The Washington times., 1909-03-01
CANNON RESENTS
RULES CRITICISM
Questions Editors Sincerity.
Refers to His ObScurity,
Then RoaStS Him.

Speaker Cannon has made public a
letter written to one OF his constituents,
F. O. Noris, OF Neoga, H., in which he
makes caustic reply TO sbe many critics
OF himself and the rules of the House
"t Representatives. Summed up briefly,
Uncle Joe advances the doctrine that
the critics aforesaid don't understand
what they arc talking about
'Fhe immediate cause Of the Speakers
comeback al his critics IS a circular
letter sent out by Edward L. Higgins.
president OF the Success Magazine Com
pauy. in which Mr.. Higgins calls upon
his life subscribers TO say whether
Uncle Joe" should be reelected
Speaker. The magazine also carries
G.is month aH article entitled "Barna-
cIos on the Ships of State"
A Live Barnacle.
Speaker Cannon is featured as one Of
the most tenacious Of these barnacIes.
Perhaps that has something TO do with
= the Voris letter. as Uncle Joe" is
thought to have a little more life than
the average barnacle.
After reciting the fact to Mr.. VOris
that he cannot find out much about Mr..
Higgins, either from the books OF refer
cnCe- members OF Congress, or pub
fishers, Mr.. Cannon says he Is not IN
CIiued to take his mere announcement
that he is president OF the Success
company as indicating that his tudE-
ment is infallible, or that he IS entitled
to be designated as a worthy director
Of public opinion
II IS significant. says the Speaker,
that the various magazine articles Crttl-
Cising himself and the rules are almost
invariably written by writers VINO DO
not make Washington their headquar-
-N-0 co. ia Wit he
workings Of Congress, as are the reSu-
lar correspondents, to whom Mr.. Can
non pays tribute for their conscientious
ness, enterprise, and capaplllty. MT
Higgins, he says, evidently belongs TO
the class not familiar with the leigsla-
ton, and who are wont to criticise.
Questions Sincerity.
Mr.. Higgins employs the same meth
DDS 70 attack the Speaker and the rules
of the House. These men are not all
unbalanced" continues Mr.. Cannon
They are clever advertisers, realizing
that the best way TO attract attention
10 themselves or their business is to
throw stones at somebody or some
thing that may be regarded as reSpecta-
bic and established IN tradition and Gus
TOM
representIng the interests whatever
that may mean. I confess do not
know. but have noticed the use OF the !
expression by those, who while ready I
n affsck men in public life, still have
regard for the libel laws and seek to ]
discredit. without assuming the re- I
sponsibility for simple and direct accu- /
satious which they might have 70 prove
or suffer the consequences
LAS to the criticism which Mr.. Hig-
Gins makes Of the rules and the admin /
iStTatiOn Of them by the Speaker, little /
need be said His lette! shows that he ]
- Ngl= hal
will be evident 10 any one VINO has ever
studied the rules or observed carefully |
and honestly their administration i /
man who. without having studied the !
law of the land or praCtiCed in the |
courts. should criticise and denOunCe I
indisCriminately the law and the courts |
simply because he had heard the com |
plants Of lawyers who had lost their |
cases would receive from the COM
raunity the attention TO which his ignOr- |
ance and his presumption fairly entitle |
him.
Become a Patriot
'sBut if seems that any one. after hav- |
ing sat at the feet Of persons dissat- |
isfcd with legislation OF disgruutled |
lecausc Of the failure Of proposed Iesis-
lation. msv become a patriot and a /
molder of opinion by denouncing the |
rrIIcs which adjust the rights and re-
Iati0us and secure the efficiency OF a |
BODY Of 5g1 members, representing the /
complex interests or Sl-GOJ.0JJ people
'.The rules may not be ideal, but ljey |
have stood the test among those VINO !
iynow them, IN spite OF half a century /
of denunciauon such as AIT- Higgins /
nuts forth. The foundation principles /
OF the rules were laid down more than /
-. century ago under the leadership Of |
Jeff erson and Madison. They have been
perfected from year to year to meet the |
needs OF a growing representation and /
a growing nation. just as the law OF /
the land IS developed. If Mr.. Higgins |
wishes TO help mold that development
he should do as Jefferson and Madison |
did-Eive his days and nights 10 the /
studyiof the subject, and then secure
the confidence Of his felIOw-men 50 that
they may PIT him IN q position TO make
his knowledge effective
WILL Z rrr-hn 1vrI1 COL