The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-28
BY JACOB WALDECk.

Special Correspondence to The Press
| DANVILLE, ILL.,, Sept. 2S.-With
the democrats attacking from the
front, Gompers on the flank, Is
Methodist bishops on the other and
the prohibitionists charging his
rear with the water wagon Uncle
Joe Cannon can hardly be said to
be standing pat. He is buster than
man trying to put out a four
alarm fire with a hand pump.
Uncle Joe is strongly intrenched.
He has been in congress over 80
years and has been mighty good
provider for the people of his dis
trict at the expense of the govern
ment. For one thing, he has ar
ranged on a unique plan for the
education of poor but ambitious
constituents. He has had scores of
these appointed to clerkships at
Washington so that they might be
sustained while studying law or
medicine. There has always been
attached a condition that the stu
dent resign his job after graduation
from college. Cannon does not want
them to dry up in the government
service.
Cannon has served other thou
sands looking after pensions and
the interests of young men wrom
his district in the army and navy
and in meeting all sorts of calls
made upon him as congressman. He
has been a rich banker and lead
ing citizen for more than a gener-
alton.
He has attached to his service a
keen lot of local leaders, chief of
whom is Postmaster w. r. Jewell
of this city. Jewell has been a
preacher, was an editor for 80
years and is foxy as Japanese
diplomat. That Uncle Joe takes
care of his friends is evidenced in
this case. Jewels in the govern
ment service, aside from the post
master, include a son of the post
master, who is attorney for the sol
dier's home, another son who is a
customs inspector, still another son
who is in the service at Washing
ton, a son in law who is a post
office inspector, another son in law,
nephew and grand nephew en-
ployed in the local postoffice.
He secured a branch of the ma
tional soldiers home, with popu-
lation of 5000, for Danville without
an effort being required on the part
of the citizens. About dozen years
ago he presented the city with a
federal building. At the last ses.
sion of congress he obtained an ap-
preparation of s275,0O0 for a new
and much finer government build
ing. Many men who do not approve
of his record vote for him as a
matter of pride. They know he can
get more for the district than could
anyone else.
This year the American Fedora
ton of Labor is making a much
harder fight against him than was
the case two years ago. The Meth
odists oppose him because the Lit
tlefeld bill to prevent the shipping
of liquor into dry territory was
smothered by committee in con
gress. Littlefield has written a let
ter saying that the speaker was not
responsible for the strangling OF
| the bill. but the fight goes on
Eighteen bishops and number OF
conferences of the church have con
demned him. Local Methodist min
listers. however, have not taken vi
the fight actively. The pastor OF
the First M. e. church, of which
Cannon is near member, read q
statement from the pulpit challeng
ing the political action of the bish
ops and suggesting to his parishon
ers that they make persona
study of the issue before they de
eide to oppose Uncle Joe.
The fact that the speaker has
become national issue as {
stranger of legislation is an ele
ment in the local fight.
Cannon's friends claim that he |.
going to get nearly a normal plu
rality. While many democrats de
clare that Cannon will be heater
there are some, even leaders of the
party, who believe the best the,
can hope for is that his pluralit,
Twill be reduced.
The result in this district Is no
Ian. however. Friends of Uncle 10,
Iare concerned over the question