The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-05-17
UNCLE JOE" CANNO N
HOUSE PET FOR DAY
CONGRESS HALTED BUSINESS
TO HONOR PICTURESQUE
OLD STATESMAN.

WASHINGTON.-Party lines dis
appeared and old scores were forgot
gotten by the house today when, dur
ing the first hour of its regular ses-
sion, it joined in paying tribute to
"Uncle Joe" Cannon of Illinois, the
former speaker, who will be 80 years
old tomorrow. Never before in the
history of the house had an hour of
the working session been set aside to
honor a living member.
One of the original progressives,
Representative Cooper of Wisconsin,
presided during the greater part of
the ceremonies. One of the original
revolters against the so-called Can
non rule" for years he fought the
then speaker; but today he presided
as a friend. Their old wounds long
since have healed, and it no longer is
an unusual sight to see them sitting
together in the republican cloak
room engaged in a friendly chat.
Mental Pugilist.
Speaker Clark in a humorous and
friendly speech termed Mr.. Cannon
one of the stop notcher class of men
tai pugilists." He also wrote into the
record for posterity the statement
that once, during debate, with his
own eyes he saw Mr.. Cannon perform
the unusual feat of describing a COM
plete circle on one heel.
"Mr. Speaker Cannon owes to him
self and to his countrymen to write
a book of "reminiscences" Speaker
Clark said, "Job's vengeful declara-
ton, ooh, that mine adversary had
written a book to the contrary not
outstanding"
Still carrying himself as straight as
an Indian and as ruddy-cheeked as a
schoolgirl Mr.. Cannon marched down
the center aisle of the house and de-
livered an address of appreciation
filed with "reminiscences of other
days. 1t brought back the shadows
of Blaine, Randall, Ben Butler, Geo.
F. Hoar, Sunset" Cox, "Pig Iron
Kelly, and a score of other contem-
poraries of Mr.. Cannon to the halls
where once they served. Mr.. Cannon
was quick to observe the non-parti-
san character of the occasion, and
his opening words were in apprecia-
ton of it.
Calls Them Friends.
"This is sample of the partisan
ship of the house." he said. I can
say with the psalmist, the lines have
fallen unto me in pleasant places,
and as l look into the faces of
friends of both sides of the house
am more inclined to accept the plain
evidence of fact than the popular
and picturesque fiction which divides
this body into partisan groups on all
questions, shuts out personal rela-
lions and the cooperation of repre-
sentatives regardless of party, to
work out in legislation the greatest
good to the greatest number"
Representative Rodenberg of Hi
nois referred to the courage of Mr..
Cannon in the stormy days when he
was speaker.
It is but human to err" he said,
"and Uncle Joe has at all times been
intensely human; but no man, living
or dead, ever saw him lower his col
ors or hoist the white flag of sur
render"
Twentieth Term.
Mr.. Cannon is now closing his
twentieth term in congress. He
came here during the forty-third con-
gress and since that time has been
defeated twice, once in 1892 and
again in 1912. Only one other man
who served in the forty-third con-
gress, Gen. Isaac Sherwood, of Ohio,
is in the present congress. His term
of service has been much shorter
than that of Mr.. Cannon, however.
Despite his years Mr.. Cannon still
takes an active part in debate and
smokes as many cigars as ever.
Senator Tillman, of South Caro-
lima, political opponent but warm
friend for many years of Mr.. Can
non, went over to the house to join
in the birthday tribute to the former
speaker.