The Washington herald., 1913-01-19
uncle JOE SAYS
LAST farewell
VaIedictory in House Full Of
Political Philosophy; Good
Wishes for Democrats.
BIGGER ARMY IS NEEDED
Among Other Things, Former Speaker
Advocates Maintenance of
Monroe Doctrine.

"Cncle Joe" Cannon made his farewell
speech in the House OF Representatives
yesterday. 1t was chock full of political
philosophy. good wishes for the incom-
ing Democratic administration and ex-
pressions of faith that the Republican
party would in the fullness of time again
come into its own. Uncle joe took a
crack at the Progressive party and was
wildly applauded. He announced that he
would not again seek public Office, ad-
vocated the maintenance of the Monroe
Doctrine predicted that II would not be
long before the civilization of the United
States would push its way southwark on
this continent and urged the creation OF
a greater navy, a greater army and a
greater country.
hr. Cannon began his speech by criti-
cls;ng the announced policy of the Demo-
Gratis to grant independence to the Philip
pines.
II am not in harmony with the out
givings of William Jennings Bryan. who
is more responsible for the Philippines
and our ownership of them than any
man, living or dead" remarked Mr.. Can
non.s TT was that peerless leader who
came to Washington and, with his in
fluence furnished the Democratic hosts,
they ratified the treaty OF Paris at a
time when II seemed that that instru-
ment was destined to fall in the Senate.
We have the Philippines and the posi-
ton of the Democratic party and OF the
President-elect, in my Judgment. will lead
TO the loss of tens of thousands of men
belonging to the army and navy and to
hundreds OF millions OF treasure.
Need Effective Army.
In regard to the army. the former
Speaker said:
'It we had had 10000 men well trained
in the army at the time the Spanish war
broke out IL would not have been neces-
.sary for us to have called on the citizen
scldiery The expenditure made in that
war was proper. / am speaking only
for a small and effective army, compare
lively small considering our population.
I'VE have our troubles down on the
borderland Of the South with Mexico and
the South American republics God
knows we do not want them. But, gen.
tlemen, We cannot abandon the Monroe
doctrine; we have got to play a happy
go-lucky game and take all things for
granted with the grandest. greatest. and
most powerful nation on earth, or we
have got to realize the obligation that
the future will bring to us. Therefore, |
am entirely in sympathy with a good
navy"
Replying to a question. Mr.. Cannon
discussed the significance Of the Monroe
doctrine.
The Monroe doctrine is pretty well
defined" said he. I'VE have got to see
to it that under that doctrine no foreign
government 10 located. as I understand
it, upon this continent, TO exploit the
various small republics and found
monarchy. We had a fair Illustration
of what | have in mind when in the
stress of that great civil struggle a COM
bination was made in Europe to place
Macmillan upon the throne Of Mexico.
A protest was made. but our hands were
full at the time with the civil war. But
when il ceased the Confederate soldier
and the Union soldier stood ready to
throw Maximilian into the sea"
Leave Not Asked For.
Uncle Joe then spoke OF his prospective
retirement from Congress on March 4,
after a service covering forty years.
Il did not ask for the leave of alb
sence," he remarked, amid laughter. u
feel a little different about il than l
did twenty-five years ago when I re-
ceived a leave of absence without appli-
cation for II. ! have got to be a pretty
old man. but I feel as well as ever did
in my life. l am going home to Dan
vile and remain with the people who
have honored me with twenty indorse-
ments, and If, perchance. I should never
again appear in public life, I am going
to perform as one man, as one voter my
duties as one of the sovereigns of the
land. l am going to keep on advocating
those policies that I believe will terd to
secure the well being of our country
and which / hope will work under what
ever We call ourselves, whether Demo-
Gratis or Republicans, and those two
great organizations are the only organ
izations that l recognize as reliable"
Mr.. Cannon declared himself an opti-
mist.
Il do not fear for the perpetuity of the
republic" he said. We have made mis-
takes that have involved great penalties.
we will in the future make mistakes that
will require the payment of great penal
ties, but when We run against them We
will pay them. 1 am a Republican
partisan because l believe in the economic
policies OF that party, but 1 trust 1 am
a patriotic American citizen. 1 know
that all OF you are such"
Addressing the Democrats, MIR. Cannon
said, in conclusion:
IF our great citizenship under Your
economic policies brings better results,
there is no man IN the land who Will cry.
Glory, hallelulah" louder than / Will,
because it makes but little difference
what you call a party or what you call
a policy. The proof of the pudding is
the eating of it,
Mr.. Cannon got an ovation as he took