The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-11
kENNEpY ENDORSES CANNON


Moines the other day Congressman
Kennedy of this district gave deserved
endorsement to Speaker Cannon and
the amended house rules He is
quoted as having said:
Il know there is considerable feel
ing in Iowa against the speaker. he
was attacked by the church for oppo-
sition to the bill prohibiting shipments
of liquor into dry communities, but II
afterwards developed that the Dill
would have been unconstitutional, and
understand the church people have
withdrawn their opposition.
LAS for so called gag rules, body OF
more than 800 men can not be orsanlz-
ed so that they can transact business
promptly without strict rules. Inc
changes effected at the beginning OF
the session give every member an op-
portunity to call up his bills in their
order. and in my opinion give substan-
tial relief. Some of the members
wanted the committees chosen by a
special committee to be elected by the
house. but such course is contrary
to all precedent"
mere 10 liz QuCSlAOAi eA-sNS
expressing himself Representative
Kennedy voiced the sentiments OF an
Overwhelming majority of his consult
uents. That there is considerable
feeling in some localities in Iowa
against Speaker Cannon is due to the
fact that the people do not know him
as he really is. Partly because ne
has been Indifferent to public opinion
partly because he has at times rath-
er unconventional way of expressing
himself. partly because, like most men
OF the west, he is democratic, easy OF
approach and has genuine horror OF
putting on frills," and largely because
he is a man of generous impulses
which move him to do the right thing
irrespective of consequences-for
these reasons which in way give
some measure of the man, there has
grown up a Cannon myth. The real
Joseph G. Cannon is thus faithfully de
lpicted by A. Maurice Row in a recent
letter from the national capital:
The popular conception of Mr.. Can
non is composite of car and a
slave driver; a man whose word Is
law. or, scorning words, he cracks his
whip and the House of Representa-
tives cringes. Mr.. Cannon is decidedly
picturesque figure He smokes, and
so do a great many other men in pub
lie life. but every reporter who comes
Ito Washington for the first time, after
he has been here week, thinks that
he has caught the Cannon "atmos
phere'' when he writes a paragraph
built around Mr.. Cannon's cigar.
But talk with Mr. Cannon for five
minutes and you forget the cigar and
remember only that you are listening
to man who is possessed of Slngu
lar view of philosophy, who has known
much of life from many sides, and Wnc
sees life with unclouded vision. MT
Cannon's most striking feature is his
eyes. They are blue and undimmed;
they are most absurdly young for a
man of his age; they shine with the
Eluster of youth There is nothing cold
or misanthropic about it.
Then you are an optimist,' | said
to him at the end of a somewhat pro
Ilonged conversation.
Thank God. yes. am glad to say
he replied, with feeling. When man
has no longer optimism it is time fol
him to be Oslerized
But it was an unnecessary question
No man with those eyes could see life
darkly.
A few days ago ] had a conversation
with the Speaker lasting a couple o.
hours. It was one of those intimate
conversations in which man reveal;
himself. On the 18th day of May Mr.
! Cannon will be seventy-three years
old. but in looks and manner ant
speech he denies his age.
"Mr. Speaker" ] said. you have
been long time in public life ant
have seen many changes and fluctua
lions in public opinion. Why is it tina
the demagogue always finds willin;
ears?"
The demagogue always sells in tn
best market, and for that matter h
does not differ in the slightest fror
the moral uplift magazine, which
virtuous because 1t is profitable, or tn
newspaper that makes a profession @
reform. The newspaper is a manufat
turing establishment, it exists to max
money and it gives its readers wha
it thinks they want to buy. Only tn
moral uplift magazine is usually
I, humbug and generally hypocrite;
doesn't believe what it prints, but tina
makes no difference, so long as it
!, sensations sell"
, why are the rules of the House S
unpopular? Why is there such a gel
! eral feeling throughout the countr
: that some kind of a change is imper;
tive?"
J They are unpopular because of i,
> norance, because" he added slowl,
! "of demaeagues, because it is easier t
( find scapegoat and unload him tina
to educate people, because" he wer
on with increased animation, men ar
:. towards and it is easy for them t
seek shelter behind a personality"
"As a matter of fact, Mr.. Speake
in all your experience in congress
: have you ever known any Speaker {
a any combination of men able to thwa
public sentiment"
Absolutely not. 1t is absurd to thin
K SO. Congress has never been able