Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-03-03

and failed of reelection to the Fiftythird (18935)
and Sixtysecond' (1911-13) congresses. He was
speaker in the Fifty-eighth Fifty-nnth Sixtieth
and Sixtyfrst congresses (1903-1911). His district
comprises the counties of Clark, Cumberland, Ed
gar, lroquOiS, Kankakee and Vermon, with a
population Of about 250OOO. He lives in Danville
and is lawyer and banker. He was born in
Gufford, N. c., and will be eighty-fve years old
May T. 1921.
Uncle Joe" Cannon's name is exceedingly IA
miliar to the United States at large; probably
few public men are more widely known So the
foregoing facts about him pretty generally
known. While the veteran is interesting as an
individual and legislator he is also interesting
as "a 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 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 a 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
COrnwalis, the fruits of which were repealed by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 1 laid down the conditions
On NHlCL man COulu serve as long us ne QaQ.
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 faithful as the North
Star. 1 said that "Unce Joe" filed those con-
ditions think yet that he does
William A. Rodenberg of nlinois-Joseph G,
Cannon 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 A, 1873, the same day
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 recall that at the time
of Mr.. Cannon's first election the population of
the United States was estimated at 10, 900 as
against 106OOO,0O0 today; there were 81 states
then against 48 today; the public wealth. which
was estimated at something over $30,0OO,O00,O0O
in 1872, is placed at more than 100000 100000
now; the bank deposits, which then amounted to
$1,250OO0OO0 have grown to $32, ,70O,00O,000, and
our railroad service has expanded from $4,000
miles of track in operation to more than 268,OOO
miles. That in brief, summarizes the vast strides
that We have made in material progress since he
has been a member of this house.
Some idea of how the post Office department has
expanded can also be had when remember that
in 1873 the receipts aggregated $23000O00 and the
disbursements $29,000000, while last year the re-
cepts were $437, 100000 and the disbursements
$454000,000.
But 1t Will not De because OL HIS SERVICES upOH
the committee 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, Democratic
speaker, to the committee on appropriations in
the Forty-sxth congress, and it is because of his
identity with the workings of that important COM
mittee down to the time Of his elevation to the
speakership that his fame will remain assured
= throughout the ages 1t be truthfully said
that no man has proved a stronger bulwark OF
protection 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