The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-05-10
POIN IN TRIBUTE
TO AGED CANNON
Party Lines Forgotten In the House.
Praise Former Car.

Washington, May 6.-Party lines
disappeared and old scores were for
gotten by the house today when, dur
Ing the first hour Of it's regular ses-
sion, 1t Joined i'm 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 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 socalled Can
non rule" for years he fought the
then speaker; but today he presided
as 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 friendly chat.
Speaker Clark, in humorous and
friendly speech, termed Mr. Cannon
one Of the top 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 complete
circle on one heel.
"Mr. Speaker Cannon owes It to
Snof "A - NJ
write book Of "reminiscences, u
speaker Clark said. Jobs yengeful
declaration, oh, that mine adversary
had written book!' to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Evidently the man
Of w did not have in his minds eye
Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow
Wilson when he gave voice to that
far resounding and malicious desire" "
Still carrying himself as straight as
an Indian and as ruddy-checked as a
school girl, Mr.. Cannon marched
down the centre aisle OF the house and
delivered an address Of appreciation
filled with "reminiscences of other
days. 1t brought back the shadows
OF Blaine, Randall, Ben Butler, George
f. Hoar, sunset Cox, pig Iron
Kelly and score Of other contcmpo-
rarics of Mr.. Cannon to the halls
where once they served. Mr.. Cannon
was quick to observe the non-partisan
character Of the occasion and his
opening words were in appreciation
of it.
This is sample Of the partisanship
OF the house." he said. 81 can say
with the Psalmist, The lines have
fallen unto me in pleasant places,
and as 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 relations
and the cooperation Of representa-
tivcs, regardless of party. to work
out in legislation the greatest good
to the greatest number"
REPRESENTATIVE Rodcnbcrg of nli-
A''''' 'SiSiiSh " lIC SOuIdSc Ol /.
G on in the stormy days when he
Wa, speaker.
1T is but human to err" he said,
"and lie Joe has at all items been
intensely human; but no man, living
or dead, ever saw him lower his col
ors or hoist the white flag Of sur
render"
Br. Cannon now IS closing his Goth
term in congress.
He came here during the Forty
third congress and since that time
has been defeated twicc-once in
1899 and again in 1912. Only one 9th
eli man who served in the Forty-third
congress, Gen. Asaac Sherwood OF
Ohio, is in the present congress. His
term OF service has been much short
cr 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.
CONDENSED PASSENGER