Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-04

ene0 and stimulated by the enlcleut Wot n
of its worthy president and officers ana
its most active and energetic committees
and individual members. to the -eat al
vantage Of our citizens and our NEARBY
neighbors of Maryland and Virginia. Ana
the social features Of the chamber have
allayed all unnecessary differences. dls-
cord and business jealousies. and brought
its members into friendly. and 1 might
say almost all. loving intercourse and fei-
lowship.
lotted time will not permit me to make
more than a passing allusion to the con-
sistent and valuable support which the
press of our city has given to every meas
to the common good of all our people
The able and courteous representatives or
our newspapers. who have attended our
meetings from time TO time. have FUR
nished accurate and fair reports for the
public. And ii Is but fair to say that
without this support in report and COM
ment OF our local press the success
which has crowned our efforts could not
have been attained"
Crowd. Calls for Cannon.
At this juncture OF the proceedings
Speaker Joseph G. Cannon who appeared
as rugged as a prairie farmer in his light
colored summer costume his face brown
and ruddy from the effects of the hot
weather. was aroused from his reverie by
loud cries of Cannon, Cannon. Cannon
interspersed with yells for Uncle Joe
The Speaker. who had been engaged in
an intermittent conversation with Secre-
tary Cortelyou. sat up and took notice.
Cries for Uncle Joe" grew I'm magnitude
until the entire assemblage seemed to be
calling for him to make a speech.
While the chorus of calls was at its
height Chairman Edison advanced to the
front and. raising his hand fer silence,
said:
We have with. us today a man who is
not on the printed program. but is known
to every cttizen-man. woman and child
in the United States. l refer to Speaker
Joseph G. Cannon
Before Mr.. Edison could proceed a
chorus of yells was started. The Marine
Band. which had been assiduously follow
ing the program. started up the next
number America. After violent ges-
ticulations on the part of the presiding
and remarkable scene followed.
The crowd went wild in its demand for
speech from Uncle Joe.'' and one
woman got up and shouted:
I'VE want to hear from the younges,
old man In the United States"
Il am here by chance" shouted Speaker
Cannon. when he got an opportunity to
make himself heard
Bully for the chance yelled a prosper
Gus man In the front row.
But being here. this Fourth of July,
continued the Speaker. when you are
dedicating it peculiarly and particularly to
the District of Columbia. / want to rejoice
with you. came to listen to the speakers
While am not citizen of the District OF
Columbia IA voice: Yes you are!) 1 am a
citizen of the United States, and the Dis
trict Of Columbia is part Of the United
States.
Enthusiasm for the Flag.
Il listened to the recitation of The Star
Spangled Banner as SO magnificently
given to US just now by Charles B. Han.
ford. There Is no orator in the United
States who could have commanded sc
much attention and SO much applause
that came truly from the hearts of thos;
present"
Pointing to a large American flag tina,
foated from a nearby building. Speaker
Cannon exclaimed:
There it floats: made of silk or cotton
or other material. But yesterday 1t lay
upon the counter of some merchandise
red. the white. the blue and the stars
SO much bunting and merchandise. You
could have looked at 1t and you would
not have cheered.
Why did you cheer today? Because IL
stand for the Declaration of indie
pendence: for the law that no President
no governor. no citizen can change. II
stands for all the people: for all the prin.
ciples that control us ali. The hag-mer
shout for it-women weep for 1.-THE SOL
dier dies for it,
Following this declaration another wave
Of applause swept over the audience;
Yet" continued Speaker Cannon. lit Is
but mere piece of bunting"
This Is government OF the people he
said. and then asked what need have the
people here for a government. The gov
means the cooperation Of the people in
this free country. A cooperation of the
people for the good of the people.
Therefore, you are the constitution. "
he said.
When Authority Ceases.
This country has been blessed with a
long line of distinguished Presidents he
said. but no power could keep a man in
the presidential chair one hour after his
term was over.
He then becomes a distinguished 'ex
and weighs $50, 300 or 300 pounds. But
with all. he is mere man.
yet. while he Is President. he could
have called upon the millions Of American
people and they would have responded
Yet. when his term expires. his word has
no more Official effect than has that OF
the humblest man In the republic, be he
factory hand or whatnOt.
Congress is a coordinate branch of the
government. But Congress cannot take
from the people any of their rights under
the fixed law of the Constitution. The
Senate could not impeach Andrew John
son because a twO-thirds majority would
not so vote. If Congress passes any law
and trespasses upon the rights Of the peo-
Pile. In the fullness Of time that law will
go for nought.
Then there are the chief justices of the
Supreme Court. The present Chief JUS
tice Fuller is from the Prairie state OF
Illinois. When these justices go out OF
Office their word amounts to only re-
spectacle advice. When in Office. their
voice is one of authority. They have the
last test. and must have as long as our
government continues.
From the tenor of my remarks" con-
tinued Speaker Cannon, Il stand as an
American citizen, as l have always stood.
upholding the hands of the courts.
have been in courts as a lawyer, and once
in q while as the defendant or the plain
tiff. When cases have gone against me-
there was nothing left for me to do but
to curse the court. But that only lasted
an hour or two. Behind the decree of the
tive branches of the government and 90
OOOOOO of people. And the decree stands.
What Might Have Happened.
Il have been going to Fourth of July
birthday celebrations for more years
than l will acknowledge. l have met two
generations OF American severeigns. The
small boy exploding his firecrackers Is
celebrating the anniversary and is glad.
We of older age are celebrating 1t in our
own way.
"Scmetimes the young folks think it ID
long time between drinks, and wonder
how much longer the old devil is to rule