River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-01-06
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
From James A. Frear, M. c.

Uncle Joe Cannon, at the age of 81
years on last Wednesday had served
in Congress 43 years, 8 months and
rs days, longer than any other man in
all history and probably longer than
any other man for hundred years to
come. The House paid tribute by
placing the exercises in the hands of
Ex-Speaker Champ Clark who was
the Democratic Floor leader for many
years when Cannon was the Republic
can Speaker. To use the words OF
Clark, "Joe Cannon has lived nearly
IS years; not simply breathed 80
years, but every hour and day that he
has been on Garth has been active
. When Cannon was born there were no
telegraphs, telephones, sewing ma
chimes, railroads or a thousand and
one things we deem necessary today.
When Cannon was first elected to
Congress our population reached 49,
100000 as against one hundred and
six million today. In 43 years we
have more than doubled in population
and may well ask what will the next
half century have to offer in coming
changes. Cannon says he is going to
live to be hundred years old and
with perfect mental faculties and fair
physical condition he is a possibility.
Today at 81 he reads without glass
es, debates with all the fire Of youth,
and dances the Virginia Reel with the
grace of Kings courtier. Like the
German field piece that reached Paris
through over rs miles of space, ne is
''some Cannon"
bernard Baruch On Modern Farming
Bernard Baruch has written all Con-
gressmen regarding placing farming
on a modern basis. Baruch is the man
appointed during the war by Presi-
dent Wilson to fix prices on every
thing from copper to corn and shells
to shoes. He testified before our in
vestigating committee he presumed
he had more power. at that time than
arv ether man. Congressman Bill
W., Mason Of Illinois charged Baruch
in Congress with having enriched cop.
ner interests 100000, 900 through
price fixing on that one article, but
Baruch said he was after results and
although he may not know the differ
ence between pitchfork and corn
planter he is a successful business
man. He says of farming "in the
marketing of his products. the pro-
Queer must be placed On a footing OF
equal opportunity with the buyer
If necessary. credit must be ex-
tended so that farmers may market
their products according to consump-
ton needs and secure reasonable re-
turns for their efforts = or the
consumer who is vitality concerned will
suffer in the end" He recommends
that farmers improve methods OF
marketing and distribution through
organization.
Robbers RoOst"
sRobbers Roost" is name given
Washington by many non-resldents
because of the prevailing prices.
Christmas turkey at 70 cents pound
and s25 suits now marked down from
$40 to $50 illustrate stapdard re-
flected in rents, clothing, shoes and
food. The coming inauguration has
produced another Washington indus
try which rents Avenue windows dur
ing. the parade at from $40 to 500
and rooms in the larger hotels for
that week make dents in the purses
of those below the rank of million
aires. The city is all agog with col
umns in the local press giving names
of local committeeman and women
who are to run the Inauguration and
who have contributed S81, 900 toward
that event. Several "four hundreds"
are to cover the job in order to insure
President Harding's induction into
the White House in due form. All
the country had to do was to elect
him. Washington, which can't vote,
will now do the rest.
Demand Luxury Tax Taken Of
Probably one hundred letters and
kilograms through we'll organized
propaganda were received by the
writer in two days last week from
candy manufacturerS- in all sections
of the country demand ing that the
luxury tax be taken off from candy
and put on shoes, sugar, food and eth
er necessaries of life which they urge
us to collect from the public through
a sales tax. Candy is stih selling at
high priced stores in this city at from
one to two dollars a pound, although
q fnru cut rate concerns are Debating