Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-19
BOUTELL TALKS OF CANNON
Illinois Congressman Recalls Inci-
dents of Early Career.
ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SPEECH
Young Man Admitted Having Oats
I'm His Pockets and fold the
Critics to watch Them
Grow.

WASHINGTON, Feb. B - Thirty-four
years ago today Speaker Cannon delivered
his first speech in the house of repre-
sentatives, and the anniversary was
marked by a tribute to the speaker by Mr..
Boutell Of Illinois soon after that body
met today. Mr. Boutell recalled the noted
men of the house at that time, whose
friendship Mr.. Cannon enjoyed and, In re-
ferring to the speakers speech, said that
these men were present and heard his re-
marks. Among them he mentioned Speaker
Blaine, Joseph r. Hawley of Connecticut,
William p. Frye and Eugene Hale of
Maine, Henry l. Dawes, e. lockwood
Hoar, George f. Hoar, Benjamin f. But
ler, Julius c. Burrows, James A. Garfield,
Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, Will
liam r. Morrison of Illinois, William S.
Holman of Indiana, Lucius Q. c. Lamar
of Mississippi. Richard p. Bland Of Mis-
souri, Fernando Wood of New York, Sam
uel J. Randall Of Pennsylvania and Roger
q. Mills Of Texas.
Details of First speech.
Mr.. Boutell said that Mr.. Cannon. then
S6 years old. spoke on a bill reducing rates
of postage on books, for the carrying free
of newspapers within the counties of their
publication and for the extension of the
rranking privilege to public correspondence.
He made a carefully prepared. logical
argument in support Of the BILL" said Mr..
Boutell, reinforcing his propositions by
well-ordered array of convincing figures.
1t was a speech that could only have been
made after hard work and thorough prep
aration." Several extracts from the speech
were read by Mr.. Boutell, who spoke of
a gibe by a member directed at Mr.. Can
non that 'the gentleman must have oats
In his pocket"
Mr.. Boutell said that tumultuous applause
greeted MIR. Cannon's retort when he said:
II understand the gentleman. Yes, 1 have
oats in my pocket and hayseed in my hair,
and the western people generally are af-
fected in the same way; and we expect
that the seed, being good, will yield a good
crop-I trust tenfold-and the sooner leg
islation is had. not only as proposed by
this bill, but in all other respects as the
people desire and equity and justice shall
dictate, the better 1t will be in the long
run for all people in this country, whatever
may be their calling or wherever they
may reside"
CannOn's Reply to Criticism.
He said that it had been charged that
the city press opposed the bill, and on this
point MT. bouISu QuOttu MI cannon as
follows
Il do not believe that the city press will
as a unit oppose this bill. A portion of it
may from selfish motives; honest in others.
/ certainly have no desire to call upon
myself. the assaults of the city press, or any
portion of It. Nor do l fear it as long as
l truly represent my constituents and act,
in my representative capacity, for the in
terest OF the people, Nor would l change
the power of the press to assail my acts OF
those of anyone else. On the other hand,
every member of congress or other agent
of the people should court fair criticism
of his acts, and If he vitality misrepresents
the people, they should, and no doubt
would, fail to continue him in places Of
trust. But no man is a proper person to
represent the people unless he has the
honesty and the backbone to stand and
do what is right and for the interest of
the people without reference to what any
one else may say of him or what the &C
ton OF the press may be in the premises" Z"
THAT speech" said Mr.. Boutell. gave
Mr.. Cannon a position as one of the strong
men in the house and won for him the re-
spect of his colleagues in both branches
of congress and of the leaders in official
life"