The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-09
|BUSBEI, WHO
| STARTED TROUBLE
CANNON'S PRESS AGENT is
BLAMED FOR ALL THE RE-
CENT TROUBLE.
Special to the World.

| Washington, Jan. 81. w. Bus.
hey, mentioned in President Roose-
vel.'s message on the secret service
is the man who made Joe Cannon
famous.
He is the author of Uncle Joe, the
homespun statesman o. the plain
people"
He introduced Cannon to the
world in this character, for he Is,
in a word, his press agent. For 20
years Busbey was just hardwork-
ing, faithful newspaper correspond
ent. For many years he represented
the Chicago Inter-Ocean in Wash
ington He wrote about politics and
politicians, and he made many &C
quaintances and friends. Among
the latter was Jos. G. Cannon, a
congressman from Illinois. About
five years ago Busbey got an inspira-
tion-why not become an impresa-
rio? Why not star this man Can
non, bring him out, dress him up
Gas it were), and make him popu-
lar? Why not introduce him to the
world as the only living successor to
Abraham Lincoln, the only surviving
specimen of the self-made, rail-split-
ting statesmen from Illinois Gas the
novels say CD No sooner said than
done.
The victim lent himself shrewdly
to the game. He posed the necessary
poses. and O-K'd the necessary in
terviews. Busbey handed the press
agent stuff to his many friends
among the correspondents, and it
went beautifully.
The watch dog of the treasury"
business was worked to the limit.
Some South Carolina folks sent up
a homespun pair of trousers. 9th
ers sent a wool hat and mittens.
The hard common sense" the Lin
colnesque exterior, the humble be-
ginnings. and other touches were
laid on in vivid colors, and Uncle
Joe" began to be a national figure.
1t was about this time that Hen
derson of Iowa, Cannon's predeces-
sor as speaker, had begun to decline,
and it was clear that a new speaker
would soon have to be chosen. That
was where Busbey and his publicity
counted. A vigorous stroke did the
work A IMAM from the west" was
the demand A plain man of the
people," an experienced and eco
nomical man" "a man used to being
watch dog of the treasury and ac-
customed to congressional ways"
OF course. such was Uncle Joe"
Cannon of Illinois.
After Busbey had elected Cannon
speaker he was offered the position
of secretary to the speaker. Busbey
was not tempted by 1t at first, but
finally decided to carry it as a side
line. He took the appoint ent and
kept up the work for his paper But
the duties became too onerous and
he was compelled to decide which
to keep. 1t was about this time that
the far-sighted began to figure on
the retirement of Roosevelt. Busbey
decided to take the Office of secre-
tary ana make Cannon president to
succeed Roosevelt What was done
along that line is already known
% The world. Cannon made good
progress as a candidate and might
have won, if it had not dawned on
the world that much of the "home-
spun" business was ''press agenting'
rather a bad lot.
That there is no love lost between
Roosevelt and Cannon is no deep
secret. And, of coure. Busbey feels
as Cannon does. When he writes a
story in the Inter-Ocean on the Sc
cret service, he reflects Cannon s
views, and when Cannon has an
amendment stuck on some appropri-
alton aimed to bamstring the secret
service, he reflects Busbev's views.
1t is all in the family
The same is true in a lesser de-
gree about others mentioned in the
presidents message. Tawney was
named by Cannon to the most i'm
portant committee appointment in
the house, that of appropriations.
He is the man who holds the purse,
practically the whole billion-dollar
budget goes through his hands. A
word cuts a salary or abolishes an
office-or vice versa 1t is his to
give or take. The position is one
of great power. In all his acts,
Tawney acknowledges first allie
oiauca IN Cannon What Cannon