Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-24
WHY CANNON IS LIKED
Mr.. Boutelt Tells of the Speak
er's Personality.
|CORRECTS FALSE IDEAS
Declares Hes the Best Equipped Man
for the Presidency.
EFFECT OF HIS LONG TRAINING
characterized by visor and Tireless
Activity-Informed on Needs and
Desires Of the People.
EFFECT OF HIS LONG TRAINING

Under the heading Speaker Cannon and
the Presidency" Representative Bouteli
Of Illinois contributes q most interesting
article to this weeks issue of the INDIE
pendent. AS Mr.. Boutel is one of the
original dyed-in-the-woolC Cannon boomers.
his utterances can be taken as setting
forth, in a sort of semi-oficial way. some
of the real reason why Speaker Cannon
| should have q show for the nomination
at Chicago.
Mr.. Boutell starts off with the state
ment that 1.-The speakership Of the National
House OF Representatives is the best
training school for the presidency and
| Speaker Cannon has profited more by his
| training than any of his predecessors. He
| is, therefore, today the best equipped man
in the country for President. The country
should not lose the benefit of his ability
| and experience.
"A little examination will show how the
| speakership FITS man for the presidency.
In the first place: the Speaker knows the
representatives of the people from every
district in the country. Then. in making
| up the committees. the Speaker learns
the needs and wishes Of the people In
| every section of the country.
His Wide Acquaintance.
'As the leader Of the majority in the
House he is responsible for the char
acter of the legislation that is enacted.
He Is constantly consulted by the Presi-
dent. senator's. cabinet officers and other
public officials respecting legislation
pending or contemplated. Speaker Can
non. who Is now serving his thirty-fourth
year as a representative and his fifth year
as Speaker, knows we'll every man who
will have influence in the councils Of the
nation in the next administration.
1T Is the duty of the Speaker to keep at
all times thoroughly informed as to the
condition OF the national revenues and ex-
penditures. so that he may be able, 30
far as possible. by suggestion and coun-
sci, to make the appropriations conform
to the condition of the public finances.
| mo man in this country can equal
Speaker Cannon in complete knowledge
of the legitimate scope OF federal legisla-
ton. This Is a matter In which the peo-
pie of the United States are vitality in
terested.
vigor and Tireless Activity.
'Who is there who has anything like
| the equipment of Speaker Cannon for
carrying on the splendid work Of reme-
dial legislation that has been inaugu-
rated under President Roosevelt? AS
President. Mr.. Cannon would display the
same energy that he has shown in the
HOUSE. Wner0 MS VI8OT anu tIIcICoS dCeiN-
ity are a source Of wonder even to his
most intimate friends. He inherited that
unlimited capacity for work which Is the
foundation of all genuine success. and
had acquired the rarest attainment OF the
successful statesmen, the art OF saying
NO without giving offense. No member
of the House has ever cherished any re-
sentiment against the Speaker on account
of any disappointment which he may have
suffered from the Speakers decisions.
THE people Of the United States could
feel assured that with Speaker Cannon
as President no weak or unwise appoint
ments would be made, no unsound poll
cies would be advocated, personal motives
cies. and the great work Of legislative re-
form now under way would be carried for
ward with sagacity and vigor.
why is it. then, IL the step from the
| speakership to the presidency is such a
short one. that out Of thirty-six Speakers
only one has ever become President? Why
| is 1t that Clay. Blaine, Carlisle. Reed
never realized their final ambition? For
| their appointments and decisions as
| Speaker created antagonisms on the part
Of many of their influential colleagues.
and, secondly. because from the very ma
ture Of the ofiice the public often gets a
| perverted notion respecting the character
| of the Speaker-a false conception aris-
| ing from the most faithful performance of
| his duties. The four men whom l have
mentioned suffered in different degrees
| from both these causes Speaker Cannon
has nothing to fear from the first.
False Ideas Of the Speaker.
False and grotesque notions of him.
| however, are set aloat by his political
opponents. and. I regret to say. given
form and credence by some of his own
party even in his own state. These false
conceptions are embodied in certain IA
| miliar epithets. Those who know the
foundation or the origin of these epithets
may well say we love him for the names
| he has been called.
For epithets embody all the principal