Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-19
SPEAKS OF OLD LEADERS
Their Retirement From Politics Does
Not Affect Uncle Joe.
STATEHOOD BILL TO BE URGED
President Determined to Fulfill
Party Pledge to Arizona and
New Mexico

Uncle Joe" Cannons cornfieId philoso-
ply was in evidence at the White House
today. The Speaker made a brief cali
on President Taft, discussed matters of
legislation with him, and meandered out
OF the executive Offices to confront news
paper inquirers The Speaker was well,
feeling all right. had a ten-cent break
fast, which he thought sufficient for any
man, and was ready for a days business
Then 1t was suggested to him that the
old-timers of the Senate were getting
out Would that affect him?
Well, not If he knew it. Senators Hale
and Aldrich were not in good health
''d--n the muck rakers,' and a few other
pointed statements.
Man of Courage.
But did Senator Hale have political
palpitation? some one asked
Hale is man of courage" asserted
the Speaker. "and ] have no idea that
His health is better than political Office
''Well. you are getting along in years."
1t was suggested. land do you consider
your health?''
well, I expect to live twenty-five years
longer and will have good time
health. though?"
Not bit OF It, People die from glut-
tony, underworld and worry. Plenty of
work never hurts anybody. IL l didn't
hustle around at times l would get stale"
Speaker Cannon will be seventy-four
years old May next and twenty-five
years added to that will make him ninety
nine years Old when he is ready to pass
over to that region where Victor Murdock
will he a mild. joyful young cherub. and
nd .,vx,inv fh1r, ntl,a
insurgents. will cease to fight over rules
and invite Uncle Joe" to accompany
them on jaunts into beautiful wales OF the
misty beyond. But even with that,
Uncle joe shudders when he thinks Of
it-at least he did today.
President Determined on Statehood.
II President Faft can have his way
Arizona and New Mexico Will become
states following this session of Congress
and after they comply with the provis-
ions Of the law he wants passed. The
President thinks that statehood Was a
promise Of the Chicago convention, and
that Congress should make that promise
good. He conferred today with Repre-
sentatives Hamilton. Cole, Guernsey and
Mckinney of the House committee on ter
ritories. They assuerd the Preside mt they
would do everything in their power to put
through the House statehood bill tnat
would suit him, and that they would get
the bill before that body at the earliest
possible moment 80 that it will not be
hanging In the last days OF the session.
Asking Pardon for Walsh.
President Taft today heard an appeal
for the pardon Of John r. Walsh, the
Chicago banker who is serving sentence
for bank wrecking, and who fought mis-
conviction through every court in the
land. The petition for the pardon OF
the aged banker was presented by Rep
resantattve Cuiiop OF the second Indiana
district, and it contained 22.OoO names Of
people in the second district, which is
entered by the system OF railroads that
were owned and controlled by Mr.. Walsh
The President listened to the statements
or Mr.. Cullop, glanced over the long Pc
tition and directed that 1t be referred 10
the Department of Justice to take the
usual course before coming to him. Many
other petitions are to follow this one, it
is stated. and consideration of the ef-
forts Tor pardon will be begun when At
torney General Wickersham is ready,
Instructions to Tariff Board.
President Taft gave instructions late
yesterday to the tariff board that will
probably be far reaching both along busi-
ness and political lines. The President
told the board, the members of which con-
fered with him, TO begin work at once
securing statistics showing cost of the
production OF articles In this country and
abroad. The orders OF the President are
tantAmount to making the tariff board a
commission to investigate and report to
the White House and Congress all in
formation that will be useful in future
revieons of the tariff and that will enable
tariff schedules of the future TO be based
upon protection that marks the differ
ence between cost in the United States
and cost abroad. The President has in
formation that Congress will grant the
appropriation of $2JO,U0O requested by him
for carrying on the work Of the board,
and he believes the board will accomplish
most important work.
Communication of Sentence.
President Taft has commuted to four
years the sentence of Herbert w. Tiers.
who pleaded guilty to abstractinE $5O.0OO
of the funds of the First National Bank
of Pittsburg. and was sentenced to five
years in prison The communication re-
duceS the sentence one year.