The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14
AS HE KNEW HIM.
Speaker j. G. Cannon Makes an
Address at Pittsburg.
Full of "reminiscences of the
Great War President.
THOSE FENCE RAILS.
Tells How and When He Was
Dubbed Rail Splitter.
Calls the Republican Party His
Best Monument.
THOSE FENCE RAILS.

Pittsburg, Feb. 14.-In address be-
fore the chamber of commerce at it's
Lincoln day banquet, Speaker Joseph
G. Cannon said in part:
THE chairman has said that knew
Abraham Lincoln. Yes; I had that
privilege. 1 went to Illinois from In
diana in 1858 and settled in one of
the counties that constituted the coun-
try circuit, in which for many years
Lincoln practiced law, going on horse
back from county to county, before
the day of railroads and utilizing the
railroads as they were constructed.
1.-The semiannual term of court
brought many, if not most, of the
people in the respective counties to
the county seats. Thus the people of
the respective counties became sub
stantially acquainted, not only with
each other, but with the members of
the bar as well.
'I was a young lawyer, without
business and. of course, a close atten-
dant upon the courts, seeking acquain-
lance with members of the bar and
with the people, and by observation
learning to apply my textbook read
ing to the practical side of legal pro-
cedure. Lincoln was a universal ia
vorite with members of the bar, and
lawyer, and a politician with the peo-
pie of the various counties. He was
ever ready to make a helpful sugges-
ton to young lawyer. and was easily
the first lawyer on the circuit.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates.
I'm 1858 Mr. Lincoln was engaged
in his memorable joint debate with
Douglas, so that I saw but little of
him; but all the people seemed to be
acquainted with him, and he was one
of the principal subjects of converse
tion by the people and the members
of the bar. 1 attended two of the
meetings in the Lincoln-Douglas cam
paign in 1858. never met Mr.. Doug
las. except at these two meetings. He,
too, was a great favorite, and it SEEM
ed to me one of the most forceful
speakers at political meeting 1 had
ever listened to; but the verdict Of
those who heard them both, especial
" of those who agree with Lincoln.
was that he was quite the equal of
Douglas, and, in many respects his
superior.
Il was a delegate to the Republi-
can state convention, held at Deca-
tur. Ill. May 10, 1860. 1t was at this
convention that Lincoln was made the
candidate of Illinois for the presiden-
tial nomination of the newly-born
Republican party renewed my ac-
uuaintance with Mr.. Lincoln, calling
party said to him:
=" Mr.. Lincoln, supposed you
would not be in attendance upon the
convention inasmuch you are a
candidate for the presidential nomin
alton
'Lincoln's quick reply was that he
was, perhaps. too much of candi
date to be there, but hardly enough
of a candidate to stay away.
Held in a Wigwam.
"The convention was held in what
was called a 'wigwam, erected be-
tween two buildings, though it was
practically out of doors. The covering
overhead was made of green boughs,
cut from the trees in the nearby forest,
and the ends were open to permit the
crowd that could not get into the
space to hear and see. Before the
Oglesby, afterward general. senator
and governor, and John Hanks
brought upon the platform two wal
nut rails, sail to have been split by
Lincoln and Hanks.
''There were enthusiastic cheers for
the famous reil-splitter. The crowd
was so dense that when there was a
call for Lincoln it could not be sepa-
rated to let him through, and he was
lifted over the heads of the audience
and passed from the outskirts to the
platform. Some one cried out:
"fAbe, did you split those rails?'
ga queer look passed over his face,
and he answered:
John Hanks said we split those
rails. l do rot know whether we did
or not, but I have split many better
Ones
There were delegates from the
northern part of the state, who were
friendly to the nomination of Mr..
Seward. but The enthusiasm was sc
great that all opposition was swept
aside and unanimous delegation was
instructed to support Lincoln for the
nomination.
"a little later the national conven-
ton was hello in Chicago, resulting ir
Mr.. Lincoln's domination. There were
many Republicans who doubted the
wisdom of his nomination, and the op-
position party alleged that he was ar
uncouth, ignorant man, without quail
fications for the great place to which
he aspired. The wisdom of his nom
ination was demonstrated by his sub.
Sequent election
'My Boy, Abe
II met Lincoln only once after hi.
election to the presidency. He was or
his way to Charleston, ILL.,, to bid hi:
stepmother goodby before going t.