Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-04-01

For nearly a generation Speaker Joseph G. Cannon, the stormy petrol
of Congress whose wings we're clipped by the insurgents, has been a unique
figure in public life. The last of the frontier type of statesmen, of which
Lincoln a frst'-when a celebrity said that of Uncle Joe" o six
queness and plainness have been so developed and nourished by the seer
of anvine that without them he would be Ike President Taft without thu
expansive smile, like Theodore Roosevelt without the teeth eyeglasses.
like Buffalo Bill without the long haran INC SLOUGH hat.
Geographically speaking, Speaker Cannon comes of Quaker parntage
n wa born in North Carolina in 1886. He spent his boyhood in Indiana,
and later moved to Illinois. where he has lived vr since. his home being
in Danvine. With the exception of n term. when he IA kept at home by
constituents, he las been in Congress since 1872, OF nearly four de-
cades. Over a quarter of a century 6 lie "a appointed by Speaker Car
Isle a member of thu committee o. rules-the sel-same committee over
which the stirring battle has just been fought N Washington. For many
years he vas chairman of the committee C appropriations, and a known
as watchdog of the treasury"
Once upon a time. about eight years ago, MI. Cannon dictated an auto
biography o a Washington correspondent, 1t was short, succinct and char
acteristc. It ran: Mr.. Cannon was bern of Godfearing and manloving
parents. He made himself, and he did a darn poor job Of it."
In appearance Mr.C Cannon is a rather slim man about five feet and a
half in height. Despite his "A years he is as straight as an arrow. His
rugged facet is ornamented witha grizzed beard, his upper. lip being shaved.
He is quick and alert in his movements, his eyes have a youthful sparkle.
In conversation ne is almost as vehement as when making a speech.
In Wash1neto years years ago lie became noted for his eenness
In debate. He is a master Of SATIRE, o. razof[hhe edge, In tn th1rys1x
years hs has been at Washington Mr.. Cannon las helped write "a a i'm
potant law. IN the Fortythird Congress as member Of the committee O
poTohces and post roads he introduced a bill changing the postal rates
hibitng the distribution Of lottery tickets and obscene literature through
the mails. At thu beginning Of the wal win Spain MI. Cannon a chairman
of the committee on appropriations cautioned delay, ut whe it became evil
dent that the ar would come he put in the bill appropriating s5ooooOoo
fol- irrational defense.
At Danvine Speaker Cannon has what is regarded a of the best
equipped private libraries in the State, and when ath home he spends hours
browsing OIL literature. He is ranked as a millionaire, having made his
in the street railroad and banking business and lin investments in
agricultural lands. In oratory Speaker Cannon is galvanic. IS HI brings
forth a new point he comes dancing forth or his tptoes, swinging his arms
like the sails Of a Dutch windmill, uppercutting n parrying and swing
ing and sidestepping There is a saying in Illinois that he would lot be
able to MAKE a speech in a tWentyfoct ring. His speeches are we'll inter
Iarded with biblical quotations, al occasional bit of near-profanity and al
way with parallels and stories to back up each point