Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18
Speaker Cannon as a Campaiener

Speaker Cannon a Campaigner
MEN who have travelled with all the celebrated
A'A campaigners say they have the best time with
Speaker Cannon. He does not give so much atten-
ton to the preparation of his speeches others do
and never seems to be worried about obtaining
sufficient rest. Nor does he make much of the
visitors who aboard the train. H. likes to be
with the boys" and makes it pleasant for them
with stories of long ago and incidents connected
with the sections visited during the tour.
All effective campaigners tell Stories either to
illustrate to emphasize different points in their
speeches. to put their audiences in good humor.
They all seem to realize that good story always
helps along political argument, and it often
lieves the tension of the crowd Here is a collec-
most effective campaignerS.
At Portland. Maine last fall Speaker Cannon was
introduced by the chairman of the meeting as the
next President of the United States Replying to
the compliment at the beginning of his speech, Mr.
Cannon told the story of a revival on the Wabash
River in Indiana when he was a bow 1t was
Methodist revival, held in an old log structure
which was used schoolhouse and church. One
night the revivast held forth nightly, and at the
end of powerful abruptly said, Now, all
those who desire to go to heaven stand up!"
Every one in the church Immediately rose except
young down in front. The minister glanced
at him a moment and then said, "All those who
desire to go to hell stand up!"
Of course nobody rose. Then, pointing his finger
at the young man, the revvalist said, Young man.
don want to go to hell Will you tell us where you
do want to go?"
The young in a quaverng, piping voice sang
out, IF it's all the to you, I'd just
stay where l am. Indiana is good enough for me"
80" continued Mr. Cannon, with all due defer
ence to the compliment of your chairman, l will
say, The speakershp is good enough for me-
and will stay right where l if it's all the same
to you
The Hearst movement with its accompaniment
of noise and hurrah. also reminded Mr.. Cannon of
story. 1t referred to old fellow down in Maine
who took contract to furnish summer hotel with
frogs legs at the rate of ten dozen day. He was
to begin delivering the frogs legs the day follow
ing the making of the agreement But the old fell
low did not show up for several days thereafter
Finally he to the proprietor with only two
frogs in little tin bucket. These he showed to the
hotel man, and in a shamefaced way remarked
Say mister / guess had better cancel the
contract. When made it l thought l knew of
place where there a million frogs Jedgin' from
the noise; but when l went out to get EN- found
that these two frogs maxim the whole blamed
racket"
When speaking at Sedalia, Missouri, the electric
lights went out, and Mr.. Cannon spoke in darkness
for about fifteen minutes. When the lights were
finally turned the audience applauded, and he
discontinued the thread of his political discourse
long enough to remark:
Light is great thing. A ray of it falls on the
pupil of the eye and the subtle message is carried to
the brain. Therefore the poet says Hail. holy light
And how splendid and magnificent to the physical
man it is How important to you and to me, and
to all of u.s. as we shoulder each his individual