The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-03-19

commemorate today securely establishes Joseph
G. Cannon in the place of Father of all the
American Congresses" When he took his seat
at the beginning Of the Forty third congress- tne
great empire of the West still the fronuer
of our civilization That vast and powerful sec
ton, row potent in the councils OF the nation'
was then without votes, excepting narrow fringe
of population on the shores Of the Pacific ocean,
The sovereign states Of Arizona, Colorado Nortn
Dakota, South Dakota Idaho, Montana, New Mex
fco Utah. Washington and Wyoming were With
out votes and were represented here by delegates.
What a wonderful galaxy of brilliant men we're
here when he came to congress! James G. Blaine,
the "Plumed knight" of American statesmen was
speaker of the house. James A. Garfield was a
member of the Ohio delegation and was giving
evidences of those talents of leadership which
subsequently called him to the presidency. Julius
C. Burrows, of Michigan; James 3. Beck, OF Ken
lucky William P. Frye and Eugene Hale. OF
Maine; Joseph r. Hawley, of Connecticut; George
f. Hoar of Massachusetts,; Roger @. Mills, OF
Texas; and Stephen B. Elkins of the territory of
New Mexico were elected members Of the same
house and were subsequently called to the other
end of the capitol. But there were, in that same
congress, men who rounded out their COMPRESSION
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
ALL of Pennsylvania; Alexander ii. Stephens, Of
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-
GINA; Edmunds, Of Vermont; Frelinghuysen Of
News Jersey; Hannibal Hamlin. Of Maine; John
Justin S. Morrill,, Of Vermont; Oliver p. Morton.
of Indiana; Carl Schurz Of Missouri; John Sher-
man and Allen G. Thurman. of Ohio; William
Window, Of Minnesota.
OF the 81 senator's, representatives and dele
gates who were recorded In that notable gathering
all but two have passed from the stage Of public
life but merciful Providence has left us Speaker
Cannon and General Sherwood in order that we
might know that in those days there were giants
upon the earth.
1t has been given to no other man in all our
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 ]. Randall, j.
Warren Keifer, John G. Carlisle, Thomas B. Reed
Charles I. oris1 David n Henderson. Champ
Clark and Frederick Fl. Gilett, while he himself
occupied that exalted position for a period of
eight years He has also served under 10 pres
Dents as follows: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur
Cleveland, Harrison, Mckinley. Roosevelt, Taft.
and Wilson. and in few weeks Harding win be
added TO the list
The Forty-third congress- in which Mr.. Cannon he
gan his service, will be memorable because OF the
passage Of the act providing for the resumption
of specie payments following the Civn war; The
civil rights biiI the amnesty bill and much similar
legislation Of q reconstructive nature made neces-
sary by that unhappy event. need not be referred
to- The great granger movement finally resulted,
In 1887, In the enactment Of the interstate COM
merce law.
The numerous legislative battles growing ont Of