The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-06
CANNON TALKS
FOR PROTECTION
Makes This Almost Sole Topic
of His Speech in Mime
apolIS

Primed with a good dinner which
was later favored with a choice col
lection of chestnuts furnished by j.
Adam Bede, Joseph G. Cannon, speaker
of the national house of representa-
tives, made his much heralded appear
ance at the Minneapolis auditorium
last night.
Thomas Lowry presided, and group
ed about him on the stage were men
of good living and considerable wealth.
An odor of pine permeated the air.
Over the stage there was an alleged
painting of Theodore Roosevelt, and
pasted on every pillar and hung all
about the stage there were portraits of
the Republican candidate for governor,
but if he was anywhere in the audience
he did not make his presence known.
Fletcher the Hero
Speaker Cannon arrived yesterday
afternoon and was taken in charge by
former Congressman Loren Fletcher
who dined him.
At the residence of the former con-
gresham he was primed for the oc-
casiOn and his speech last night con-
sisted of long eulogy OF the Repuo-
hcan policy of protection, some pleas
dQlFleS lQLenQ6Q LOT the Olu SOlulCI :
who were given seats behind some
ward workers, a brief-very brief-de-
NAL of the charge that the president
had OVerStepped the limits of the con-
Stitution, some abuse of the Democrats
and a pathetic appeal to the voters to
give Loren Fletcher zone more term"
in the national house Of representa-
tives. As far as other candidates than
Roosevelt We're concerned the meeting
might be considered a Fletcher meet
ing from start to finish. Occasionally
some of the lesser lights mentioned
other candidates, but only occasionally.
Mr. Cannon, gray, tall and angular,
gyrated about the platform, talked first
at one time and then another, but all
the time he could not get away from
his pet hobby-protection. The greater
portion of his address was devoted to
the conditions which obtained about
1850 and he recited figures at an alarm
ing rate.
Of reciprocity he had nothing to say
the word was not used during his en-
tire address,
Preceded by a brass band and the
Roosevelt club of st. Paul, the distin-
guished speaker was escorted to the
hall and given happy reception. Then
T. H. Girling, chairman of the county
committee, introduced Thomas Lowry
as the presiding officer Of Mr.. Lowry,
Mr.. Cannon said he had the largest
frame and the smallest voice of any
man he ever saw" The chairman
could not make himself heard through
the hall.
Fletcher Makes Promises
Mr.. Lowry presented former Con-
gresham Fletcher, who threw some
bouquets at himself for his persistency
and after telling the audience he would
secure a $2,500,000 public building for
Minneapolis, if reelected to congress,
MIR. Cannon was presented and the only
enthusiasm of the evening followed.
Mr.. Cannon began his talk with few
pleasantries, and said he came to take
counsel with the people Of the state as
co-soVereignS to determine who should
be chosen head of the nation. He touch
ed upon scriptural topics and said parties
and governments have been judged by
their works from time lmmemorial.
Then taking as his analysis of the Rep
lican and Democratic parties, he said,
they "NIust be judged by their fruits or
their barTenness if they have no
fruits"
Taking up the Democratic platform, he
proceeded to dissect it.
Upon the Panama canal, he asserted,
the Democrats had denounced the al
legged theft of the route but now would
help to conceal the stolen property. 1t
required courage to be a thief, he said,
and he would rather be a thief than a
fence"
On protection he said, the Democrats
had always opposed the policy, and when
they have been in power they have al
ways written the opposite policy on the
statute books.
Civilization and progress had always
rested upon the labor of the people
Without labor there was barbarism.
DelVes Into History
There was no reason, he asserted, for
n difference between the Democrats and
Republicans. Going back to 1860, he said,
the slave labor of the South made it i'm
possible for the free labor of the North
to compete successfully. Free trade was
desired by the South because the prod
ucts of that region were sent abroad to
be exchanged for the products of cheap
labor of Europe. The stand of the free
labor of the North was to the opposite
and hence the North was for protection
and the South for free trade.
"A cheap government Is not good
government declared Mr.. Cannon, as he
strobe across the stage and shook his
finger at the sergeant PRO
lection is tax levied upon cheap foreign
labor for the purpose of making up the
difference between foreign and native Ia
Dor the proceeds TO be used for the adj
ministration of government, the improve.
ments of the country and the support Of
schools"
He lamented the fact that in 1860 The
South was 'solid' and that practically
the same conditions obtain today.
For the entertainment Of the old SOL
diers who were given seats behind some
ward workers, he read a section of the
Confederate constitution which prescribed
protection.