The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
"OId GuQrd' Dies With
Session of Congress
Many Familiar Faces in Both Houses Will Be
Missing After March 4-Son1e of Those
Who Went Down in Landslide

The end of the Sixty-second Congress,
which convenes it's last session here on
Tuesday next, means the passing OF
many OF the ''Old Guard" who for years
have shaped national legislation at the
Capital Of the United States.
This is especially true of the House.
where political changes are more fire.
duent and where a man, to hold on, is
required to placate constituency every
two years.
The Democratic landslide Of November
5 removed practically the last vestige Of
the old timers in the lower body of Con-
gress Heading the list of those whose
faces will be missed when the gavel calls
to order the extra session of the Sixty
third Congress is Uncle Joe" Cannon.
of Illinois, former Speaker, former
GEAR and veteran of more than third
of a century's service in the national
House of Representatives.
Uncle joe" who is now in his sew
enty-seventh year died game. If such
a term may be applied to political mis-
fortune. Until the ballots were counted
against him the Sage of Danville asked
no Quarter and gave none. Neither does
he ask sympathy now in the hour OF
defeat, but there is a note OF pathos
running through the undoing Of this
powerful warrior OF other days.
Uncle joe asked merely the privilege
OF diving in harness. AS member or
a hopeless minority he could have done
no harm to the ''progresstVeism' OF later
DAYS; a return to Congress probably
would have rounded out life largely
spent in the public service, but the voters
of the Eighteenth Illinois Congressional
District willed otherwise, and he quits
on March L.
"UncIe Joe's" Valedlctory.
Should he choose, Uncle Joe" is in
position to deliver a valedictory to the
Sixty-second Congress which Will be
worth coming miles to hear. He was In
politics before some Of the members
of that Congress were born. He leaves
the call OF public life at an age given
few men to live; he has seen the ups
and downs of many a campaign, and
there are few Democrats who would
have denied him the privilege Of end
ing his days enid old surroundings.
Nevertheless, 1t is predicted that
Uncle Joe" will quit Congress without
a whimper; his cigar will still flourish
at an angle of 45 degrees, and his form
will be erect when he crosses the
threshold of the House in the closing
hours of the Sixty-second Congress.
John Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, famed
as the high priest Of protection" lost
out in the primaries last spring. He
leaves Congress three months hence
in company with Uncle Joe"
The late Vice President Sherman.
longtime member OF the House, has an
swered the final roll call.
Tawney Of Minnesota was retired two
years ago, largely because Of his es-
pousal of what was known as Cannon |
ism. He has a lame duck job to-day |
on one Of the numerous government
Serene E. Payne, author Of the Payne |
tariff law, the passage of which marked |
the beginning Of the end of Republican |
rule in the House, survives He was re- |
elected, and in the Sixty-third Congress |
will stand alone as the last member Of
q once dominating coterie of Republic |
cans. With the retirement OF former
Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Payne becomes the |
nestor of the House. He is growing old |
and feeble, and probably will be among |
the missing before many years have
passed.
Representative E. D. Crumpacker of
Indiana, who was always regular"
also met his Waterloo on November 5
He had been a member of the House
for eight terms and successfully
Eeathered the Democratic storm which
overlook Indiana in 1870 This time he
went under.
Representative Ebenezer Hill of Con-
necticut Is another conspicuous member