The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-25
..UNCLE JoE.-No. 2.

office pretty lively in connection with
the Uncle Joe'' article which appeared
in the State Journal one day last
| week.
The editor Of one prominent western
daily writes as follows: "Will you
kindly send me copy of the issue Of
| the State Journal containing the de-
Tense of Joe Cannon: have lost our
copy and wish to copy the story?'
Now, what do you think of that! This
paper Is not conducting any defense OF
Mr.. Cannon and the article which ap-
peared a few days ago was not de-
fense-it< was merely report. 1t hap
pened to be placed on the editorial
page. but strictly speaking. it was SIM
ply a reporters description of what
took place, and the impressions he re-
ceived on the occasion of a half hour
with the distinguished gentleman. In
the presence Of witnesses: Congress
men Anthony and Madison.
Far be it from the writer to under
take any defense" of the Speaker.
In the first place, the writer never saw
of May in Washington and at that time
he listened to conversation the Speak
er led, covering during the colloquy
about the time mentioned. The only
other time he ever saw him was when
the Speaker was in the chair few
days ago gaveling the House into the
position of getting busy during these
closing hours before the summer
solstice.
In the next place. half hours call
is hardly sufficient time to undertake a
creditable defense, or an extended ap-
probation, of man who has been in
public life since Lincoln's time and by
a tyro who has a very limited acquaint-
ance with actual Washington Congress
sional affairs.
In the next place to that. Speaker
Cannon has an able bodyguard.
right and left bowers drawn by him
self, from a marked deck. Cannon
himself, like Roosevelt, must have
about him a sort of public, or secret
service couple, in citizens clothes. or
with the emblems of Office in their
hands, who shall defend and protect
him from the dangers menaced or
mistakes that all great men are likely
to make, to their undoing or
humiliation unless they have lesser
men about them. who know more
than they know, to act as experts on
demand.
Now, Cannon. like Roosevelt, is
abundant1y able to handle the
"weapons'' in his own defense, should
occasion require, and either could do
it with a neatness and dispatch which
would throw terror into the hands of
the culprit who dared overstep the
bounds of decorum or decency.
Perhaps the reader does not know
who are these two men on Speaker
Cannon's bodyguard.
Well, one of them is Busbey, L. W.,
a skilled newspaper man, who acts as
the speakers secretary and who de-
cides who shall take up the speakers
time and who shall not, Of course in
the diplomatic and suave manner be-
coming to expert reporters like
Busbey, who served his apprentice
ship on Chicago newspapers.
Mr.. Busbey, single handed and
alone, call uSIcH0 SduAlOh Win
promptness and effectiveness-often
times without Cannon's knowledge or
consent; but he does it and he doubt
less saves the speaker from many on
slaughts on the part of people who
might at least kill time to no purpose.
Who is the other defender of DAN
villes great man, do you ask?
He is Hines.
And pray, who is Hines, asks the
tenderfoot in Washington?
Hines is the big man who sits just
below and at the right of the speaker
when the speaker is in action and
when the mace is not down on the
floor but up on the pedestal. Hines
is a bigger man than Cannon-some-
times. He knows just what to do un-
der all sorts Of predicaments. He is
the parliamentarian of the house. He
knows every condition that arises, has
arisen, or is likely to arise. He never
gets tangled up upon amendments to
amendments and he always knows
when the previous question, or any
other question, is in order or out of
order. When the house gets into a
wiry wielder of the gavel. Hines never
blinks. but Cannon leans over to him
innocently and Hines whispers in his
ear the correct thing to do: and Can
non does it.
Hines knows more about parlia-
mentary procedure than Cushing. and
Roberts Rules of Order. it is said. can
be recited backwards by this man
Hines. Hines, at times, is the real czar
Of the house and is Cannon's Boss, for
you can put it down that Cannon does
what Hines says do.
This man Hines has more than If
ty-seven varieties. He is a charming
manipulation of the English language
and while the writer was visiting the
speakers room, Mr.. Cannon read an
article which Mr.. Hines had prepared