The Washington times., 1908-08-23
Writer Declares " Uncle Joe
Menace to the Republicans
Harris NJ Crst Thinks That Speaker Cannons Blight
Is Playing Havoc With Party-Holds Him Re-
SponSble for Adverse Sentiment.

BROOKLYN, Aug. 22.-The Eagle to- j,
morrow VIII publish the following from
its Washington correspondent. Harris
NJ Crist:
The Cannon blight Is playing havoc
with large part of the crop Of Re
publican candidates for reelection TO
the Sixty-first Congress. Although
symptoms Of the devastating taint are
found in ali parts Of the country, they
are especially marked IN the middle
Western States, where radicalism is
popular and as a consequence some Of
the big House leaders who have been
prominently identified with the Can
non machine are marked for defeat.
The anti-Cannon movement is one OF
the remarkable political developments
Of the day. And il can all be traced
TO Theodore Roosevelt. He stamped
the word "Reactionary" on the broad
brow OF the doughty Speaker during
the days when the latter was fighting
tooth and nail to beat the clean meat
law. the pure food law and ether re-
form measures.
The President took the pains to let
newspaper correspondents, magazine
writer's and other publicity agents know
just what influence he thought Cannon
was exerting to stife progressive legis-
lation. There was no doubt at the
White House about where Cannon stood
on the Presidents various radical bills.
Laid to Cannon
Soon the report was sent abroad that
the man with the gavel at the other
end Of Pennsylvania avenue was block
ing the Presidents plans for the up
lift OF the plain people; that Cannon was
holding in check the Big Stick that
would pound the wicked trusts into sub
mission, and that generally the Speaker
was acting like the paid man Of a pow
eFful corporation.
1t is astonishing 10 learn how widely
this idea has percoIated through the
country. The Presidents work has been
wen done for there are mighty few vot-
ers who have not read the label on the
Speakers forehead placed there by the
man I'm the White House
Now there is a small sized army Of
disappointed lobbyists and asitators on
the trail Of Speaker Cannon and the
latteT's faithful followers. Press dis
patches from different parts Of the
country tell Of the troubles this man
and that man are having In getting a
denomination
The labor leaders arc out solidIy
against Cannon. because he killed the
eight-hour law, smothered to death all
the antl-injuncrion bills and otherwise
turned down the legislative demands Of
Mr.. G0mpeTs. The newspaper publish
ers I'm many parts of the country are
telling how good Cannon mas oeen to
the Paper trust by his refusal TO pass
the bin to repeal the duty on wood
pulp.
The temperance agitatOrs want Can
mons scalp because he juggied with
their bills to restrict the liquor traffic,
having them sent to his well-traiDed
judiciary Committee. which promptly
declared the bills TO be unconstitutional.
Then there are a lot of other refoTmeTs
and leaders in such movements as the
further regulation Of railroads, TO wipe
out the bucket shops, 10 broaden the
forest reserve policy and ike matters,
all OF whom are handed together 70
do the Speaker and his floor ieuten-
ants.
Scared by Labor
Two years ago the labor leaders badly
scared Cannon by making a most for
mida BILE campaign against him FOR re-
election. The Speaker called in D. s
ablest friends to crate IN his behalf
and on election day won out by a re-
duced plurality. Doubtless he will get
through all right in November, but
anything like a big Republican slump
will wipe out Uncle Joe.
Cannon, If elected again, will in ali
probability succeed himself as Speaker
OF the Sixty-frst Congress. II will be
surprising, though. If a stubborn fight Is
not made against him. 1t viii naturally
be a difficult thing TO Overturn the
power OF the great machine the Speaker
has, but such things have happened in
the past. and may be repeated.
The extent of the feeling against old
Uncle Joe IN certain locations may be
appreciated when il is stated that
pledges are being exacted from candi-
dates for reelection that they Will not
support Cannon for Speaker again.
Down with Speaker CannOnt is the
cry all through Kansas, Nebraska, Wis
COnsin, and those other states where
the ultra ROOsevelt-La Toilette spirit
prevails
The Speakers unpopularity is threat
ening with political extinction some or
his stanchest supporters Too mucn
Cannon is a mighty dangerous com
plant these days. The toughest thing
The Democratic spelibinders can say
about Jim Sherman, who wants Air.
Fairbanks job, is that for years Sher-
man has been a member of that iniqui-
tous institution that carries out the au-
tOcratic Speakers mandateS-the COM
mittee on Rules When the Car OF
the House decides 70 put through in
twerty-six minutes 0,000, 900 bill or a
new Federal code, he tells one Of the
members of the Committee on Rules TO
break the news to the minority.
Tawney Is Anxious. -
Jim Tawney, chairman OF the Commit
tee on Appropriations. a3d the Speak
er's right hand, is having a tough time
in trying to convince the people up inl