New-York tribune., 1909-11-14
CANNON In DEFENCE
ATTACK ON RIDDER.
alleged Offer of Support for
Presidency.
tBy Telegraph to The rr.blne

Bloomington. H. Nov. 1S.-Speaker Can
non spoke here last night in defence OF his
course in the House. beginning at midnight
and ending when his secretary pulled his
coattails. at lis a. m. The speech was
intended 70 be an answer TO Senator Cum
Minis ana was 10 have been delivered in
Kansas City on November &c as a prelude
10 the reopening OF Congress.
One morning 10 the Speakers room"
Mr.. Cannon said in part. came the prssi-
dent OF the Publishers Association. Mr.
Herman Ridder. and there came with him
certain representatives of metropolitan
newspapers. ! do not want just now 20
take on too much. however so I will just
stop with Ridder.
oh, could a tale unfold. not upon my
word, but upon the word Of perfectly truth
ful men. The publishers had a right TO
come. Previous 10 that time there were
some foolish enough 10 suggest that ought
10 be President l knew I never would be
PRESIDENT but good people In the RepubH-
can party In the State Of Illinois seemed TO
be willing. and then TO say that ought 70
be President. Possibly It was a little vanity
on my part. and perhaps 7 should have told
them 70 desist. but die not
ne demand was made by Mr.. Ridder
mat a Dill should be passed TO place print
paper upon the free list. He said he spoke
for all the publishers. said Mr. Ridder,
YOU cannot pass popgun bill CT that kind
through. Bills OF that kind must originate
IN the House. and such a bill already has
been introduced. Mr.. PAYNE tells me It has
been considered by his committee and in
definitely postponed
He said: oh. yes. but you could recos-
nize some one 20 move 20 suspend the rules
without regard 20 a report from that COM
mittee and pass the bill
I said. Yes 7 could, hut 7 will not.
Such a thing never has been done I'm such
i time as this and under such conditions.
and by so doing ! would demoralize the Re-
publican majority, and, If it were Of any
purpose. I would destroy myself
d" Well he said. 3 man with your great
experience might We'll be President. and
this great publishing interest has access TO
the people every day
II said: Do not repeat that again il falls
upon cars that carry the news 10 the train.
and thar news is huniliating to good man
hood
Then came the observation-disclosures
maranatha- I should go into space Ny
reply was. IL should go into space would
60 an independen, atom. with my own self
Brother Ridder since that time, and have
not been popular with most Of the metro
politan press. I except the country press.
SAYS RIDDER WENT TO BRYAN.
Bryan is an acute man. He was to he
the candidate for the Presidency. and Mr
Ridder went 20 him-Mr RiddeT, who
thought so much Of my prospects for the
Presidency-helped frame his platform. be-
4a1 hat q
had given a large amount to the campaign
fund. What happened That platform OF
Bryan proceeded TO resolve that the House
had ceased 10 be deliberative body. that
the Speaker was ear. and that the car
had TO he put down.
He was aided by Brother Gompers, the
head Of the Federation CT Labor, who did
not get in the Republican platform what
he wanted which was class legislation 10
except his people from the antitrust Law
which covers the other citizens Of the re-
public For one. I say there will be no
/ class legislation by my vote while l hold
the power Of attorney Of the people Of my
district. Let there be equal laws that apply
10 everybody. rich ana poor, great and
small But Bryan wrote II in his platform.
That pleased Gompers.
Then, as II happened. a man who vas
either ignorant or dealt in falsehoods-I do
not know which-who was at the head Of
the national snti-ssloon movement. said
that Cannon was c7ar, he could pass what
he chose and prevent passing what he
chose, and that he had prevented the
/ passage Of the Littleheld bill He deceived
many Of the good bishops OF the church OF
which I am brother-in-lsw. and Of which
my wife was devoted member in her life
| time
Some Of them thundered. DO not blame
them. l am not critcising them. They
thought it was so. but 7 think they have
| learned subsequently that It was not SO.
| The conferences thundered.
other churches thundeTed. and, under
the inspiration Of Ridder and Gompers, ana
under the inspiration of these people who
had been misinformed. they went TO men
who were candidates for Congress and told
them they must pledge themselves against
voting for Cannon for Spesker--thst they
must pledge themselves 10 change the rules.
the growth. as Mr. Sterling has said. Of
! 40 years.
SOLD HIS CONSTITUENTS,
4 had 10 cancel one-hslf OF my engage
ments for the national campaign and go 10
my district. I had not canvassed II thor
Cughly for eight years, I went into almost
/ every township and looked into the faces OF
my good Methodist friends and the other
good people and said: This statement is
untrue. ] did not throttle and had no
| power 20 throttle the consideration of any
bill
Mr.. Littleheld, the author Of the bill
who is now out Of Congress. a truthful and
strong man. on his own voition, being
solicited by Bishop Hamilton. who wanted
10 know the facts about II. wrote the letter
which was published throughout my dis
trict saying IL was not true Then these
same people attacked Mr.. Littleheld To
make a long story short. considering the
increase I'm the vote in my district, I was
elected by the usual majority Of 5000. in
round numbers.
Il am told-and I want 20 speak right out
In meeting. and do IL respectfulIy-that
there is present listening 10 me a repre-
sentative of The Chicago Tribune I want
20 ask him II he will take from my stenog-
rapher. who is accomplished IN that line
and who IS a man Of high character and
intelligence a litera. copy Of what / have
said tonight. aud. II he can. prevail upon
hts managing editor the man who con-
trolls this sheet. 10 PRINT what have said
J know that you could not with a Jimmy,
n sou were burglar. get The Record
Herald aud The Chicago Tribune 20 print