Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-03
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
Keep Your Eye on ''Uncle Joe" Can
non Of Illinois.

Just one year ago Washington was ring
Ing with the Inauguration bells. Theo-
dore Roosevelt was indicted into office
after the most triumphant election that
has ever been known IN the history of
the republic. Having on the night of
the election set at rest any possibility
that he would under any circumstances be
a candidate for reelection the talk of his
successor has been heard ever since. 1t
may seem strange that In this talk the only
candidates whose names are seriously mem
toned are Fairbanks, Root Shaw and Taft,
the Vice President, and the three leading
members Of the cabinet. Secretary of State.
Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary OF
War In official Washington cannot some
other name be found? Is 1t not possible to
mention a man whose qualities are such as
to be very attractive to the American peo-
pie? Oh, yes, but no one seems to talk 1t
seriously. And why? Because when the
delegates are being elected to the next ma
tonal convention he will be seventy two
years old.
But who thinks of age in connection with
Joseph c. Cannon Speaker OF the House
of Representatives? Who calls Uncle
Joe" old? Watch him day after day In the
Speakers chair, in the Speakers office. and
at the round of official functions that he
must attend night after night, and then
say that he IS too old man for President.
Measured by time, yes. He has passed. say,
the allotted three score years and ten"
but measured by the physical and mental
power of the average man he Is among the
men In their prime.
Possibly. and no doubt probably, Speaker
Cannon would not enjoy being paraded as a
presidential quantity. Three years from
now the face of the political map may have
changed a dozen times, but as matters stand
10 asp no fha fact that
gard him as one who would make strong
candidate and who could poll the republican
strength of the country. Suppose there Is a
four cornered fight In the convention and
each of the four men first named have
much strength. but not enough to win New
York Ohio Indiana and Iowa battling for
the honor of having the standardbearer;
then Illinois. the third state In the Union,
swings her delegation for Uncle Joe Cannon
Would there not be a stampede? Almost
sure, II such conditions should exist.
There is another thing to consider. IL
Cannon was elevated to higher honors 1t
ship providing the democrats do not
create such a vacancy as a result of the
elections this year In the House there
are dozen men who would ike TO see
such vacancy in order to make an eff
fort to secure the place for themselves
Among the states that have speakership
timber may be mentioned Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Michigan Minnesota. New
York. Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Would not the ambitious men In the dele
cations from these states be glad to see
Uncle Joe" go higher up. SO that they
might have chance to become Speaker?
OF course. And II the time should come
where they can do something for them
selves by helping Cannon they win be sure
to do 1t.
The Inauguration Of Theodore Roosevelt
Is year behind us. The election of dele
gates to the next national convention Is
but two years away and is coming pretty
fast. In sizing up the presidential possi-
bilitfes II win do no harm to keep your
eye on Uncle Joe" Cannon OF Illinois.