The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-12
Assistant Auditors Observa.
tions on Kansas Delegation.
Compares Favorably With Those
of Other States.
MADISON is A CONFER.
Cannon Told Kansan His Speech
Was a Great One.
President Roosevelt Sent Per-
sOnal Note of Congratulations.

Here is man who has been on the
ground and is not talking through
his hat"-but from direct impressions
made at first hand.
Will E. Davis, assistant state audi
tor, returned today from two weeks
trip to Washington and other eastern
points. He spent some time in Wash
ington. and took several degrees in
the secret work of congress.
Mr.. Davis is from the Seventh dis
tr1ct, and was chaperoned during his
stay In Washington by Senator Ches-
ter l. Long and Congressman Ed Madi-
son.
The thing which impressed me most
at Washington" said Mr.. Davis, was
the marvellous ability and vigor of
that man Joseph G. Cannon, speaker
of the house of representatives. I
believe people out here have wrong
idea of Cannon. He has been point
ed out as an obstructionist in the way
of President Roosevelt's policies. My
friendly to Roosevelt, and is a shrewd,
kindly and thoroughly democratic
leader.
After Ed Madison made his great
speech defending the Roosevelt
policies. Speaker Cannon said to him
in my hearing, That speech, both in
matter and manner of delivery. was
one of the greatest speeches ever
made on the floor of this house..
There is no doubt that Madison's s
speech made profound impression
in congress. He was congratulated on
it by all the leaders in the house, and
received a personal note Of thanks
from the president. Speaker Cannon
remarked that Madison was one of
the members of the house who would
be heard from in the future.
Cannon is overfiowing with energy.
I sat in his private Office and heard
him talk to a number of representa-
tives. He certainly handed it out to
them straight. From the way he
talks and the way he moves about you
would never suspect that he was 72
years old
Il want to say that the Kansas dele
cation In congress stands mighty we'll.
Kansas need have no cause to fear that
its representatives. do not compare
favorably with the representatives of
other states Even Victor Murdock,
who is at outs with the dominant fac
ton, is very well liked. Charley Scott
as chairman of the committee on agri-
culture, has a very important position
in the house. ]. M Miller, who has
been accused of not amounting to much
in congress, seems to stand very well
with Cannon and he stands by Can
non all the time.
II heard Senator Long make his fight
for one of Scott's agricultural appro-
priation bills On the floor of the senate.
He and McCumber had some very hot
passages. Long took care of himself
all right. too. I was proud of him.
Long stands high with his fellow SEN
ators. He is consulted by the leaders
of the senate and If he is allowed to
remain there another six years, he will
be a still greater power for Kansas.
Curtis, too, is recognized as a man of
great ability, but of course is somewhat
subordinated to Long because Long is
the senior senator. Long is recognized
at Washington as standing by Roose-
velt but he seems to be on most friend
ly terms with the other faction in the
senate.
There is a tremendous undercur-
rent of opposition to Roosevelt in the
senate, and in the house too, but the
senate is most hostile. They won't do
anything Roosevelt wants If they can
help it. But they realize that Roose-
Welt has the people back of him. 1t
was generally conceded in Washing
ton when 1 was there that Taft would
be nominated for president and prob
ably on the first ballot.
"Mr Madison took me to call on
the president. 1 will never forget those
Roosevelt teeth. When he shook my
hand and smiled, and those teeth
commenced to come into view, I was
couldn't think of anything to say.
think. 1 also went to call on Taft,
with Senator Long, but Taft had left
for Panama a few hours before we
arrived"
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