Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-06
Colleagues Give Party in
Chamber in Celebration of
His 80th Birthday.
OPPONENT IN OLD RULES
BATTLE OCCUPIES CHAIR
Speaker Clark Pays Him High
Tribute and Predecessor Reminisces
in Address of Appreciation.

| years big element in the nations his
tory. was given a birthday party in the
| House of Representatives today. 1t was
cheering, hand-cfapping, laughing, boy
| ish party, and for the first time in the his
tory of the Congress of the United States
| the House set aside an hour of its work
| ing time to honor living member.
| Today's birthday party goes down into
| fame as a part of the records of the first
session of the Sixty fourth Congress. The
| words will be recorded in the archives of
the nation-but it Is only in the men,
ories and hearts of those who witnessed
the unusual outpouring of words Of kind
ness and congratulation for a dear friend
that the true touch of this mornings hour
can be recorded.
Former Antagonist Presides.
The passing of time that heals all
wounds, real, fancied and political,
brought to the speakers chair to pre-
side over the party today one Of the
original insurgents against that famous
series Of legislative procedures known to
the country as the Cannon rules. Henry
Allen Cooper of Wisconsin,, one of the
|
tower of strength in the old rules fight
against Cannon when Speaker. acted
as Speaker during the major part of
the birthday proceedings today. His
presence in the chair was the signal
for tumult of cheering.
There were many members present
who remembered the bitter struggles
of that other day, when the republican
side of the House rocked and swayed
in the struggle of the progressives
tive Cooper's presence in xthe chair
meant that the fight had passed over
and was gone, and that at any rate il
was a fight of measures-not men.
Uncle Joe and Mr.. Cooper are friends.
Speaker Pays Him Tribute.
1t was a characteristic speech that
Speaker Clark made today. He termed
Mr.. Cannon one of the 'topnotcher class
Of mental pugilists." He also wrote
into the record for posterity the state
ment 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 it to him
self and to his countrymen to write
book of "reminiscences" Speaker Clark
said, Jobs vengeful declaration, oh,
that mine adversary had written
book. to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Evidently the Man Of Cz did not have
in his minds eye Theodore Roosevelt
and Woodrow Wilson when he gave
voice to that far-resounding and ma
licious desire"
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 filled
with "reminiscences of other days.
Cites Notwithstanding.
1t brought back the shadows of
Bla inc, Randall. Ben Butler. George F.
Hoar, Sunset Cox, Pig Iron" Kelly
and a score of other former cotempo-
raries of Mr.. Cannon to the halls where
once they served Mr. Cannon was
quick to observe the partisan
character of the occasion. and his OPEN
ing words were in appreciation of it,
This is sample of the partisan
say with the psalmst, The lines have
fallen unto me in pleasant places and
as ! look into the faces of friends on
both sides of the House I am more in
fact than the popular and picturesque
fiction which divides this body into
partisan groups on all questions. shuts
out personal relations and the coop
OF party, to work out in legislation the
greatest good to the greatest number.
Recalls Changes in Policies.
81 have seen some changes in partisan
policies When ] came here believing
in nationalism. / was impressed with
the states rights doctrines of some of
the men on that side, and l remember
a speech by Randolph Tucker of vir-
ginia in opposition to Randalls bill to
loan s1.5O0,0O0 to the Philadelphia CEN
tennial exposition. Mr.. Tucker warned
the House against stretching the well
fare clause of the Constitution He
said II would be an advertisement in
yiting any clever man who had an idea
about spending government money for
the general welfare to come to Con-
gress. and it would not be long before
we were crowded of our stools by the
lobbyists who wanted to get their
hands into the Treasury. Mr.. Tucker,
then turning to Randall, shouted a final
warning that should that appropriation
be made. Chicago and even Yorktown
would some day come for aid to an ex-
position. Well. they both came, and
many others. and Mr.. fuckers son was
president of the jamestown exposition
That Is only an example of some of the
changes that nave come about the use
of government money to promote the
general welfare. We've had quite q
spell of IT in the consideration Of the
agricultural appropriation uilI"
He continued:
so | have found the partisanship of
this House throughout these forty
years sometimes warm and vigorous
but largely mixed with patriotism and
much common sense; no barriers in the
center aisle to prevent men from
crossing that partisan line, and no
prohibition against meeting in lobby
or the cloakroom and talking it over
in private. 1t has been to me
pleasant and. ] hope. a profitable ex-
perience.
Gave Politics No Thought.
III I sometimes see the faces and
hear the voices of others not now here
to answer to the roll call ] may not
be charged with dreaming. for among
these 5000 men with whom / have
been associated In legislative efforts
and over partisan contests there were
hosts of personal friends OF whom
never thought as republicans or dem
ocrats except as we discussed different
policies. These men had their hour on
this stage. did their work In their time
as you are doing 1t now. following the
line of precedent; here amending
wheye changes in conditions make 1t