The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-30
REFRESHING CANDOR FROM
SPEAKER CANNON.

w
an invariable custom to pass resolu-
tons of thanks to the Speaker for his
fairness, courtesy, &C. When FOLK
was Speaker, party feeling ran high
higher than in any decade of Ameri-
can politics The session had been
stormy and Polk, with matchless lead
ership, had caused the Democratic
majority to score over the Wing mi
nority at every point. They were SO
bitter toward Polk that they refused
to vote for the customary resolution
of thanks which passed by a strict
party vote. Their action greatly help
ed Polk. The fair-minded public en-
quired "why has Polk been refused
the usual courtesy?" And the inves-
tigation proved that it was because
for them. Indeed it established
throughout the country, what Tennes-
see had long ago learned-that IN
craftsmanship and in learning POLK
was a far greater man than his more
snowy and brilliant rival, Henry Cray
and instead of injuring Mr.. POLK, the
churlish action of the Wing minority
helped to make him President, ana
except the first five Presidents no man
has filled that chair whose state pa
ners show ability of so high an order.
This incident is recalled by the
hearty action of the present congress
in unanimously passing resolutions OF
thanks and courtesy to Speaker Can
non He is a pretty hard fighter-is
.ITncle Joe" as everybody calls the
Sneaker.andhe is partisan of a type
common in Illinois, where parties
wage hot fights, but his North Caro-
lima blood has given him frankness.
humor, and freedom from cant. When
he was elected Speaker, Mr.. Williams
the Democratic leader, volunteered
the statement, ct will always think
YOU are as fair as l believe you will
be- to which, with characteristic
bluntness, Speaker Cannon replied:
John, 1 am going to be as fair as l
can consistently with the exigencies
of American politics" That was re-
freshing frankness and the exact
truth When what seemed to him to be
the "exigencies'' of his party has re-
uuired him to refuse vote on meas
ures offered by Democrats, he has run
over them without giving them a
chance even to be heard. But outside
of such "exigencies his fairness has
been marked and when the "exigen-
cies" caused him to be partisan, he
did it with an air that robbed it of
much of. it's harshness.
A genuine man, who does not pose,
always wins respect from those who
disagree with him and it is because
he is as plain and unassuming as his
Quaker ancestors in Guilford county
House.
In this connection, we print a story,
sent from Washington to the Boston
Transcript which illustrates the sort
of stuff at bottom that marks genuine
manhood, and is creditable to Speaker
Cannon's goodness of heart that beats
beneath a rather harsh exterior. 1t
is as follows:
Everybody in the House of Repre-
sentativeS knew about Macs" little
bill; but everybody knew, too, that the
Speaker would not let him call it up.
Mac" had buttonholed about every
member of the House, Democrats us
we'll as Republicans, and, as they all
liked him, they all said he ought to
have a show for his bill. They knew
from personal experience how import
ant one of these little local measures
may become to the member who
wants it. though to the public at large
it may appear entirely insignificant.
Uncle Joe" Cannon had expressed his
regret at refusing, but was adaman-
tine in his intention to hold the House
business to the regular lines which
had been laid out and not to make an
exception Of anything that could mar
the symmetry of the party policy in
process of evolution. Even the Pres
ident had been appealed to in vain for
a brief loan of his influence. 1t there
fore occasioned some surprise when,
shortly after the invocation of the
chaplain one morning, the speaker
rested his eye on the member from
West Junktown and announced that
he would be recognized to move sus-
pension of the rules and ask unanl-
nous consent to consider bill number
five thousand blank hundred and
blankety-eight. There was no obJec-
ton, and in a twikling the bill was
through. Only two of the Represen-
tatives present knew the true story
of the abandonment of party policy.
A telegram had come summoning
Mac" to the bedside of his favorite
sister, who was dying. One of the
old members of the House heard about
it and took the news to the Speakers
room.
TELL him / want to see him."
growled the Speaker.
How did you get the idea |
wasn't going to let that bill come up ?"
demanded "Uncle joe in the severest
tone he could command, when the dis
couraged and grief-stricken member
was brought before him. "Drat it! I
only wanted to know what was in the
Internal BILL he Numbered. BE in
your seat when the House opens, and
when l point the tail of the gavel at
you, you get upon your feet and make
that motion. It's a good bill and it
ought to pass. and, by the great
snakes, it shall.
"TOO MUCHEE TALKEE."
The case of the Corporation Com