The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-22
A kANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER XII.


week in Topeka and all over the coun-
try, the author of these chapters had
| intended to make this chapter on THE
Red Cross" altho the original table of
contents called for two other chapters
| before the one on Uncle joe"
However. certain cuts that were ex-
| pected to go with the Red Cross story
have failed to arrive from Washing
/ ton, so the Red Cross chapter will
| have to go over until the next issue or
possibly later.
Hon. Joseph G.. Cannon of Danville,
ILL.,, popularity known as Uncle joe"
| is still an important and active factor
in congress. Altho he lacks the pres
tige and power he held for many
years as the speaker of the house of
representatives. as member he is to-
day most frequently consulted about
| legislation, takes an active part in the
debates on the floor. shirks no duty in
his committee work, is on hand with
regularity at the opening of the ses-
| sions, day by day. and is careful not to
| miss roll calls. In fact, Uncle joe"
who reached the age of 80 this month,
is more industrious, more energetic
and more truly representative of his
| district and country than many a
younger man in the halls of congress.
! This is written from personal knowl-
edge and observation; for upon leav-
ing New York for home on April %,
1 reached Washington early on the
following day, which was Monday.
and remained at the capital city until
o'clock that evening.
For the last ten years l have been
fond of Uncle joe" and in that re-
| spect did differ from some political
partisans in Kansas. 1t may be re-
membered that ten years ago there
appeared in the State Journal four
separate articles upon the subject of
this sketch. 1t told the truth and it
gave the western reader a new idea
and a new conception of Cannon.
Far be it from us to set up Uncle
Joe" on a pedestal: but all the same he
was misunderstood. His practices as
ocrats and certain Republicans Joined
|
GEAR" The Republicans were in
power then. When the Democrats
came in they found that they had to
pursue Cannon's methods in order to
! get anything done. When $4,000 or
more bills are thrown into the hopper
at one session by congressman. it is ap-
| parent that there must be some strong
rules to sfft these bills and an exer-
else of more or less arbitrary author
ity about them or congress would ac-
complish nothing. There was no time
to even read all the bills, and certain
| ly none to consider them, even hastily
While the Democrats denounced
Uncle Joe" when they might make
political capital out of it, they fol-
lowed his methods when the majority
rule was given to them and they were
held accountable for results.
I was by no means alone then, nor
am now in holding a sort of,special
admiration for the venerab Bile man, al
tho have naturally not always agreed
with him. Still in order to like Uncle
joe" you do not necessarily have to
|
One of the finest tributes ever de-
| livered in the house Of representatives
by any one was an eloquent speech
by the Hon. Champ Clark when he
was simply member and Uncle Joe"
speaker. This tribute was paid by
the man who was to be speaker later
to the man who was speaker then,
some years since on one of the BIRTH
day anniversaries of Mr.. Cannon.
Uncle Joe's" personal friends were
quite as likely to be Democrats as
they were Republicans, and it is so
| today.
CONGRESSMAN Anthony and I drifted
into Uncle Joe's" room few days
ago just about noon when the house
was coming together. We found L.
w. Busby, who for so many years has
been Mr.. Cannon's secretary. still in
charge. He said: MIR. Cannon has
gone into the house. but I think
will return to his room in a few min
utes after roll call"
The visitors sat down. The ex-
speaker came in. shortly and spright
ly looking fine and apparently as
alert as ever. greeting us both cor
daily.
After a few commonplace I said.
and meant it: Mr.. Cannon, you look
to me about strong and vigorous as
you did ten years ago."
Mr.. Cannon evidently takes good
care of himself He still likes smoke
and offered me one.
I have enjoyed. what is declared to
be by many who do not know him very
well. the rare opportunity of seeing
| Uncle joe when he was not smok-
ing. Some people think that sUncle
| Loe,- goes to bed with a cigar and