The Washington times., 1906-05-08
SPEAKER GANNON'S
BIRTHDAY PARTY
All Official Washington at
Celebration.
SEVENTY YEARS YOUN G
President Among Those Who offered
Congratulations at the Arlington
Last Night.
SEVENTY YEARS YOUNG

down, united in the great birthday
party at the Arlington last evening.
which celebrated the SEVENTEEN ami
versary Of the birth of Speaker Can
non. The Speaker standing at the
middle Of n reception line Of his col
leagues Of the House, a miniature of
the Capitol at his back. and with the
receiving line fianked by a display of
flowers that covered the entire end Of
the receiving parlor, greeted probably
1900 friends who came with their
tributes of affection and their showers
Of CONGRATULATIONS.
Uncle Joe's Congressional Record.
The world having been a bit reticent
about adopting the theory which DR..
Osler says he didn't promulgate. there
are lots Of people who are entitled to
congratulations on being seventy years
old; but not many who can fairly re-
ceive fluctuations on being seventy years
young. OF these latter, Uncle Joe"
Cannon is certainly the premier. There
are more than a dozen members Of the
House who were not yet born when,
in the Forty-third Congress- a spare
young fellow, just under forty. came
from the Danville. Ill. district, and
quietly took a rear seat. He was
modest, almost bashful young man,
and never asserted himself in those
days. unless he got an idea that his
rights were being infringed. When he
got that sort OF an idea he was apt to
be right about II. and then he would
get very active. But this young man
he was nearly forty. but looked more
like thirty-did more thinking than
talking, moro studying than speech
making He presently began TO be
recognized as an authority on the facts
about this Government; he knew about
the appropriations. the departments
the tariff schedules, the political his
tory. He was so useful that he was
pushed along At the end OF a few
terms he was chairman Of the .Appro-
priations Committee.
In the famous Congress Of 1890 when
the Republicans started in with six or
seven majority. he was head Of that
committee; Reed was Speaker; McKin-
ley was chairman Of WAYS and Means
The three constituted the majority rep
resentation on the Committee OF Rules
and with this Congress the real large
career Of Joseph c. Cannon began. So
indeed, did that OF William Mckinley.
The one went to the Presidency, the
other 10 the Speakership and leadership
OF the represent tative body. now the re-
cogniZed second political place in the
nation Both saw their troubles: both
were defeated for their loyalty TO the
Mckinley legislation. and both renew
ed that loyalty and proclaimed II from
the hOusetOps- They We're Vindicated
IN public opinion. restored to their seats
and raised TO higher and higher places
Today the modest young man Of more
than thirty years ago stands as the re-
cognized first lieutenant Of the President
In carrying out the great legislative pro-
gram OF Congress that is sure to rank
among the historic parliaments Of the
republic.
All Official Washington on Hand.
It was to this man, with this story Of
accomplishment behind him. and with
the possibility Of yet more distinction
and yet more service ahead, that the
popular body paid Its respects last night
All official Washington was hidden 10
shake the hand Of the honored guest;
and 1t came. Never in the memory Of
this generation has there been another
such whole-hearted. democratic, honest
outpouring OF goodwill for a public man
in Washington. by his associates of all
parties and all shades Of opinion. Every
body said ii was tho most strictly demo-
cratic function ever held In the town;
just the sort 20 be appropriate to the
character of the guest in whose honor
IL was given.
Originating with n group OF Represen-
tatives, the birthday party was taken
up and made great demonstration for
the Speaker Nothing Ike il could have
happened, IL may safely be said in any
other great capital of the world and
nobody was more interested in the
study Of II than the members of the
Diplomatic Corps present. They had
come from all the embassies and Iega,
tions. and If they found the absolute
democracy or II a bit strange at first
they proved their adaptability by max
Ing themselves very much a part OF IL
and meeting their hosts on the plane
OF simplicity and equality on which they
round Senators. Representatives. dignl-
ment executives, and the President him
self.
The reception hours were announced
as 10 L There was no delay in be-
ginning, but there was I'm ending the
entertainment Everybody came early,
and almost everybody stayed late.
Members in Receiving Line.
The first floor Of the hotel aI,,os,
without reserve. was taken for the func-
tion, the parlors, cafes. and Great
dining room being thrown into 4 b1leo
suite. The receiving party stood in the
Vermont avenue reception hall and nv
ESQ there was a steady stream of moo
pie pouring into the room The Sneal,e,-s
looking all that he is except the seyent,,,
years, was accompanied in the receiv-
ing line by Representatives Siblev -ToIv
ney, Littauer. Littlefleld, Sherman VVil-
1iams of Mississippi. and Clark of NIis
souri,. The Speaker received the CON
gratulations and sallies with equal
grace
Many Sallies of Wit.
''Mr. Speaker" began one guest. on
taking the hand that wields the gavel.
u told them II was all a lie"
What's that7' demanded the Speaker.
This story that you are seventy
years old"
"How's that?'
Why, it's only your fiftieth. I told
EN- to come and see you, and when they
did they admitted that I was right
The speaker might have been excused
for wanting to enter in an athletic COM
petition. after he had listened TO that
sort OF thing for an hour or two When
Secretary Taft, whose expansive smile
and easy manners always make him A
iavorite at such affairs. went down the
line, something Ike this took place:
MI Speaker. my congratulatfons
How are you enjoying it7'
All the better for seeing you, thank
you"