The Topeka state journal., 1908-05-19
.uNcnE JoE--rERsoNAL.


Washington. where he spent five days
almost constantly in and about that
portion of the Capitol devoted to the
House of Representatives. he has noted
with renewed interest certain popular
misconceptions that are current in
Kansas, regarding the conduct of af-
fairs by those servants of the people
who are supposed to spring biennially.
full panoplied from the people and thus
in touch with the hearts desires of
their alledged masters.
The editor of this paper learned SO
many things at the capital Of the ma
tion, which he had not visited for five
years that he feels stuffed full Of in
formation, part of which his readers
ought to possess, and more of which
he would be delighted to give out If 1t
had not been expressly given as conf
Dental, or as Speaker Cannon express
ed it: This is executive" =
Now this executive" business is
mighty interesting. but the only way
it could be given out in these columns
would be through breach of faith, or
betrayal of a confidence, neither of
which is contemplated.
However, the things that can be and
should be told are SO numerous and SO
many that occasion will give the reader
all time can find to write for some
weeks, without the necessity of gain
ing permission to use any of the 'ex-
ecutive" matter.
u If we can get the embargo raised
on some really interesting things
"Uncle Joe" told the writer during
pleasant half-hour in the speakers
private office, some Of these things will
be forthcoming for the entertainment
and instruction of the people who pay
ten cents week for this valuable
family journal and get in return as
much news as can be consistently
packed into it's columns. with due
Difference to the many classes of read
ers who demand something about
many classes of news.
A newspaper sometimes suppresses
it's best news, it is inevitable. 1t has
to. 1t is more or less of a father-con-
fessor and must keep the trust or ruin
it's reputation. Reference is made to
honest suppression, not garbling for
interests, or personal gain, not the
made public. sA --= s Z.
The current impression of Speaker
Cannon, as the writer notes it in many
exchanges and hears it repeatedly day
after day in conversation. does not
correspond with the impressions he
gathered from close view or the dis
tinguishe autocrat of the house.
Some of these current views are err
roneous, that is they seem erroneous
to me, having been on the grounds,
and have been fostered or circulated,
I regret to say, by many newspaper
people, some of whom are my very
warm friends whose opinions and
views 1 ordinarily respect, but whose
exclamations, dissertations and con-
demnations in connection with the
member from Danyille. / cannot en-
dorse: because I must be, impressed
from my own, observations where !
am permitted to make them, rather
than the observations of others,
who may or may not have had equal
opportunities for forming judgments.
In brief, although know it is not a
popular thing to say in Kansas, wish
to go on record as saying that in my
humble opinion Speaker Cannon has
been more or less maligned by those
who should speak the truth and
shame the devil" Truth will prevail
and the untruths said about Speaker
Cannon, or any other man. will in the
end react in his favor The choice
epithets which have been hurled at
Speaker Cannon's head by newspaper
associates of mine in different states,
including my own, would make "a vo-
cabulary hardly fit to print. 49,
The speaker is a "czar" all right,
and if he were not, that is, If he did
not have some of the elements OF
a ''czar" in his makeup. he would
not be a good speaker. One of the
greatest speakers in history was Thos.
B. Reid of Maine. and he is known as
Gear Reid Had he not been auto
cratic, he would not have been able
to count a quorum which was so nee
essary and SO essential and which he
did so beautifully and so effectively
| Roosevelt is something of a good czar
too. But Speaker Cannon is not so arbi-
| trary as he is said to be. I am sure
of this; with all due respect to my
young friend, Murdock. who Is doing
I noble work in Washington by his in
| dependence and courage. I am in full
| sympathy with his efforts to reform
the rules. They certainly need re.
forming and the speaker has too much
| power, but he is not to blame for al
| the things which are not DONE nor fol
all things which are done. Mr.. Cannon
understand. is relenting toward Mr.
Murdock and appreciating him. Muir
dock gave them all few shocks, ani
| they needed 'em. OF the thousands O.
bills which are thrown into the hop
per at the sessions Of the congress
comparatively few are meritorious o.
necessary. Hundreds of them are no
only useless, but dangerous. VIII,
sits down on these bills? The spaok