Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-25

commemorate today securely establishes Joseph
G. Cannon in the place of Father of all the
American Congresses" When he took his seat
at the beginning of the Forty third congress, the
great empire Of the West was still the frontier
of our civilization. That vast and powerful sec
ton, now so potent in the councils of the nation,
was then without votes, excepting n narrow fringe
of population on the shores of the Pacific ocean.
The sovereign states of Arizona Colorado, North
Dakota South Dakota Idaho, Montana, New Mex
leo. Utah, Washington and Wyoming were with
out votes and were represented here by delegates.
What a wonderful galaxy of brilliant men were
here when he came to congress. James G. Blaine,
the "Plumed Knight of American statesmen, was
speaker of the house. James A. Garfield was
member Of the Ohio delegation and was giving
evidences Of those talents of leadership which
subsequently called him to the presidency. Julius
c. Burrows of Michigan James Il. Beck, of Ken
lucky; william 2. Frye and Eugene Hale of
Maine; Joseph II. Hawley, of Connecticut; George
f. Hoar of Massachusetts Roger Q. Mills. of
Texas; and Stephen B. Elkins, of the territory of
New Mexico, were elected members of the same
house and were subsequently called to the other
end of the capitol. But there We're. In that same
congress- men who rounded out their congresson-
al careers In this body and whose names are equal
" familiar to the American people.
Butler of Massachusetts; Richard p. Bland, of
Missouri; Sunset Cox, of New York; William
S Holman, of Indiana; John A. Kasson, of Iowa;
William r. Morrison of Illinois; samuel J. Rand
all of Pennsylvania Alexander ii. Stephens of
Georgia.
AT the other end of the capitol might he men
toned Senators Allison. of Iowa Bayard of Della
ware; Cameron, of Pennsylvania Carpenter, Of
Wisconsin; Chandler, of Michigan; Roscoe Conk-
ling. of New York. Henry G. Davis, of West vir-
ginla; Edmunds of Vermont; Frenghuysen of
New Jersey; Hannibal Hamlin, Of Maine: John
J. ingalls,, of Kansas; John A Logan of Illinois;
Justin S. Morrill,, of Vermont; Oliver p Morton
of Indiana Carl Schurz of Missouri; John Sher-
man and Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio; William
Window, of Minnesota.
OF the 81 senators, representatives and dele
gates who were recorded in that notable gathering
all but two have passed from the stage of public
life but merciful Providence has left us Speaker
Cannon and General Sherwood In order that we
might know that In those days there were giants
upon the earth.
1t has been given to no other man in all our
history to be so intimately connected with so
many historic characters.
Mr. Cannon has served under 10 speakers of
this house, in the following order; James G.
Blaine Michael G Kerr Samuel j. Randall J.
Warren Keifer, John G. Carlisle Thomas b. Reed
Charles l.. Crisp, David B. Henderson, Champ
Clark and Frederick II. Gillett, while he himself
occupied that exalted position for period of
eight years. He has also served under 10 pres-
dents, as follows: Grant, Hayes Garfield, Arthur
Cleveland, Harrison, Mckinley, Roosevelt Taft
and Wilson, and in few weeks Harding will be
added to the list
The FOrty-third congress- in which Mr. Cannon be-
gan his service, will be memorable because of the
passage of the act providing for the resumption
of specie payments following the Civil war; The
civil rights bill, the amnesty bill and much similar
legislation of reconstructive nature, made neces
sary by that unhappy event, need not be referred
to- The great granger movement finally resulted
In 1887, in the enactment of the interstate com
merce law.
The numerous legislative battles growing out of