Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-03-03


and failed of reelection to the Fifty-thrd (1s9s5)
and Sixty-second (1911-13) congresses. He was
speaker in the Fiftyeighth Fifty-ninth Sixtieth
and sxty-frst congresses t19O31911). His district
comprises the counties of Clark. Cumberland Ed
gar, Iroquos, Kankakee and Vermilion with q
population Of about 25OOOO He lives in Danville
and Is lawyer and banker. He born in
Gutlf0rd, N. c., and will be eighty-dve years old
May z, 1921.
Uncle Joe" Cannon's name is exceedingly ia
miltar to the United States at large; probably
few public men are more widely known So the
foregoing facts about him are 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 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 century.
Former Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri
When Joseph G. Cannon was born the battle
field of Guilford Court House, victory for Lord
CORVALLIS, the fruits of which were repealed bys
General Greene, we did not have any railroads,
any teegraphs, any telephones, any sewing ma
chimes any repeating rifles, and a thousand and
things that we consider necessary to our mod
ern civilization When celebrated "Unce
Joes eightieth birthday laid down the conditions
which a man could serve long as he had.
In the first place. the politics Of his district must
remain the In the second place, lie must
be q man of force and ability. In the third
place. he must remain as faithful as the North
Star. said that "Unce Joe" filled those con-
ditions. think yet that he does.
William A. Rodenberg of Illinois-Joseph G.
Cannon was first elected in 1872 representa-
tive In the FOrty-thrd 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 naugurated 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 4O.596OOO as
against 1O6,OOOOOO today; there were 81 states
then as against 4S today; the public wealth, which
, was estimated at something over $3OOOO,OOOOOO
in 1872 is placed ut more than $3OOOOO,OOOOOO
now; the bank deposits which then amounted to
S125OO0OOOO have grown to $32 7O0,OOOOOO. and
our railroad service has expanded from 66!OOO
miles of track in operation to more than 268OOO
miles. That in brief, summarizes the vast strides
that we have made in material progress since ne
has been member of this house. cS
Some idea of how the post Office department has
expanded can also be had when we remember that
In 1873 the receipts aggregated $23OOOOOO and the
disbursements $29.OOOO0O, while last gear the re-
,celpts were $437OOO.OO0 and the disbursements
q S454,OOOOOO.
But 1t will not be because Of his services upon
the committee on post offices and post roads, val
liable us 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 F0rty-sixth 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. It can be truthfully said
that No man has proved stronger bulwark OF
protection to the federal treasury Ut all times
and under all circumstances.
irrespective Of the temporary Interruptions IL
his long and distinguished career. the event We