The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-01-25
CANN0N'S JOKE
Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives Sells an
0verooat to a Friend
HOW The DEAL WAS MADE
Victim Paid Ten Dollars Ad.
vance on the "Hand-Ms-
Down" Garmens.

Joseph G. Cannon. Speaker Of the
House of Representatives, Is not as care
full about the details Of his dress as some
other members Of Congress Since his
elevation to his present position he has
paid more attention to his apparel than
he did when he was merely one of the
many on the floor, but even now be for
gets sometimes to the extent of leaving
few inches of waistcoat unbuttoned. or
crayat crawling up to his ear instead
Of keeping under his chin, writes Arshur
Williams in Success. A few days before
Congress adjourned he appeared IN a
brand new suit, the It and general ssyls
Of which Indicated the work of anished
and up-to-dste tailor.
This had the effect Of reviying story
Of the old days when he did not even
dream, perhaps, Of occupying the seat
made notably in Crisp and Reed "upele
Joe as he is famiIiarly called, has al
ways been economical, and firmly be-
heyes that a dollar saved is q doIlax
earned. One Of his methods OF laying NJ
money along these lines used to be to
buy ready-made clothing and TO pay not
more than fifteen dollars for suit Or an
oYercaat. The result was sometimes toe
marked to be altogether acceptable to the
members of his family and ultimately
his daughter worked cut plan which
they thought would solve all the various
problems involved.
The scheme was simply to 90 to the
clothing store where their father traded.
deposit certain sum Of money with the
prapEie8or and instraet hiEa to hEinseek
his best stock when his distinguished Gus
toner called, but to say or do nothing
~lHtb NOuAu 5Afe Aa4fA q a24At LIZ = w SAVt't-
ing displayed for his inspection was net
his favorite ffteen-dollar grade Thea, il
he CHANGED to select a suit worth forty
FIVE dollars, he paid his fifteen dollars, as'a
the remaining thirty dollars WAS takez
from the amout deposited by his daugA-
ters. All went web until seme Of the
neighbors were let into the secret. Gas
day "Uncle Joe'' came proudly down ths
street wearing a handsome new overcast
for which he had just paid fifteen dol
lars, but for whiek the storekeeper had
also deducted an additional thirty-hvs
dollars from the trust fund. A friend
who had become acquainted with the mo-
dus operandi of the deal met hin and ex-
pressed excessive adniration fer the num
garment.
.sYes, it's a fine ceat,r said Mr.. Can-
non. "only cost me fifteen deHars tex" I"
.'You don't say was the friends re-
sponse. "why III gsve yeu twensy-hvs
dollars for ts'
..Uncie Joe. thought moment re-
menbered that while at bhe store he lad
seen several coats at the store exactly
like his, which the salesman had sold
him were held at the same price, and
then, not being averse to picking up ten
dollars with 50 little effort, said, III 80
you
The exchange was quickly affscbed.
While walking on toward his ofses
'sUncle joe met one Of his daughters.
She scoldea him for exposing hiasslf to
the weather without an overcoat. and
thereupon he told her the story Of his re-
cent deal. Then he sauntered on 70 the
the store and purchased another coat
like the first, for ffteen dollars
s.you don't know your business, he
said to the tailor as he related the sale
Of the first garment; you're selling thess
coats too cheap.
Il think yeu'd make better trades
man than a politician said the tailss
in reply.
But the grizzlei old wislder of hAs ass
tion's gavel did not see the joke nnxii
., <s,.,. L., -. ...s7 1<t.z ~ Il