The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-02-26

W MN year of service. He was nrSI elecleu
V0 to the Forty-thIrd congress us7S-5l
and failed of reelection the Fiftythird (lSSSo)
and Sixty-second (191l-1S) congresses. He was
speaker in the Fiftyeighth Fifty-ninth. Sixtieth
and Sixty-frst congresses (190S1911) His district
comprises the counties of Clark, Cumberland, Ed
gar IrOquOis, Kanka zee and VermiliOn, win
population of about 100000. He lives in Danvllle
and is lawyer and banker. He was born In
Guilford, n. c., and will be eighty-fve years old
May Z, 1921.
"Uncle Joe" CannOn's name is exceedingly Ia
miliar to the United States at large; probably
few public men more widely known So the
foregoing facts about him pretty generally
known. While the veteran is interesting as an
individual and a legislator he is also interesting
landmark by which the progress of things
may be measured The jubilation held by the
house when Uncle Joe" set the new service mark
was'therefOre decidedly interesting affair. Times
have changed and have changed with them
since ne elected to congress in 1872 and here
are some of the utterances which hint at the
changes of nearly half a century.
Former Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri
When Joseph G. Cannon was born on the battle
field of GuilfOrd Court House. victory for Lord
Corvallis the fruits of which were repealed by
General Greene We did not have any railroads,
any telegraphs any telephones any sewing ma
chimes, any repeating rifles. and thousand and
things that we consider necessary to our mod
ern civilization. When we celebrated Uncle
Joe's elghtieth birthday laid down the conditions
on which a man could serve long as he had.
In the first place. the politics of his district must
remain the same. In the second place. he must
be a of force and ability. In the third
place he must remain as faithful as the North
STAR / said that uncle Joe" filed those
ditiOns. / think yet that he does.
William A. Rodenberg Of nLinOs-Joseph G.
Cannon was first elected In 1872 as a representa-
tive In the Forty-third congress from the four
teenth district Of Illinois, and he became member
of this body on March 4, 1873, the same day on
which Ulysses s. Grant was inaugurated for the
second time as President Of the United States.
How far we have travelled since that day may
be understood when we recall that at the time
Of Mr.. CannOn's first election the population OK
the United States was estimated at 4O,500,OOO as
against 1O6OOO.O00 today; there were " states
then as against 48 today; the public wealth. when
was estimated at something over $SO,OOOOOOOOO
in 1872, is placed at more than $SOO.OOOOOOVOO
now the bank deposits, which then amounted to
| 81 25OOOOOO0 have grown to $32,7OOOOO,OOO and
| our railroad service has expanded from 66'OOO
| miles of track in operation TO more than 26SOO0
miles That. in brief summarizes the vast strides
| that we have made in material progress since ne
| has been a member of this house.
Some idea of how the post office department mas
expanded can also be had when we remember that
in 1873 the receipts aggregated $23OOOOOO and the
disbursements S29,OO0O00, while last year the re-
cefpts were $437OOOOOO and the disbursements
$454OOOOO0.
But II will not be because Of his services upon
the committee on post offices and post roads, var
uable as they were that his fame will rest A1tei
serving for six years upon that committee he was
assigned by Samuel J. Randall a Democratic
speaker. to the committee on appropriations IL
the Forty-sixth congress, and 1t Is because OF Ms
identity with the workings of that important com
mIttee down to the time Of his elevation 10 tns
speakership that his fame will remain assuret
throughout the ages. 1t can be truthfully sale
that M man has proved stronger bulwark o.
protection TO the federal treasury at all time
and under all circumstances
Irrespective Of the temporary Interruptions Il
HIS long and distinguished career. the event w