The National tribune., 1907-12-05
SPEAKER AND SECRETARY.
Two Men With Mighty Responsibilities

The two men who, next to the Presi-
dent have the destines of the country
most Immediately in their hands, and
whose everyday acts are OF the most
constant Importance to every one under
the shadow of the flag, are Speaker Jo-
seph G. Cannon and Secretary of the
Treasury George B. Cortelyou.
Times of stress and storm develop
great men by revealing their capacity
for the highest things. To-day, with
S6,OO0,000 of the most intelligent, ac-
tive and progressive people in the
world. in the throes of a financial re-.
adjustment, involving every one of the
myriad interests which tend to make
our country great and prosperous,
Speaker Cannon and Secretary Cortel-
you, with their official head the Presi-
dent, have in their hands far more
power for veal or woe than is held by
any other living men No Emperor,
King or other potentate, no matter how
exalted his title, nor how plenary his
power, can enter SO directly into the
life of SO many capable, vigorous men
as those we have named
Speaker Cannon.
House of Representatives, has practical
ly the direction of all the legislation
which governs the intense activity of
our business and economic life. While
the work Of legislation is shared by the
Senate, the House of Representatives
as the more popular body has the larg-
est say in the matter, and has the alb
solute initiative in the most important
legislation. The House of Representa-
tlVes must originate and the Senate con-
cur or disagree. ----
Parliamentary rules clothe the Speak
er with immense power in originating
and shaping the action of the House
iS
popular Government. The people elect
their Representatives to Congress, and
express in general their desire of what
shall be done. The majority in Con-
gress is charged with responsibility of
carrying out the peoples wishes. and
the leader and director of this action
is necessarily the man who is elected
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tiveS.
In addition to the power conferred
upon him in this way, Mr.. Cannon gives
that of his own personality. For nearly
40 years now he has been growing in
public esteem as one of the safest and
sanest of public leaders. During that
long period he has been associated with
public men whom we hold in highest
esteem, and he has steadily forged TO
the front among them until he is to-
day regarded as the actual embodiment
of the wise, safe, progressive spirit of
the country. He is a typical American,
as the real American is found upon the
farms, in the factories, in the counting
rooms and at the head of the great
businesses of the Nation. From one
end of the country to the other men
look upon him with calm satisfaction
as:
"a tower of strength,
That stands four square to all the winds
that blow
Ono of the ctroppact 70 -,
recovery of confidence is the abiding
faith in all men that Uncle Joe Cannon.
with foresight and wisdom, will stand
at his place, with a firm hand upon the
tller which steers the legislation of the
present session.
Secretary COrteIyou.
Secretary George B. Cortelyou has
only lately come to the front as one
of the Nations strong men. The Treas
ury Department of the United States
having the intimate connection which
has grown up with all the great busi-
ness interests of the country, is the
governor, regulator and controller of
far the greatest financial and business
system of the world Whether we will
or not, the Treasury has become a DO
tent influence upon every bank every
financial institution. 1t can regulate,
add to or diminish the supply of the
blood of commerce-currency This
makes the position of Secretary of the
Treasury in such a stress as this one
of colossal responsibility. 1t is one in
which the slightest mistake entails con-
sequences beyond calculation The re-
cent operations of the Treasury for the
relief of the country have been of Il
stupendous character absolutely unpre-
cedented in the financial history of the
world. Whether they have been well
1rN teal fnly