The National tribune., 1906-05-24

space about 125 feet wide, the Repub-
licans of Decatur had arranged a meet
ing place Of the convention. Poles had
been erected on which to support a
covering Of brush to exclude the
scorching sun. Under this brush roof
there was to assemble one of the most
important conventions. both as to its
personnel and its deliberations, since
the days Of the Revolution.
On the morning Of the convention,
as Mr.. Cannon. who came only as an
onlooker and not as a delegate, and
his friends drove into Decatur. Van
derOn exclaimed:
There's Lincoln"
"Howdy, Arch" came the saluta-
ton a moment later.
"Howdy, Abe" replied Vanderon.
Douglass"
Yes. Didn't expect to see you over
here. now ye're a candidate"
well. Arch reckon / was at first
little too much Of a candidate to
come. but after all I was hardly enough
Of candidate to stay away"
That was the first time Uncle joe
Cannon ever saw the great war Presi-
dent. The second and only other time
he saw him was some months after
Lincoln's election, when he was q pas
senger on the same train as Mr.. LIN
coin. who was travelling down to Coles
Stirring Scenes.
But there were other stirring scenes
that day at Decatur for the lawyer, for
whom it was destined to round out a
long public career. be many years the
of Representatives. and keep n hand
on the appropriation OF billions of
money for the Government.
The throng under the brush roof
rapidly assumed large proportions. The
yeomanry crowded every available inch
Of Decatur. Mr.. Cannon was In the
press. like the others. intent on the
proceedings, which were to eliminate
in the nomination OF Richard Yates.
who would become one OF the greatest
OF all the famous war Governors.
Make way! Make way" the pre-.
siding officer of the convention cried,
for Dick Oglesby and Dennis Hanks
Make way for Dick Oglesby and Dem
mis- Hanks. who will bring to the plat
form some OF the rails that Abe Lin
coin split
The great hickory rails were borne
to the platform and stood up endwise.
To the rails was attached a wide strip
OF cotton, upon which was printed the
statement that they were made by
Abraham Lincoln and Dennis Hanks.
Soon there were cries for the man
great emancipation. Lincoln demurred
He said he did not want to make a
speech. The throng clamored, and he
moved forward. In their enthusiasm
men lifted him above their shoulders,
and he was passed over the heads Of
his brawny admirers TO the platform.
Did you split them rais?" came a
| shout from under the brush roof
Dennis Hanks says I did," replied
| Lincoln, looking toward the rails II
| am not sure of it myself. but | have
| split many better ones"
Mr.. Cannon is as unassuming as a
| man can we'll be. There IS absolutely
| not one suggestion In his manners of
the dignity OF his Office. yet the dignity
! OF the office Of Speaker is more strong
ly upheld by Speaker Cannon than
| ever before In its history. He consid-
ers the office second only to the Presi-
| dency, and says SO, and lie has also
| said that he would rather be Speaker
| OF the House than President OF the
United States. IL may be he shall
achieve both before he is Oslerized;
| who can tell?
Mr.. Cannon is not a handsome man.
He has silver-white hair and q little
curly-what there Is OF it-and a stub
BY. close-clipped gray beard. He is
neat in his attire. but not at all
"spruced-up" looking. In evening
clothes he looks mighty nice, but not
pretty even then. He Is perhaps 1--WE