The Colorado statesman., 1921-02-26

and failed of reelection to the Ffty-third QS93-5)
and Sxty-second Q911-13) congresses. He was
speaker in the Fifty-eghth, Fifty y-ninth, Sixtieth
and Sxty-irst congresses (1903-1911) His district
comprises the counties of Clark, Cumberland, Ed
gar, Iroquos. Kankakee and Vermillon, with
population of about 2500O0. He lives in Danville
and Is lawyer and banker He was born In
Guilford, n. c., and will be eighty-fve years old
May 7, 1921.
Uncle joe Cannons name is exceedingly IA
mlar to the United States at large probably
few public 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 landmark by which the progress of things
may be measured. The jubilatiOn held by the
house when Uncle Joe" set the service mark
was therefore a decidedly interesting affair Times
have changed and we have changed with them
since he elected to congress in 1872 and here
OF the utterances which hint at the
changes of nearly half century.
Former Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri
When Joseph G. Cannon was born the battle
field of Guilford Court House, victory for Lord
Cornwas. the fruits of which were repealed by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 a thousand and
one things that consider necessary to our mod
ern civilization. When we celebrated Uncle
Joe's eghtieth birthday laid down the conditions
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 faithful as the North
Star. 1 said that "uncle Joe" filed those con-
ditons. l think yet that he does.
William A. Rodenberg of Illnois-Joseph G.
Cannon was first elected in 1872 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 recall that at the tlne
of Mr. Cannon's first election the population OF
the United States was estimated at 4O596,ooo as
against 100000 900 today there were 81 states
then as against As today; the public wealth. whlcn
was estimated at something over S3o,oooooo'ooo
in 1872, is placed at more than S3oo,ooooooooo
now; the bank deposits, which then amounted to
81 $50 100000 have grown to S32,7OOOOO,ooo ana
our railroad service has expanded from 66,Ooo
miles of track in operation to more than 26s,ooo
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
expsnded can also be had when we remember that
In 1873 the receipts aggregated S23oooooo ana the
disbursements $29,OO0,000 while last year the re-
ceipts were $437 900 900 and the disbursements
S454000,0OO. -
But IL will not be because of his services upon
the 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 lie was
assigned by Samuel J. Randall, a Democratic
sneaker TO the committee on appropriations In
the Forty-sixth congress- and 1t Is because Oh MS
identity with the workings of that important coih-
nittee down to the time of his elevation 10 ue
speakership that his fame Will remain assureu
tbrougbout the nges 1t can be truthfully said
that no man has proved stronger buiwark OIL
protection to the federal treasury at all uhes
and under all circumstances .
Irrespective of the temporary interruptions III
his long and distinguished career. the event we