The Sentinel=record., 1910-02-15
CANNON On
THE FLOOR
GIVES TIMELY WARNING AGAINST
THE UNDUE RESPECT OF
REPRESENTATIVES,.
Recalls the Time He Voted for Rivers
Bill Under Arthur and Spoke
Longer Than is Allowed
by the House.

Washington, Feb 14.-'If we lose
sight of our own Importance aad of
our own position for the time being
there will come in our places better
and wiser men who will not lose sight
of the necessity TO provide for an or
derly procedure under which a ma
jority can work it's will; where re-
sponsibility rests there must be pow
er; with the majority rests the re-
sponsibility."
Uncle Joe Cannon, laying aside
his gavel and speaking today from the
floor of the house, merely as ''the gen
tleman from Illinois,, sounded this
warning to his colleagues.
Representative Cannon arose for
the purpose OF lending his approval to
the pending rivers and harbors bill,
but during his speech, which was OF
Iabout twenty minutes duration, he
took occasion to refer lightly to mag.
azine and newspaper criticism and to
remind the minority members that
the power of the majority was futile
unless enforced by well oiled ma
chine.
1t was while Representative Fitz-
gerald. Democrat, of New York, had
the floor, that members were surpris-
ed TO see the speaker rise from seat
in their midst and inquire:
"Will the gentleman from New York
yield to me?"
Il will yield to ths gentleman be-
lieve from Illinois," replied Mr. Fitz-
gerald, smiling.
Mr.. Cannon told the house he nad
voted for river and harbor bill dur
ing Arthur's administration and ex-
planned that he had voted ITO pass the
measure over the presidents veto. He
said he had had some trouble in jus
tifying that vote before hi sconstitu-
ents but he said he did So
Il thanked God then, and | thank
God now,' said Nj. Cannon, "that
that constituency, agricultural district
as it is today, had the patriotism
crossed with breadth and intelligence
to stand by me at the polls"
AS the speaker was enhrglng or
need of breadth of view to obtain ap-
proval all over the country for appro-
priations for river and harbor improve
ments, Representative Dalzel OF Penn.
sylvania, who occupied the chair, be-
gan hammering the desk with rne
speakers gavel
THE time of the gentleman has -x-
pired,s he exclaimed in mock sever
ity May have minute more?"
pleaded the speaker
Mr.. Fitzgerald then obtained unani-
nous consent to have his time extend
ed five minutes, and Mr.. Cannon pro
ceeded
With the eye of prophecy he saw
the nations population growing from
ninety to five hundred million.
Already we have almost one-half
of the railroad mileage of this earth"
he declared. carrying one-third OF the
products of the civilized world back
and forth to market. Long before the
five hundred million are here. If we
are TO depend upon railway transpor-
tation alone we will have the railway
mileage multiplied by two, multiplied
by three, multiplied by four.
1T is long work to add to nature
sufficient depth of water to carry the
greatly increasing commerce."
Referring to his trip down the Mis-
sissippi with President Taft in con-
neciion with newspape attacks a.
that time, Mr.. Cannon said:
when l turned to come back from
New Orleans. from the criticisms | re-
ceived and that many others received.
rot founded upon correct information.
1t nsde me wonder whether | was