The Washington times., 1907-12-14
CANNON BOOSTED
FOR PRESIDENCY,
WOULD LIKE JOB
HaSStrength in Both Par
ties and Would Make
Strong Race.
High Tariff Men Espe-
cially Pleased by Ru-
mOrS Of Candidacy.

Keep your eye on Uncle joe" This
Is thr word that is going around Wash
ingtol these days. Particularly has
there been much talk OF this sort since
the Presidents final remuneration Of a
denomination. Politicians generally rec
Ognize that Speaker Cannon is in a po-
sition Of no mean advantage with ref
erence TO the nomination for the head
of the 1903 Republican ticket. and that
stranger things may happen at Chicago
next juno than that he is the winning
candidate
II would be a remarkable thing If this
man who has served continuously in
Congress, as a member OF the House,
for nearly a third of a century, were
TO round out his career by a term in
the White House He is now seventy
one years old and over. He will be
seventy-two next May, and almost sew
enty-three before he could enter the
White House to succeed Mr.. Roosevelt.
He would be nearly seventy-seven be-
fore he could end a four-year term az
Chief Executive. And yet It is every
where conceded by those that have
given the situation careful consideration
that he has elements of strength that
are not 10 be despised.
Has Presidential Bee.
Uncle Joe has the bee. He has had II
for months. It is seldom this pestiferous
insect leaves a man once IT has begun
buzzing around him AS for the Speaker.
there is every indication that II has been
IN his neighborhood a long time. and
that when he sat out on his porch at
Danville last summer and inhaled the
aroma OF his long. black cigar he and
the White House bee got on extremely
friendly terms.
To begin with, Congress Is for Uncle
Joe. He Is well liked in the Senate and
despite his incllnatons to ride rough
shod over the House, the House doesn't
resent Is as much IL might 1t IS
true. there are annually some extremely
vigorous speeches against the irOnClad
rules and the man that enfOrces them.
that II is the system and not the Speaker
that Is really at fault. The Speaker is a
born leader OF men. Some of his critics con-
denim him as theatrical and reactionary
and generally "agin" the common people.
But II IS admitted that II II is necessary
10 have a boss he is, on the whole, a
pretty good one He is Of the sort that
naturally takes command. II he were
thrown out with a section gang he
would naturally be foreman, and would
make an effective one He would get the
the company. IN the House he is warmly
liked personally. Even the Democrats
have a kindly feeling down in their
hearts for Uncle joe
Holds His Friends.
John Sharp Williams. minority leader.
has filed whole chapters of the Con-
gresslonal Record with fulminahons
aimed at the Speaker, yet he and the
Speaker are good friends. Uncle joe I
has the ability to turn a man down
fat and finally, and yet not make an
enemy OF him
OF course. Congress does not nominate
the Republican candidate for President
If 1t did, Mr.. Cannon would win in a
walk And yet the influence Of the
members Of Congress Is no mean asset
in a Presidential race. Speaker Cannon
has the friendship and support Of many
members of Congress on personal
grounds. and, moreover, a. fact not to be
overlooked. he has the power to frame
I'D the House committees. There are
many important vacancies to be filled,
and IL would hardly be human in the
Speaker not to make appointments 70
these vacancies in such fashion as TO
win Presidential support. II is com
monty charged that this is just what
the Speaker is doing Politicians Sus-
meet that New York viii appear in
the convention with a good measure Of
second choice strength for Cannon, and
that this face Will not be utterly unre-
lated TO the selection Of Representative
lanes Sherman for head OF the Rules
Committee.
High Tariff Men Like Him
Of course. the Speaker IS looked on
with great esteem by the high tariff
forces. He has sat so long and hard on
the tariff lid and kept revision Of tho
Dingley schedules boxed up so tight
that the high tariff men Ike him and
have utmost confidence in him Labor
leaders, on the other hand, are bitterly
hostile TO the Speaker. While this from
one viewpoint is a weakness, II is
argued on the other hand that 1t will
bring him many votes from circles Op-
posed 10 labor organizations and lab
or's best friends admit that when II
comes to getting the labor vote to hang
together on election day. 1t is almost I'M
possible.
While Speaker Cannon is generally
classified as belonging 70 the genus re-
dictionary, the truth is that he has been
careful to avoid getting into such an
tagonism with the President Is to
drive away any great number Of votes
in the Roosevelt camp. There has not
been. and Will not be, IL the Speaker
can avoid II, any break with the White
House that prevents Uncle Joe" going
freely to the Executive Mansion TO talk
things over.
Speaker Cannon would get It II he
were younger say some of the
prophets. On the other hand, the
Speakers age is regarded in some quar-
ters as a source of strength. Other
Presidential aspirants have less objec-
ton 10 compromising on a man who will
be President but four years than to a
nomination OF a younger man who would
be almost certain Of two term2 When
IL comes to the stump Uncle joe"
with his long cigar, his soft hat, and
his homely ways, real or affected, and
his general air Of a man who has known
what 1t Is 70 wear one gallus. can draw
the crowds. He Is not an orator but he
has a way OF getting The votes.
MAN REFUSES TO SAIL
IN STATEROOM NO. %