| when he occa sionally pauses to tell story
| one can feel that he understands something
of that quaint humor and simplicity OF
| manner that characterized the great martyr
| President.
Mr. Cannon at every meeting has some
| thing to say about Uncle Henry" who Is
,,raiyl for ha
democratic ticket. But he refers to the dis
tinguished West Virgnian with such kindli-
| ness that his best friend could not take Of
fense. Before he leaves Uncle Henry he
always hammers into his hearers the idea
that it would be a costly thing indeed to
elect citizen of their state at the expense
| of state and national prosperity, and tells
| them to observe that Uncle Henry's' for
| tune was made under the policies of the re-
| publican party.
There is practically but one opinion as to
| the attitude of this state toward Roosevelt.
Conservative democrats agree that there Is
no evidence, that the state will fail to give
the republican national ticket at least a
fair majority. Gov. White today said that
but for the tax question, that has unsettled
conditions, the state would be good to give
Roosevelt 25,0OO.
Effect of the Tax Issue.
Just what the effect of the tax issue will
be is not known. AS election day an
proaches party lines being more and
more closely drawn. Republicans are max
ing an effort to get their force together
and promise to carry on constant cam
paign of education. Several democrats to-
day expressed doubt whether ii would be
possible to keep republicans who don't like
the tax measures from voting the regular
ticket
But there is no doubt that Dawson, re-
publican candidate for governor, will be cut
SO that he will many thousands of
votes behind Roosevelt.
The only criticism of President Roosevelt
that is heard here is that offered by Sena-
tor Hill, Senator Bailey and other visiting
democrats who are making a campaign tour
OF the state. The few democrats who are
counting on carrying this state for Parker
and Davis base their expectations on their
aoffunnfo thar in he first rlace fhere var~