The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-07
Ms Career IS SPEAKER Ended
Saturday 4 Noon
NE sTEPPEDO0Nl AND OUT
with One Exception He Breaks the
Record for Length Of Service as
Presiding Oiicer-ss Years In the
House ss q Representative-AIways
Ready for q Fight.

Washington, March 6.-The career
OF Joseph G. Cannon as speaker of
the house OF representatives ended
last Saturday, with the expira-
ton of the sixty-frst congress. So
far as public interest Is concerned the
passing of Uncle Joe" seems to be
just as important as the question OF
an extra session. Among the, menu
bers OF the house there are some who
regard themselves as veterans in the
public service who have known no
other presiding officer than Mr.. Cam
non. So II Is scarcely to be wondered
at that many have been heard to re-
mark within the past few days. as the
end of the session draws near. that
the house will hardly look natural
without Uncle Joe" in the speakers
chair.
At a monster reception and dinner
given in his honor in this city five
years ago Mr.. Cannon confided 70
some of his intimate friends that II
he should again be selected as speaker
he then would be willing to retire
and let somebody else take charge.
Since that time he has been honored
twice with reelection to the speaker
ship, so ii is to be presumed that he
is more than satisfied to step out
When he finally relinquishes the
gavel tomorrow Mr.. Cannon will have
broken the record in length Of ser
vice as presiding officer, with the ex-
ception OF Henry Clay, who served
nine and a half years in the chair to
Mr.. Cannon's eight years. No other
speaker mas served more than three
terms. and most Of them for but a
term or two.
Mr.. Cannon has already broken the
record for length Of service ON the
foor. He came into the house OF rep
resenfatiyes March 4. 1878. and with
the expiration of the sixty-frst con-
gress tomorrow he will have served
. period Of thirty-eight years. with
the exception Of two years, when he
was defeated for the ffty-second con-
gress. The nearest approach TO this
record Is that OF John H. Ketehum
who served seventeen consecutive
terms as representative Of the eigh-
tenth district Of New York.
Though he will be seyenty-fve
years old next May. Mr.. Cannon Il
hale and hearty and as full OF fighi
as ever. Those who know him besi
expect him to make things livel,
when be resumes his place on The
floor as one OF the leaders Of the re
publican minority In the next con
gress.
.Uncie Joe" In debate is earnes
and aggressive. He used to have tn
reputation Of being fighter on tn
floor. because he had TO fight a grea
many bills that were for appropria
tons which be regarded as unwiss
In those days he was called tn
Watchdog OF the Treasury"
In debate the grizzled veteran fror
Illinois has the mannerisms Of tn
frontier lawyer OF half century agt
He uses the plsinest simplest an
most direct language 10 express hi
ideas. The homeless expressions ar
those he uses most. and he has
fund Of homely SMILES and epigram
that poirt his speeches to make theT
unique examples Of force. II not gem
o. thought and expression.
Uncle Joe's" gestures. like hi
speech. are more forceful than grace
ful. and when In debate he begins I
push up his sleeves every speetato
knows that be ID ready to fight. an
will come as near Il In parliameniaT
practice and debate a. Is possible.