Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08
CANNON "A
Illinois Representatives OBJ
serve His Birthday.
GIVEN BASKET OF ROSES
Daughter Receives Portrait of Dis
tinguished Father.
REMARKS BY CHAMP CLARK
Business Suspended While Demo-
cratic Leader in the House Makes
Brief Congratulatory Address.
BY CHAMP CLARE

That Scared political WARRIOR Joseph ".
Cannon of Illinois, was seventy-fOur years
old yesterday. He certainly doesn't look
it, he says he doesn't feel it, and every
body admits that he doesn't act it. But
it is true just the same. Uncle Joe him
self admits it with sigh.
While there was no formal reception In
Mr.. Cannon's honor yesterday, such as
that of four years ago, when the members
Of the House and Senate spent several
hours at the Arlington Hotel and de-
parted in state of marvellous illumina-
ton, the Speaker was kept busy pretty
nearly all day, shaking hands with his
friends, smelling the flowers that covered
his desk and cluttered up his private Office
and smoking the cigars sent to him by
admirers all over the country.
The Speaker, excellent scrapper that he
is, is inclined to the belief that among
those who shook his hand yesterday and
wished him we'll were several gentlemen
who would be happy If he would curl up
map. Uncle Joe wasn't fooled. But he
just felt birthdayish and genial and
didn't care to start any trouble. So he
accepted everything as it sounded and
let it go at that.
Starts OFF With Row.
The Speakers birthday started off
pleasantly enough with fine young row
between him and Representative Dorsey
w. Shackleford of Missouri. Uncle Joe
cordially detests Mr.. Shackleford and the
sentiment is reciprocated with interest.
The two haven't spoken, except on the
most formal business and parliamentary
propositions, for more than a year. After
fearful lot of energetic graVellng by
the Speaker and considerable indignant
yelling by Mr.. Shackieford. the rumpus
was concluded and Mr.. Cannon left the
floor and started for his private office,
ment
The entire Illinois delegation in the
House-that is, all except one, and, by
special request, the name of the absentee
will not be northumberland after him.
Four of the husklest members carried two
immense objects, carefully covered over.
which later turned out to be the biggest
kind of a basket OF American beauties
and a portrait of the Speaker in oil. In
the Speakers private Office his daughter.
Miss Helen Cannon; MRS. L. White Bus
hey, wife Of the Speakers secretary, and
several of their friends We're waiting.
Presentation of Gifts.
Backing Mr.. Cannon up against thu
wall, the delegation gathered around and
the flowers and the portrait Were un-
yelled. Representative Rainey did the
conversational honors so far as the
flowers were concerned, while Represen
tative Eodenberg talked the oil painting
into the possession OF Miss Helen Can
non.
incidentally, the portrait of the Speaker
excited a good deal of interest and com
ment. 1t doesn't look much like Mr.
Cannon, but is handsomely framed. The
artist who perpetrated it is a native O1
East st. Louis.
He has been sent for. as it is thought
that with u little touching UP. such as
lengthening of the head broadening OF
the brow and Encouragement of Mr.. Can
mons whiskers so that they won't look
quite SO much like lace curtains, the
portrait can be made to resemble thu
Speaker quite a good deal Mr.. Roden-
berg. who presented the portrait to Miss
Cannon on behalf OF the citizens of East
st. Louis. thinks that the artist die
pretty well. considering that he never
saw Mr.. Cannon. but performed entirely
from photographs.
MI. Rodenberg's Address.
Mr.. Rodenberg. in presenting the paint
ing to Miss Cannon. said. in part:
Miss Cannon, like all strong and force
full men, your distinguished father has
many loyal and devoted friends. Theil
loyalty and devotion is based on thei,
knowledge of his many sterling qualitie.
of head and heart. They recognize ir
him man who has the courage of hi.
convictions, who has been faithful in al
things and who dareS to do his duty a,
all times and under all circumstances
LAS this is largely an IlIinv.s ,ather
'ng. i want to say that l am proud of the
fact that 1 can claim citizenship in the
same state with him, and that for ter
wears l have served in Congress as III:
friend and colleague"
Mr.. Cannon, IN reply to Messrs. Rainey
and Rodenberg.. said in part:
II am touched by your remembrance
of my seventy-fourth birthday anniver.
sary. Frequently. as men grow older
they seek to conceal their age. I hav.
never had that weakness, if weakness.
| it be, but from year to year / prize
more highly the respect and good will
of neighbors and friends.
High Praise for Illinois.
ut is a great satisfaction to me I,
be a representative in the House, ant
especially to be representative. from
| the state OF Illinois. I may say tina