The Washington times., 1913-02-16
POLITICAL FRIENDS
ANDFOES JOIN TO
HONOR UNCLE JOE
Taft, Clark, and Others Speak.
and Guest of Honor Re-
spends With Farewell.

Making him the lion of the hour, and
the toast of one of the most royal o'
the seasons banquets, friends and en-
emies declared a truce in the hot war
fare of politics last night to honor that
seasoned veteran of their ranks, Uncle
joe Cannon. They bade him not adieu
and did not sound the mournful strains
of farewell. but sang their praises to
the tune Of He is gone but for a day,
he will come back again.
Although Uncle Joe declared his
face was turned toward the setting
sun," and that his race was run, not a
single speaker echoed the thought that
he was taken forever out of the Wash.
inEton life he has known for forty years.
Nearly 600 banqueters in the Raleigh
CAV etestimony to the genuine Amer
loan spirit of brotherhood toward all
Americans" In the words of Senator
Root-men who have fought and
wrangled bitterly on the floor of the
House sang the praises Of one Of their
number who has been accused of almost
every political crime in the calendar,
and who presided over their delibera-
tions with an iron hand for nearly a
decade
81 like to hold up for the contempla-
ton Of the people of the United States
tn eexample of this man, who dared to
become unpopular by doing what he be-
neved to be his duty. and who has out
lived it, said Senator Root.
Great Speaker, Says Clark.
Champ Clark, Uncle Joe's" success
sor in the Speakers chair, and one Of
the doughtiest Of his opponents, said
he was one Of the greatest Speakers
the House had ever known. That is
what history will say Of him. no diff
ference what the fellows who have
scrapped with him thought, and they
thought he was good deal of a man,
too. while he was scrapping with
them" said the Speaker. "of all the
men have met in my going to and
fro. and tabernacling in the flesh, 1
write Uncle Joe down as one of the
that ever came down the Congress
ional pike" he added.
TT was the real soldiers, not the
coffee coolers or the deserters. who
swapped tobacco across the lines IN
times of real warfare" said Minority
Leader Underwood. Our guest Of
honor has been a real political war
rtor, and he has sometimes swapped
tobacco across the lines. He is one
of the great men who will live in the
history OF our country,
President Taft paid brief tribute to
the Iron Duke of Illinois" and struck
the note Of the evening when he said:
Il testify to my profound admiration
American political life. and for a man
to whom the people of this country are
indebted in a way that they now but
little realize: but when he shall have
passed away the growth of his work
will show itself to them and to his
torians generally.
Press Gallery Has Part.
He says he is not coming back. ]
hope that is not true, and do not be-
lieve 1t is true"
The press gallery was not over
looked in the tribute. In balcony an
improvised newspaper reserve was
rugged up. and in the manner of the
Gridiron Club a group of .correspon-
dents contributed to the gayety Of the
evening. They were E. c. Snyder, who
played the role of the cub" reporter;
E. D. Clark, r. H. Patchin, George Mil
Ter, Oswald Shuette, Gus karger, and
Theodore II. Tiiler.
Yes: that's Uncle Ike Stephenson.
He caught cold from a s1.5oo.0o0 draft"
said the mentor of the gallery.
Does he cough much?" asked the
cub.
You bet he coughs-every time he
Asked the cub: rs Chairman Pujo,
of the Untermyer committee, a lawyer
No; he's throat specialist" was
the reply.
aF
this type was the journalistic contribu-
ton to the Cannon tribute.
The climax Of the evening came when
Uncle joe arose to reply to all the
eulogy and laudation lavished upon him.
His body was shaking with emotion,
and his voice trembled in it's high fal-
setto when Uncle Joe" sang a swan
song which can never be forgotten by
those that heard IL.
"0ptimist to the End"
Tonight, my friends. / am an old
man." he said. Measured by years
an old. / am about to retire from pub
lie life. l will soon be seventy-seven
years old. Ny face is toward the set
ting sun. But when the sun disappears
below the western horizon i shall go
secure in the feeling that whatever
party may from time to time be charge
able with revenue legislation and with
approprta tions II mistakes are made
the people will correct them.
Looking in your faces. many men,
bers of the House and Senate, | accord
to you who do not agree with me polit-
icelly the same loyalty to the great
republic that ] claim TO have for my
self. II makes but little difference who
is President, or what party has a ma
jority in the House and In the Senate.
As manly men we make our contests
as God gives US TO see the right, and we
are indorsed or fall Of Endorsement from
time TO time as the case may be- zoe
new generation comes, and IL II does
not learn through the brain II will learn
through the stomach and all things
will end well Thank God, / have been