The Colorado statesman., 1921-02-26
CAMuoWA Aozw ar T24HIZzZEAZ

commemorate today securely establishes Joseph
q. Cannon in the place of Father of all the
American Congresses" When he took MS seat
at the beginning of the Forty congress, the
great empire of the West still the frontier
of our civilization. That vast and powerful sec
tion now so potent in the councils of the nation.
then without votes, excepting narrow fringe
of population on the shores of the Pacinc ocean,
The sovereign states of Arizona, Colorado, North
Dakota, South Dakota Idaho, Montana, New Mex
leo Utah. Washington and Wyoming were with
out votes and were represented here by delegates
What wonderful galaxy of brilliant men were
here when he came to congress James G Blaine,
the ''Plumed Knight of American statesmen, was
sneaker of the house. James A. Garfield was
member of the Ohio delegation and was giving
evidences of those talents of leadership when
subsequently, called him to the presidency. Julius
G. Burrows, of Michigan; James b. Beck, of Ken
lucky; William p. Frye and Eugene Hale OF
Maine; Joseph r. Hawley, of Connecticut George
f. Hoar of Massachusetts,; Roger Q. Mills, of
Texas; and Stephen B. Elkins of the territory OF
New Mexico, were elected members of the same
house and subsequently called to the other
end of the capitol But there were, in that same
congress- men who rounded out their congresson-
al careers in this body and whose names are equal
ly familiar to the American people.
Among them might be mentioned Benjamin f.
Butler of Massachusetts, Richard p. Bland, of
Missouri "Sunset" Cox, of New York; William
S. Holman, of Indiana John A. Kasson, of Iowa;
William r. Morrison of Illinois; Samuel ]. Rand
Georgia.
At the other end of the capitol might be men
toned Senators Allison, of Iowa; Bayard, of Della
ware; Cameron, of Pennsylvania; Carpenter, OF
Wisconsin: Chandler, of Michigan; Roscoe Conk-
ling of New York; Henry G. Davis, of West Vir-
ginia; Edmunds, of Vermont; Frelingluysen, of
New Jersey; Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine; John
J. Ingalls, of Kansas; John A. Logan. of Illinois;
Justin S. Morrill,, of Vermont; Oliver 2. Morton,
of Indiana Carl Schurz, of Missouri; John Sher-
md A1lenG Thurman. of Ohio: William
Window of Minnesota.
OF the 81 senators, representatives and dele
gates who were recorded in that notable gathering,
all but two have passed from the stage of public
life but n mercful Providence has left us Speaker
Cannon and General Sherwood in order that we
might know that in those Gays there were giants
upon the EARTH
history to be so intimately connected with so
many historic characters.
Mr.. Cannon has served under 10 speakers Of
this house. in the following order; James G.
Blaine. Michael c. Kerr, Samuel j. Randall, j.
Warren Keifer, John G. Carlisle, Thomas B. Reed
Charles l., Crisp, David B. Henderson, Champ
Clark and Frederick II. Gillett, while he himself
occupied that exalted position for period or
eight wears. He has also served under 10 presi-
dents. as follows: Grant, Hayes Garfield. Arthur,
Cleveland Harrison, Mckinley, Roosevelt, Taft,
and Wilson, and in a few weeks Harding Will be
added to the list.
The Forty-third congress, In which Mr cannon De-
pan his service, will be memorable because of the
passage of the act providing for the resumption
of specie payments following the Civil war. The
civil rights BILL the amnesty bill and much similar
legislation of a reconstructive nature made neces-
sary by that unhappy event, need not De reierreu
to- The great granger movement finally resulted
in 1887 in the enactment of the interstate COM
merce law.
The numerous legislative battles growing out OF