Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-12
UNCLE JOE" TELLS
HOW FAME IS TO Be
WON IN CONGRESS
Speakers Sage Advice 10
Aspiring Young Member.
"STAY OFF BIG COMMITTEES;
STICK TO THE HOUSE FLOOR"
Correspondence Morning journal

Correspondence Morning Journal
Washington. Dec S.--Nearly all new
men think they can trace the path to
future glory through prominent com
mlttee rooms. When they come Wis
itng" with Mr.. Cannon, as he calls it,
they drop hints of the need of their
various districts, the interests that are
paramount there and suggest COM
mittees where these particular interest
may best be cared for Now the fact
is that there are going to be mighty
few vacancies on the big committees
of the house and those that Will exist
will be filed by old and experienced
members.
In his fatherly sort of way, Speaker
Cannon conveys to these members
whole lot of hard, common sense ad-
vice which they will profit by II they
have the shrewdness TO recognize its
worth. He can show the ambitious,
but budding statesman, that the way
to distinction and fame is not ordinar-
lily through the committee room.
A fair sample of Uncle Joe's"
homely philosophy was handed out by
him to Congressman-e Burke, OF
Pittsburg, day or two ago. Mr..
Burke is brilliant young attorney,
who has achieved more than ordinary
distinction in his profession and in
politics, and he comes To Washington
with all the enthusiasm that his sue
cess can inspire. He believes that the
big city he represents in part demands
recognition op important committees
In the house, and he intimated as
much to Mr.. Cannon,
Now look here my dear boy" said
Mr. Cannon. with whom congressman
of all ages are boys" Let me re-
late to you what a sage olo statesman
told me when first came to the house.
| was young and ambitious and l sup
posed that the surest way to make
reputation In congress was to get ap-
pointed on some important commit
tee like that on ways and means, the
judiciary appropriations, or some
thing like that
"This veteran took me to one side
and said: Look here my young man,
II you really want to make a reputa-
tion In congress don't try for a place
on the important committees. You
want to study the hOuse4 You want
to familarize yourself with parlia-
mentary procedure and the way
things are conducted on the floor. You
stay I'm the house and learn how bus
mess Is transacted there. and by and
! by TO make yourself heard. Study up
on some great question that Is before
congress and when you get a chance
make a speech. If you can make a
! good one you are going to make q
reputation. II they won't let you
make long speech watch your
chance and get in under the five-mn-
ute rule and II you have anything
worth saying and know how to say II,
you can get yourself talked about and
looked on as quite fellow.
'" Now as for committee work there
Is a good deal of humbug about that.
Suppose, young man, that you we're
appointed on big important commit
tee You would be down at the foot
of the list and the important bills to
he framed by that committee would
be made by a subcommittee compos-
ed of the first four or five members
and you wouldn't have q finger IN
the pie When that great bill Is
brought into the house all the old
fellows will first have their say and
thay will thresh the subject out 50
that when you do get chance your
speech will have been spoken by hall
a dozen fellows ahead of you, and you
will be lucky II you have the clerks
and page boys to listen to your efforts
Take my advice said my old
friend, and accept place In some IN
significant committee that never
meets and don't worry about the ef-
feet II viii have on your constituency
at home A letter written on the let
terhead of the committee on "Levees
and Improvement of ehe Mississippi
River" or of the joint selection com
mlttee on Disposition OF Useless Exc
cutive Papers" will appear Just as i'm.
portant and convey just as high an
idea of dignity as one written on the
letterhead OF the committee on ways
and means or foreign affairs. In the
meantime you will be learning 9
whole lot on the floor Of the house
and preparing yourself for the effor'
that Is going to startle the world IL
your mind
II have found in my service In the
house, which you know Is pretty
long one" said Mr.. Cannon that thii
old genteman's advice was about az
sound as any / ever received New
members make a great mistake In m,