Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-02

tangible asset. 1 got it down on the 18TH
mus working hard preparing canal esti-
mates while the rest of you folks were
bly, this winter
Speaker Cannon kept to his private Of
flee UP to the time Of his election, and all
the morning 1t was jammed with repub-
licans and democrats alike. who dropped
In to pay their respects and shake Uncle
Joe by the hand Mr.. Cannon was in good
form, and according to reports has l.
brand new stock OF verbal explosives for
this winters rough house.
The New Members.
1t was easy to tell a new member
and there are 121 in the Sixtieth Con-
gress. The old timers and even second
term men strolled around the floor this
morning as big as life backslapping. rib
tickling. handshaking and joshing. They
talked of everything from legislation to
lightning bugs, and appeared at home on
every subject. But the new men didn't
act the same. Those of them who didn't
look nervous and wide-eyed put on too
much size. They stalked around with
their chests out and their heels making
dents in the velvet carpet. Every time
any one spoke to them suddenly they
curied up to their regular size. .
was on the floor early this morning,
and his popularity as a member of the
House and his standing with his col
leagues were pretty plainly demon
he was forced to. hold at his desk for
an hour or more. Mr.. Mckinley is
treasurer of the republican congress
sional committee, and, as one of his
friends expressed it, has lots of other
good traits"
Speaker Cannon Reelected.
Promptly at noon the clerk of the
House brought down his gavel with a
smash, Chaplain Couden offered up
prayer, and without further prelimina
ries the roll was called by state dele
cations. After other necessary pIelim-
inaries the House got down to business
and elected Mr. Cannon Speaker by 2O7
to 154, Representative John Sharp Will
liams receiving the democratic vote.
A committee. consisting of Representa-
tives Williams, James of Kentucky and
Sulloway of New Hampshire, was ap-
pointed to bring the Speaker into the
House. Amid thunderous applause. in
which republicans and democrats alike
Joined. Speaker Cannon was escorted
down the center aisle to his chair.
In a brief speech, Representative Will
liams said the speakership was the sec
ond highest office in the United States.
He had the honor ne said. for the third
time "of not introducing. but presenting
to the Congress OF the Onlteo states tne
Hon. Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois as Its
Speaker"
Then occurred the most interesting
event of the day and one that demon
strated to the spectators in the galleries
---no one around the Capitol needed any
evidence on the subject---just what Uncle
Joe's colleagues think of him. For when
he came in on the floor. escorted by John
Sharp Williams. and ascended the ros-
trum to his big high-backed chair. the
racket that broke loose made everything
else in the way Of applause seem like a
single handicap by comparison. Ordinary
cheers mingled with the old-time rebel
yell. democrats and republicans hollered
until they were hoarse, pretty nearly
every man on the floor banged his desk
lid UP and down like a schoolboy with
the teacher out of the room. The demon
stration lasted for five long minutes, and
was tribute of enthusiasm and noise
that no one around here has received in
equal measure for many long day.
Speaker Cannon's Address.
When the applause had subsided, Speak
er Cannon spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House of Repre-
sentatives:
1--WE are today organizing the Sixtieth
Congress. marking the 12Oth milestone in
the history Of government by the people
under the Constitution. Our predecessors
in the years that are passed have left
to us an example of wisdom, moderation
and courage that has never failed to pre-
serve the ideals and the interests of re-
publican government in many crises,
whether of peace or war, adversely or
prosperity.
Each generation of statesmen has had
it's own peculiar problems and it's own
particular embarrassments. No problems
of government ever recur in exactly the
same way. The formulas of action in one
exigency may never be applied safely in
another. Government, so far as it relates
to courses Of action, has no fixed prece-
dents, and no veneration for those who
have gone before justifies living men in
approaching live problems with purpose or
with vision circumscribed by the limita-
tions of the past.
Principles Are Eternal.
But the fundamental principles of free
government are eternal and unchanging,
resting on the will and responsibility of
the r,eonIe md v,,,f in aCfinn fhrougb Tho