The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-17
WILL FIGHT AIANFULLY.

You cannot help but admire the
man, referring, of course. to Joseph
c. Cannon. speaker of the national
House of Representatives. Everybody
/ knows Uncle joe or knows of him
at least. With the exception of two
years, he has been before the people
OF the United States since 1873, when
he was first elected TO Congress from
the Eighteenth Illinois district
The prime reason for the populari-
/ " of Speaker Cannon in his home dis
triet is the fact that he never shows
the white feather, always meeting his
political enemies in the open, and
neither giving nor taking quarter.
He was beaten in one campaign under
false pretenses, but the people of the
Denville district quickly repented Of
their rash action and he has been reg
ularly returned ever since.
It would be useless to make extend
ed comment upon the career Of
Speaker Cannon. Every schoolbOy is
familiar with the fact that he mas
served his country long and well. as
a private in the ranks, as chairman of
the appropriations committee and as
presiding officer of the House.
Naturally the Democrats in all these
years OF honorable service upon the
part of the Illinois member have done
everything in their power to pull
Uncle Joe" down. They haven't sue
ceeded in even the smallest particular.
Recently a fire has been set in the
rear by the so-called insurgents and
an effort mas been made. for base in
dividual political purposes, to shelve
the speaker. The cry of Cannon
ism" has been raised in the granger
states, where the people are not sup
posed to be any too we'll posted.
The object Of this attack is well
known. Certain members of the Re
publican party seek control for their
own selfish ends. Mr. Cannon, being
speaker. has been attacked simply be-
cause ne was one of the leaders, and
with his overthrow the insurgents
hoped TO gain strength. There never
was any sense in the cry of Cannon
ism" The speaker has always car
ried out the wishes of the majority
it would be impossible for him 10 do
otherwise.
Recently hints have been dropped
in dispatches under a Beverly, Mass,
date that Secretary Baliinger was to
resign, Senator Aldrich TO retire and
Speaker Cannon to be relegated to the
rear.
Speaker Cannon does not believe |
that President Taft contemplates any
such action. and declares the stories
must have been concocted by the in
Democratic allies, who are
moving heaven and earth TO accom-
plish that very purpose. In any event |
Speaker Cannon will not turn tail on |
the eve Of battle He will be a can
didate for speaker of the next House,
and makes his purpose clear in the
statement
It am speaker of the House. elected |
by a Republican majority four |
times. I have been in harmony /
with and have 10 the best of my |
ability cO-Operated with the Re- /
publican majority in the legisla- /
tiOn that has been enacted for /
the last seven years. during the /
administrations of Theodore /
Roosevelt and William II. Taft
81 know of no reason, personal or 4
political. that would prevent my 1
being speaker If a majority of /
the House of Representatives i
should desire il. Under these con
ditiOns. pending a campaign, ! /
could not, upon demand OF the /
enemy, pledge that in the event |
of my reelection 10 Congress I
would not be a candidate for /
speaker. without acknowledge
that the record Of the House dur
ing the last seven years is sub
1ect TO criticism, and that the
Republican majority with which |
l have co-Operated in the enact |
ment OF legislation is subject to
Just criticism
This / will not do, because | be-
lieve that the records OF the
party for the last seven years |
should be indorsed and not con-
demned."
II the insurgents have any fault To
ind it should be with the pa ". and
lot Mr.. Cannon. Uncle Joe" has al