East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-05-07

Washington, May Speaker Jos.
G. Cannon, of the house of represen-
tatives. Is 20 years old today and his
birthday will be made the starting
point of big political boom, the OBJ
ject of which is the nomination of
Mr.. Cannon for the presidency of the
United States. The friends, personal
as well as political, have arranged a
big reception and dinner in honor of
Speaker Cannon's birthday and it will
be at the dinner tonight that the boom
will be formally launched.
Notwithstanding his 20 years,
Speaker Cannon Is still hale and
strong and shows none of the failings
concomitant to old age. The propo-
sition of starting a Cannon boom was
suggested some time last year and
since then 1t has been thoroughly dis
cussed by the friends of Mr.. Cannon
and many of the political leaders who
are not themselves aspirants to the
nomination. 1t is believed by many
friends of Mr.. Cannon that leaving
President Roosevelt out of considera-
ton, Speaker Cannon is the only man
who can save the Republican party
from defeat at the next presidential
election.
The party leaders have been much
worried by the signs of radicalism and
revolt In the political atmosphere and
the chances Of a Bryan, a Hearst or
a Bailey riding the popular wave to
power, and set them to scurrying for
some men "close to the people," They
say Root will not do. Fairbanks is
out Of the question. Even Taft is now
doubtful, and the chances seem to
favor his accepting President Roose-
velts invitation to ascend the supreme
court bench. The Illinois delegation in
tho house is, naturally for Cannon to
man. Illinois is his state. The In
diana members of the house are in
an embarrassing position. There is
scarcely a man Of them whose heart
is not with Cannon, but so long as
they are members of the Fairbanks
machine, they feel that they cannot
officially line up their state with Cam
non until Fairbanks withdraws. There
is a movement on foot to bring about
this result
The Ohio members of the house do
not feel at liberty to declare for Can
non at this time. The obstacle is SEN
ator Foraker, who has the presiden-
tial bee In his bonnet. although il is
an almost foregone conclusion that
his nomination would lead to a terri
fic defeat of the republican party.
Foreaker has come out as a candidate.
however, and that will probably tie
the hands of the Ohio members.
Speaker Cannon holds the age rec
ord for speakers When he took his
seat as speaker the first time Mr.. Can
non was 81 years old. Even at that
age he was two years older than his
Oldest predecessor at his retirement.
William Pennington, of New Jersey,
who was speaker of the seth congress.
from 1859 to 1861, was SIS years old
when he stepped down. He died the
following year.
The tendency of late years seems
TO have been toward selecting older
speakers. Previous to the civil war
of % speakers only Pennington, JON
athan Trumbull, who was 81, and
John Narnum, who was 81. were over
DO years when they were selected, and
there were number OF rather youth
full presiding officers.
Counting Galusha A. Grow, who
presided during the struggle, there
have been II speakers since the war
and all were men well advanced in
life except Grow, who was only 3s.
when elected. Schuyler Colfax was
40 when he took the chair first and
46 when he retired; Crisp was 40
when he retired and Henderson So
at the end of his second term. The
baby speaker was Robert NJ. T. Hun
Ter of Virginia, who was speaker of
the 2eth congress and was 80 years
old when he was elected.