The Republican journal., 1916-05-11
JUNGLE JOE'S" BIRTHDAY.

years old last Sunday, and Saturday he
was given demonstration in the House
of Representatives that was unique in
the history of the American Congress.
For two hours the House put aside its
partisanship and its legislative program,
and Democrats and Republicans Wed
with each other in honoring the veteran
legislator. Mr.. Cannon entered the
House "A years ago and has served con-
tinuously, with the exception of two
terms, since that time. No man has
ever served that length of time in the
lower chamber, but two members of
Congress-M Morrill, of Vermont and ALI
son of Iowa-have served for longer
period if the years they spent in the
Senate and House are added together.
In reading of this demonstration. the
compliments paid "Uncle Joe," and
particularly the eulogistic remarks of
Speaker Champ Clark, one cannot help
recalling the time when as Speaker of
the House he was assailed in the bitterest
terms and accused of about all the crimes
in the decalogue. But this was simply
politics. Uncle Joe is the same today
that he was then, for he is standpatter
in the best sense of the word. He is a
man of native ability, enhanced by long
experience, statesman of the old school
of whom few are left, and he has done
his district, his State and the country
good service. "Mr. Cannon owes to
himself and to his country to write a
book of "reminiscences, said Speaker
Clark, in concluding a resume of Mr..
Cannon's long years of activity and his
tory-making.
, Mr.. Cannon was visibly affected by
this demonstration. There was a tremor
in his voice ana something akin to mois-
ture continually in his eyes as he made
sympathetic speech, reviewing his near
half-century in publ, life. He planned to
speak from manuscript, but as the spirit
of the memorable occasion possessed
him he drifted away from a set speech
and for half-hour INDUCED in reminis-
cences of a generation that IS gone and of
the men who have played.their legislative
parts and passed on. Speaking of the
men with whom he had served in the
past-many of them personal friends of
whom he never thought as Republican or
Democrat-he said:
"Who could rear the ghosts of Blaine
and Randall, of old Alexander Stephens
and Henry L. Dawes, Ben Butler and
George F. Hoar, of Sunset Cox and Tom
Patt, of Charles O'Neill and Pig Iron
Kelly, of Morrison and Casson, of Fer
nando Wood and William P. Wheeler, of
Bland and Mills, of Ben. Hill, Gen.
Banks, Proctor Knott, Tom Reed, John
G. Carlisle, Mckinley, Dingley. Wilson,
Crisp, Henderson, and so on
''There are, so far as know, only four
Of my colleagues in the 43d Congress
who are living today. They are Gen.
Sherwood, now member on this floor;
ex-senator Eugene Hale of Maine, James
Wilson of Iowa, ex-secretary of agri-
culture, and John R. Lynch of Missis-
sipi. All others who have sat in Con-
gress have crossed over to the beyond
This specially interested the present
writer for as Washington correspon-
dent he had come in contact with every
one named as living or dead, and had per-
S onal friends among them. One winter
was spent in the house with "Pig Iron"
Kelley, the Pennsylvania protectionist;
"Sunset" Cox was the friend of all news
paper men; Speaker Randall was known
throu Oh his family connections with
friends in Baltimore; Ben Hill of Georgia,
through my connection with the leading
daily newspapers of his State; Roger @.
Mills of Texas through the writers in
terest in that State, with which he was
personally familiar, and the further fact
that his paternal grandfather was elect
ed to Congress when the Republic of
Texas was admitted to the Union and
served second term in the House of
Representatives. The Lynch mentioned
was colored man and a distinguished
member of his race. He studied law,
was admitted to the bar, served in his
State legislature, was several times a
delegate to the Republican National con-
vention and temporary chairman in 1884;
served in the ADD, 44th and Nth Con-
crosses, was appointed 4th auditor of
he Navy department by President Har-
rison; major and paymaster of volun-
teers in the Spanish war by appointment
of President Mckinley, who later ap-
pointed him paymaster in the regular
army, in which position he served until
retired by age in 1901.
On visit to Washington some years
ago the writer was given an introduction
to Mr.. Cannon by Hon. Asher C. Kinds,
he Speakers secretary. Congress was
not in session and Speaker Cannon bad
just returned from trip to Panama and
was receiving his friends in the speakers
room at the capitol, and in characteristic
language gave very interesting account
of the trip.
We hope that "Uncle Joe" will follow
the suggestion of Speaker Champ Clark
and write book of "reminiscences, and
hat we may live to read it.