The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-11

predecessor 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 count
led. A vigorous stroke did the
work. A man from the west
was the demand. A "plain man
of the people," an experienced
and economical man." "a man
used to being watch dog of the
treasury and accustomed to con-
|gressional ways" OF course such
was uncle Joe" Cannon of Illi-
nois.
After Busbey had elected Cam
non speaker he was offered the
position of secretary to the speak
|er. Busbey was not tempted by
1T at first, but finally decided to
carry it as a side line. He took
the appointment and kept up the
work for his paper. But the du-
ties became too onerous AMI 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. Bus
hey decided to take the office of
secretary and make Cannon presi-
dent to succeed Roosevelt. What
was done along that line is al
ready known to the world. Can
non made good progress as can
didate and might have won If it
had not dawned on the world
that much of the "homespun"
business was "press agenting"
and that on his record Cannon
was rather bad lot.
That there is no love lost be-
tween Roosevelt and Cannon is
no deep secret. And of course
Busbey feles as Cannon does
When he writes a story in the In
ter Ocean on the secret service,
he reflects Cannon's views, and
when Cannon has an amendment
stuck on some appropriation
aimed to hamstring the secret
service he reflects Busbey'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 Important committee ap-
pointment in the house, that of
He is the man
who holds the purse, practically
the whole billion-dollar budget
goes through his hands. A word
cuts salary or abolishes an Of
fice-or vice versa. 1t is his to i
give or to take. The position is
one of great power. In all his
acts, Tawney acknowledges first
to Cannon. What Can
non wants is done. II It were
otherwise another man would hold
the job.
Although naturally an insur-
gent and always a good fighter,
Tawney is now closely bound to
Cannon's service. He Is a sort of
captain of the guard, chief armor
bearer and head henchman forl
the Cannon gang. That's why he
took his kick at the secret service.
8 NTH of Iowa is a more humbleI
servitor. For many years he has
been following the Cannon ban
ner. He has taken orders and
voted as told. That's why he took
his kick at the secret service. mi
the same class are Fitzgerald OIL
New York and Sherley of Ken
lucky. The latter has the dis
tfnction, howevtr, of being one of
those democrats who are unoffitl
cially republicans. For It should
be understood that the rue of Cam
non and the Cannon ring is upheld
by "reactionary democrats" asl
we'll as by "stalwart republicans
Sherley is on the Judiciary
committee (that graveyard of Leg
islation), to which Cannon alwaysI
has sent bills which were to bel
decently strangled. Sherley is onel
of the decent strangers.
In mentioning these men,
President Roosevelt has merely
singled out few intimates in thel
Cannon clique-a few of thosel
who are holding the legislativei
bridge against the hosts of prog
ress.