The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-07-14
Nunskn,s Md0nzi


one, but not strenuous enough to disturb him
in the least. The issue pending was not in SO
much danger that he did not have time to be
kind to youngsters from his own State. He put
his arms around them, as a moment later he
might put his arms around the two Democrats
then engaged in rhetorically belaboring all his
fellow Republicans. Yet all the time he had his
eyes on the business of the House.
Affection, subjective and objective, and bust
ness, public and private, adjusted in that nice
proportion which makes life happy for a mans
self and useful to his neighbors, have been the
springs of Uncle Joe Cannon's successful use
the homely title by which he is best known to
Washington and the world at large. If he has
any enemies-it would be a long hunt to find
them-they are not likely to deny that, however
keenly he fought them, he offered them, both
before and after the fight, all the good-fellow-
ship of his nature. That has always been his
way-the way in which he has risen, step by
step, from a country grocery to the chair of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
HOW CANNON CAME TO THE FRONT.
Thirty-four years ago, when he first made up
his mind to go to Congress. he was a self taught
young lawyer In eastern Illinois, who knew the
world from practical experience of its rough
places, and who had natural aptitude for poll
tics. He was elected largely because he got out
the Quaker VOTE" The son of a Quaker from
North Carolina, he knew every Quaker family
of consequence within driving distance. When
he wanted Office. therefore, though the mud was
as sticky as glue and the streams were swollen
to the danger-point, and there were no bridges.
he made house to house campaign throughout
the district told all the Friends who he was, and
asked them for what he wanted. The good old
people would listen gravely, he says, and reply:
''Yes. Joseph. We know thy good mother and
we knew thy good father. We know thee as
good son. We will vote for thee"
That was in 1872. Every second year since.
except in 1890, when Mckinley and nearly every
other Republican in the House was beaten also,
he has been re-nominated by reclamation and
reelected against the strongest opposition the
Democrats can provide.
The Joe Cannon we know has been matured in
the course of this long service in Congress-
Some one has described him as product of the
Civil War. He is not 30 much of the war school,
however, as of the Congressional school which
had to wrestle with the problems entailed by
the great conflict. He was seeking Republican
leadership at the very epoch in the party's his
tory when its highest places were sought by the
greatest number of men and by the strongest
men. 1t is not always easy to get the lead in a
minority of two. What developing fight it
must have been, then, to contend for it in ma
jority which included such chieftains as Conk-
ling, Frye, Blaine and Reed
A WATCHDOG OF THE PUBLIC TREASURY.
Cannon earned his position in Congress. Year
by year he accumulated the equipment which
means influence there. He did not rely primar
lily upon oratory, or wit, or organization but
finH un lodn Of Io
can people and his practical understanding of
their business interests. For twenty years he
accustomed his colleagues to trust his mastery
of industrial statistics and his wide acquaintance
with the world of commerce. 1t is no wonder
that he was e00n member of the committee on
appropriations, or that he was chairman of that
committee for a decade.
All this time Cannon was following program
which would have made enemies by the score
for most men. 1t was his business to oppose any
Congressman who appealed to the House for an
increase over the allowances fixed by the COM
mittee. No one who can recall those days will
suggest that he did his appointed work with any
effort at concilating his antagonists. On the
contrary, he over-rode them without mercy.
Yet today, after all the years he spent in that
militant service, it is matter of real doubt If
"Uncle Joe" ever alienated single friend or
acquaintance by fighting his plea for more
money.
sHREwD AND KINDLY PERSONALITY.
What is the explanation 1t is the other half
of the combination suggested at the outset
affection. Like Abou-ben-Adhem, he is a man
who loves his fellowmen. There is not mem
Der of the House who has not felt the force of
that regard. 1t exhales from Speaker Cannon
as unconsciously as his smile. 1t is the key to
his personality.
On the day of the vote on the rule to bring in
the Statehood Bill without amendment, Repre-
sentative Bede, of Minnesota, found occasion to
reply to Mr.. Payne, of New York. floor leader
for the Republicans. The latter had argued
against having the vote of New Yorks two Sena-
tors Cancelled, as might happen, by the vote of
two Senators from Arizona.
"The gentleman refers to the two Senators
from New York." observed Mr.. Bede with
drawl which cleared the way for good laugh.
Most people are trying to forget them"
"Bang!" went the Speakers gavel, and there
followed severe admonition to Mr.. Bede to
show due respect to the members of the other
House.
A few days later some one referred to Bede's
joke.
II should have been put to it to find the rule
which declared Bede out of ORDER" said the
Speaker slowly; "but know Adam Bede. I've
with him and 1 like him. wasn't
willing that he should stand up there and make
a joke of man we were all glad enough to go
to see last year, just because he happens to be
down this year."
There is one illustration of Uncle Joe Can
mons ways. Those two young Congressman
from his own State, to whom he paid more at
tention than to the floor leaders, could give
anofhar Man who hav oona m hin, II, +ro,,hla
could give a thousand. Ali would reveal the
same quality-a kindly interest which strikes
through all reserve because it is SO clearly
genuine. 1t was that, coupled with confidence
in his proven business capacity and unassailed
integrity, which elected him Speaker three
years ago, practically without opposition. 1t
was that at the close of his first Congress, which
drew from the minority leader a resolution,
adopted in what was called a joint caucus,
crediting to him not alone the flair. impartial,
and able manner" which is ascribed to all retir-
ing Speakers, but sturdy common sense and
genial good humor, which have induced the
members of the House itself at this session, in a
degree almost unprecedented, in imitation of
him, to display the same sterling American
in their deliberations and mutual
Affection is, in fact, the most characteristic
thing about Joe Cannon. The cartoons have
emphasized his cigar. The funny papers dwell
on his supposed tendency to indulge
in profanity. The eye fixes itself on a short,
slender figure, CARRIED in Tapping
cloth, and surmounted by mass of white beard
and one of the keenest and kindest faces in the
world. History will have much to say of the
eventful record of his public service but mem
DRY will regard him chiefly as one who instinc-
lively puts his arm about his fellows and wakens
In them the same simple affection.
SIR FREDERICK TRAvEs, M. d. surgeon to the
King, in an address offered a novel standard
upon which to measure the usefulness of hos
pitfalls. The amount of pain relieved. he said.
could be roughly gagged by the quantity of
consumed in the hospitals. One
sixth of grain would relieve pain for one
hour and ON that basis single hospital last
year averted $1,000 hours of pain. In the saw
ing of life the hospitals could probably make
3 far more striking display of their utility,
though it might be more difficult to compute
Il in figures. But the question arises, would it
4 II l.