Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-23
Especial Washington Correspondence of
The Argus.)

toPcSIdi dSilbE = NOi WI -
The Argus.)
In the rather lively controversy be-
tween Uncle Joe Cannon and Mr.. Bry
an over their respective personal for
tunes and the sources of their prosper
ity 1t occurs to me that Mr. Bryan has
had very much the better part of the
argument. Without going into detail
ON the subject, which has been some
what reported in the newspapers al
ready, may say that Cannon, with
characteristic discourtesy, vulgarity
and falsity, in formal speech refer
red to Mr.. Bryan as having made ST.,
100000 by selling wind and printers
ink Mr. Bryan's retort reduced Can
non to condition of comparative
quietude. Paraphrased, it was this:
81 earn living by lecturing and by
writing. No one need attend my lee
lures or buy either my books or my
paper unless he desires. Speaker Can
non has been in public Office since 1861
almost continuously. most of the time
receiving salary of barely $1,000 a
year. He is very rich. What has Mr..
Cannon been selling?"
Following this statement Mr.. Bryan
frankly declared that he thought him.
self worth about $4,000, but was
willing to accept the responsibility of
$150O00 If his estimate was too low.
He challenged Speaker Cannon to
match this statement in kind. The
speaker was silent except by making
a blufTing demand that people look
to the records of Danville and see how
fully he pays his taxes there. Natu-
rally this clash aroused some interest,
and an investigation was set on foot
in Lincoln, Neb to determine the
amount of the Bryan assessment. 1t
was found to be Ss4 800, which under
the taxing law of that state indicates
property slightly in excess of 100000.
Then attention was directed toward
Speaker CannOn's assessment at Dan
vile. His neighbors and closest friends
have always estimated his wealth at
from 100000 to 81 100000 But it was
found that he has scheduled for taxa
ton only $15,115 in personal property,
while his residence is assessed at $22,-
600. In other words. if common report
concerning his wealth is correct he is
lodging his taxes and securing the as
sessment of property easily worth
four times that of Mr.. Bryan at a
figure of barely One-third of that on
the Bryan property.
Some Republican Testimony.
This testimony is on the guaranty
of bank deposits, and it comes from
very distinguished Republican sources
One is the Hon. Lyman j. Gage
formerly a Republican secretary OF
the treasury. Mr.. Gage testified be
fore the committee on banking in the
house of representatives. which was
considering the Fowler bill He said
II am persuaded that it is just, equita
BILE, wise and right that the depositors
of the banks which come under pro
visions of this bill will have their de
posits guaranteed to them as we'll a:
the banks circulating notes held b!
the general public. The nature of tn,
obligation Is exactly the same in prin
ciple, whether evidenced by q pass
book or by the banks notes in the form
of circulating money. There is no diff
ference In principle"
The Chairman-Do you think tina
this principle of guaranteeing deposit
would lead TO unsound banking?
Mr.. Gage-No. sir l think the fac
that under this bill there would b
greater restrictions and penalty 70
neglect of inspection and that Their