The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-09

htat AtfAheHlbeftu ~ N-ANhhos -
the Treasury.-GIints 81 old Time
shirt sieesed sarcasm From the
Chafr-How lie Fought For Prestige
OF the House.
Uncle Joe Cannon has been having
his picture painted an operation
which all good speakers must undergo,
says Washington dispatch to the
New York Times. lie has submitted
to it with stoical resignation, know
ing that It is part DC the job lie holds,
The various artists have done what
they conceive 10 be their duty In such
cases. They have undertaken 10 pre-
sent the speaker III favorable light
10 posterity Ii is for posterity's sake
that each new speaker undergoes this
course of artistic sprouts. He has TO
contribute an oil painting Of himself
10 the gallery Of speakers and to leave
his photograph for future historians
And these photographers have per-
formed their labors conscientiously
They have endeayored to give him
stern and statesmanlike look, as Of
one whose mind is engrossed with
matters Of deep public import; they
have wiped the bali humorous CLINT
out Of his eye, and they have toned
down into lines Of severity the Curl
Gus crease at his mouth which gives
him the appearance Of always smiling.
They have done their duty as they see
it, and In years to come common
place face VIII look from the pages
OF history instead Of the most strik-
ing and unforgettable face In all the
Fifty eighth congress. 1t will be the
face OF an imaginary Speaker Cannon,
the Speaker Cannon who ought to
have been. not the face of Uncle Joe.
1t has been the duty of everybody
connected with Mr. Cannon's official
duties to metamorphose him from
Uncle Joe into the speaker, and they
have worked indefatgabiy at IT. This
picture making is merely an example
OF Ii. but the work has been a failure,
for the unconguerable Indebtedness OF
him rises and protrudes as soon as their
labors are done, as a pompadour head
of hair rises obsdnately the moment
you take Your hand of 1t.
OF course his personality IS less OBJ
trusively in evidence than 1t was when
he was on the floor He cannot make
speeches now; neither can he preside a
great deal Of the time. The popular no
ton Of the speakershlp is that that off
Ger Is continually In the chair, presid-
ing over the work Of congress. AS q
matter Of fact. when the big bills are
being debated the speaker is not in the
chair more than half ain hour d day.
Sc the speaker is seen but little in the
4 house; his work IL not that Of an ae-
/ tive participant It is done behind the
scenes He Is the head Of the house,
/ the general director of legislation, the
man who determines IN advance what
shall he done ana las charge Of the
way to do It And hence it is that
while Cannon is Uncle Joe as much
las ever the lighting. rough and ready
4 Uncle Joe Of parliamentary catch-as-
catch-can is a fading tradition. growing
1 DINNER an the while
4 Tie uncle Joe who for so many
years was chairman Of the appropria.
lions committee. the official watchdog
i of the treasury. was a sight worth see
/ ing when L debate was on His deliy-
cry was slashlng. sledge-hammery, fun
Of fire and fury When he got thor
oughly interested in his subject the
4 fact was made known in an infallible
way. on such occasions he would take
i off his coat and throw it on his desk
+ Provoked by opposition and getting
warmed to his subject, his waistcoat
would follow his coat and If the occa-
sion was Of sufficient moment 10 war
rant it of would come collar and neck
tie.
4 Thus stripped for action Uncle Joe
would move mp alld down the aisles in
long strides, waving his fists in the ali
! aud pouring forth a continual flood 81
sarcasm. inyectlve and denuneiation al
rate that taxed the stenographers
lie would roll up his shirt sleeves te
4 give him greater freedom, and his bony
fists would fly around in the heat Of
his wrath SO that the dueking heads o.
II congressman, lodging TO avoid puncl
2n the eye, marked his dashes up and
4 down the aisles.
/ # some unlueky opponent interrupt
"a, Cannon would stride up and dowI
the aisle, jerking his shirt sleevec
arms about In fury Of Impotence. "a:
the last word left the questioner's
mouth gigantic roar Of sOh, Mr.
! Chairman would burst from Cannon
| as if his pent up feelings had torn tina
torrent Of sound from bis bosom, an6
behind it would come such a food 0.
sarcasm, couched In homely Language
and mingled with soundest sense, tina
\ tile interrupter wiIted under a laugh
that shook the house. And when it wal
| over Cannon would go back to hi
I place and put on his collar and necktii
and waistcoat and coat and retire t
the appropriations room
1 These speeches were seldom partisan
ones. He was engrossed n bis work o
watching, appropriations and defeating
i extravaganza He never hesitated t
beard the house leaders, the angus
friI,rnvfratn of the machine nor to def