The Washington times., 1906-05-06
BeHeUes in coHeqes.

HIS face Is grsZzled by his seventy
years Of conflict with the world. It il
a face almost fnscrutable. rarely ex-
pressing any passion. neither hate. nor
contempt. nor even enjoyment Il -
said that the best picture OF him IN ex-
istence is the one which hangs n the
House Appropriation Committee. he
posed for the painting without being
aware that he was doing so. Old
members OF the committee. OF which
Mr.. Cannon was chairman SO long.
wanted a good portrait OF their col
league, but Freeman Thorpe. the artist
engaged, could not get Just the express
sion sought Finally two eonsplrators
engaged the Danville statesman IN con-
versation while Mr.. Thorpe watched
his victim. Several subjects were
brought up. and when one OF the two
told a poker story the artist az once
got busy with his sketch IN a Few
minutes he had caught Cannon's poker
face" and the result IS the picture now
hanging IN the committee room
He IS not a highly educated man. IN
the sense Of being college bred OF very
widely read He says that during his
boyhood his education was confined 10
a country school and home teaching
about the big leg fireplace. his books
were mostly those derived from a little
public library at the village saddle-'s
shop. It contained Plutarch's Lives"
AesOp's Fables" Josephus' History
of the Jews" Rollins Ancient His
tory" Shakespeare. and the Bible
These he read again and again He
had read ali Shakespeare before he
was fifteen. and every year from nine
until fifteen he had 20 read the Bible
through. he got a smattering OF Latin
while he was reading law he studied
with his wife after his marriage. and
the fact that AIr- Cannon today knows
much more about more things OF Prac-
teal value than any other man IN
Congress IS because OF these -arly
years OF his married lie Fyhen the
woman OF his heart was his teacher.
He does not, however, undervaIue
college education. When questioned on
the subject ne once said. frankly; 7
have regretted that I was not able 10
go TO college. The lack OF such an
education has obliged me TO do my Hfe
work with dull tools. Education sharp
ems a mans intellectual faculties. and
the man who has It works more surely
and safely. I have for years been on
the Appropriation Committee OF the
House. and have signed conference re-
ports appropriaJing more than 81 ,000.-
ooo,Ooo I have had my say as 70 the
contents OF those reports. but I would
not have attempted the writing OF one
OF them for a fortune Why7 Because
the reports are written IN hurry and
the misplacing OF q single comma
might have cost the nation millions OF
dollars. ana brought me everlasting
disgrace"
But Uncle Joe Cannon, while ad-
mittedly not imposing as TO physique
nor impressive as 10 intellectual attain
ment. stands pre-eminent in one thing.
and that is absolute. answering hon
esty, and loyalty 10 what he believes
right He has inherited the ''GOd-fear-
ing. man-Ioving'' qualities of his par
ents- Probably no Speaker OF the
House has ever been more beloved by
members on both sides OF the chamber,
and certain II is that-thOuEh he IS a
partisan Of the Dartisans. 10 whom Re
publicanism, the faith Of Lincoln, is
creed, nay. more, a cOnviction-nOne
has ever. presided with more fairness.
with less partisan bias. than he. NO
other Speaker ever accorded tho
minority greater rights and privileges.
and OF this every Democrat Is duly
apDreciative.
He has had long experience n public
life, and the charge OF dishonesty has
never been made against him. He has
4 strong hold on the Republicans OF
the House, and a firm g-ip on the af-
fectiOns Of the people, rlOt only OF Hi
nois. but OF the United States at large
In all The thirty-odd years OF his public
service. his honor has remained un-
tarnished, his integrity no man assaiIs,
his motives no man questions.
Tho H4--o-,es,--