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

Nm s'ai VI s'iNlNt' lic was INST NiNN''"
81 to the Forty-third congress QS735)
and failed of reelection to the Fiftythird (S935)-
and Sixty-second Q91l-13) congresses. He was
speaker In the Fiftyeighth. Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth
and SiXty-first congresses Q9031911) His district
comprises the counties Of Clark Cumberland, Ed
gar, lr0quois, kankakee and Vermilion. with
population of about 100000. He lives in Dnnville
and Is lawyer and banker. He was born In
Guilford, n. c., and will be eghty-five years old
May Z, 1921
Uncle Joe" Cannons name is exceedingly IA
milar to the United States at large; probably
few public men are more widely known So the
foregoing facts about him are pretty generally
known. While the veteran is interesting as an
Individual and legislator he Is also interesting
as landmark by which the progress of things
may be measured The jubiation held by the
house when Uncle Joe" set the new service mark
was therefore decidedly interesting affair. Times
have changed and We have changed with them
since he was elected to congress In 1872 and here
are some OF the utterances which hint at the
changes Of nearly half century.
Former Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri
When Joseph G. Cannon was born on the battle
field Of Guilford Court House, a victory for Lord
CORVALLIS, the fruits of which were repealed by
General Greene, we did not have any railroads,
any teegraphs, any telephones, any sewing ma
chimes any repeating rifles and thousand and
one things that we consider necessary to our mod
ern civilization When we celebrated Uncle
Joes eghtieth birthday laid down the conditions
on which man could serve as long as he had
In the first place, the politics of his district must
remain the same. In the second place, he must
be man of force and ability. In the third
place, he must remain as faithful as the North
Star | said that uncle Joe" filed those con-
ditons. l think yet that he does.
William A. Rodenberg of 1llinos-Joseph G.
Cannon was first elected In 1872 as representa-
tive in the .Forty-third congress from the four
teenth district Of Illinois, and he became member
Of this body on March A., 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 OF
the United States was estimated at 40596OOO as
against 1O6000000 today; there were 81 states
then rs against As today the public wealth, which
was estimated at something over $3O,0O0OO0,0oo
In 1872 is placed at more than S3OO,0OO0oO,0oO
now the bank deposits, which then amounted 10
S1,2500OO,0O0 have grown to $327OO,Ooo'ooo ana
our railroad service has expanded from 66Voo
miles of track in operation to more than 26SO0O
miles That In brief, summarizes the vast strides
that We have made In material progress since he
has been member of this house.
Some idea of how the post office department has
EXPANDED can also be had when we remember that
In 1878 the receipts aggregated ,$23NoOoO and the
disbursements $290OO,000 while last year the re-
celpts were $437 100000 and the disbursements
$454,000O0O.
But 1t will not be because of his services upon
tho committee on post offices and post roads, val
liable as they were that his fame will rest. After
serving for six years upon that committee he was
assigned by Samuel j. Randall n Democratic
speaker, to the committee on appropriations III
the Forty-sixth congress, and IL is because OF MS
identity with the workings of that important COM
mttee down to the time of his elevation to the
sneokersbip that his fame will remain assured
throughout the ages. 1t can be truthfuly said
that no man has proved stronger pu'w"fk VI
nrotectlon to the federal treasury at all times
and under all circumstances.
Irrespective of the temporary Interruptions IN
his long and distinguished career the event we