The Detroit times., 1910-10-24
az RAYMOND EVANS.

DANVILL.E, Oct. 24.-Some dozen
cdd years ago Danville and It's en-
virons were electrified by the an
nouncement that q national soldiers
home was TO be established on the
outskirts of Danville.
Presently. when the site OF the In
stitution was definitely located, II de-
veloped that Bill Cannon, Joe Cain
mons brother and business agent. had
options on almost all of the land In
the vicinity of the proposed location.
A little later. when the institution
was established. II transpired that In
stead of establishing q lighting plant
of its own, Il was more convenient to
buy electricity from local lighting
concern-in which the Cannons were
heavily interested. And naturally the
Cannon traction system had to run a
spur into the grounds OF the institu-
ton and carry veterans and visitors
To and from the city.
Finally. when the institution was
opened and all its veteran children
gathered in under its roofs. II natur-
ally came about that about $500 voters
were added to the eighteenth district,
about so per cent Of whom were. In the
nature Of things. Republicans. Not
that there was any particular and Ut
gent need for several thousand Repuo-
lican voters In the district just then.
Still it's always well 10 play safe and
be prepared for any emergency.
Here. In q nutshell. Is cross-section
OF the whole story OF how Joseph Cur
ney Cannon has been enabled 10 spend
nearly q lifetime In congress ana al
the same time become millionaire
Joe has used his influence and patron
age continually to fortify his own po-
s!tion and has been the source or ad-
vince information as to dow the imam
cial cat was going TO Jump. Bill has
made money for the whole family.
Joe Cannon has been elected TO
congress IS times. Once. 20 years ago.
he was defeated, going down then De-
fore the Democratic wave that swept
the country In 1890, swelled by q local
wave OF Indignation aroused by some
bad. shocking cuss words that Uncle
Joe had used too publicly. With the
exception Of that one setback he has
dominated the district continuously
for nearly 40 years. The whole story
OF how he has maintained his DOM
nance would be a long chronicle OF
the selfish misuse Of federal patron
age, of financial coercion, Of boycott
ting-the story of the operations OF
a wonderful political machine built on
pure selfishness. fabricated by oil
from the national store. and run Tor
the glory and profit OF Joe Cannon
and the Grand Old Party.
A typical sample Of Cannon's mis-
use of patronage: Until about two
years ago Chris. ]. Leverenz, one OF
his lieutenants, was on the payroll as
the speakers stenographer. He may
know the difference betweeen q type
writer and a cider mill. but he GER
tainly doesn't know how to operate
the first mentioned machine. He does
know how to run q saloon, however.
He runs several In Danville, success
fully.
When a Danville Democratic paper
finally published the fact that Chris
was a "stenographer," az set forth In
the government blue book, the blue
book in question suddenly and mys'
teriously disappeared from the
shelves of the Danville public library
Exhibit b: There are three Demo
cratic dailies, as many Democratic
weeklies and one Independent paper
in the district All the rest OF the
newspapers In the six counties OF the
district are Cannon organs. The edi
tors of most of these papers are post
masters. The editor Of Paris ed
gar-co) paper is L. 8. deputy marshal
for the federal district.
The exhibit might be extended al
length. The government printing or
fee at Washington Is giving employ
ment to a large delegation from east
ern Illinois; the district IL literally
represented at West Point and at An
napolis: and there are many proteges
OF Uncle Joe In the consular and
other government services.
Not that it's specifically wrong for
a congressman thus TO distribute gov
eminent patronage. Somebody must
hold the legitimate positions. But
the fact remains that every Job thus
handed out serves to strengthen the
machine that has maintained Cannon
in Office and in his position as Old
Man OF the Sea on the neck OF the
nation.
oh no doubt Uncle Joe has done
great things for the district. II Is
not every congressman who can show
the folks at home two fine postoffice
buildings In 20 years. The present
federal building at Danville Is per.
fectly good and serviceable federal
building still-nice pressed brick,
romanesque stone trimmings, fine
wide lawn. and all that--but across
the street Is going up a federal build
ing that Is a federal building--a whole
block front. fine white stone. Doric
pillars--a truly beautiful and massive
building TO cost near q half million.