The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-09-15
WILL NOT RETIRE.
"Uncle" Joe Says Report ENaggerates.
Place Hard to Fill.

So uneQuivocal was the announce
ment in Chicago of Representative
Rodenberg, of Illinois, that Joseph Z.
Cannon would retire from congress
at the conclusion of his present term,
that the standing committee of press
correspondents appointed a delega-
ton to visit the distinguished octoge-
marian for the purpose of dissuading
him from his contemplated course.
Mr.. Cannon was we'll pleased with
the expressions of the delegation.
And then with typical direction, he
exclaimed:
"Rodenberg spoke without authori-
ty, provided he spoke at all. l don't
believe he spoke. At any rate, the
report, like that which had Mark
Twain prematurely dead, is exagger-
ate. Some men die in public Office,
and others are beat. He who retires
is in a lonesome company.
cat any rate, I will speak for my
self when determined to depart from
my usual course"
Mr.. Cannon does not want to re-
tire. That is certain. His family,
however, is under the impression that
better care could be taken of him
at his private home. Some friends,
under the same impression, have ad-
vised him to resign. But he has said
nothing. And the chances are that
he will again stand for election and
be elected.
The novelty of Washington serv-
ice has not worn off as for as Mr..
Cannon is concerned. He has been
in congress, with the exception OF
two terms, since 1872. There is no
reason, apparent to the average OBJ
server, why he should retire. He
has no claim to the reason so many
younger men offer, the necessity OF
amassing a fortune against old age.
1t can not be said that his age pre-
vents effective work For there is
no man more influential in the house
than Mr.. Cannon.
Some new. man could fill his seat
in a physical sense. But no man IN
the United States could take his
place in the affection Of the people
in official and private Washington
circles. He is an institution, and is
daily hailed by hundreds whose
names he can not tell.
It is noticeable. however, that
e.Uncle'' Joe is an old man this year.
He was not an old man last year.
He seems to have withered suddenly.
His eye does not sparkle with the
love of combat. He is not so ag-
gressive. He is milder, softer in
manner, more benign. He does not
carry-and this is a woeful augury!
his ever present cigar at such a
>cocky angle.
Some say the change is due to the
defeat of General Sherwood of Ohio
another octogenarian. Some at
tribute it to the death of Champ
Clark. Whatever caused it, the
change is certain. But nothing has
dimmed his mind. 1t is as alert as
ever, and no youngster in the house.
however gifted in the retort ne
might be, can hold his own with the
nimble witted gentleman from II
nnois.
He is a wonderful old man, this
last leaf on the tree! He goes to
work on street cars, and on street
cars smokes his cigar unmolested.
He answers his mail and attends the
sessions of the house. He is still a
standpatter, reactionary, protection
ist. czarist! But he speaks kindly
of every man, even those VINO ue-
clare his paternoster that OF the
devil himself.
Evenings, he has dinner at the
press club. He plays a game OF
dominoes. he he disappears to re
turn at midnight, sometimes softly
swearing at the uncertainty OF poker
and the inconvenience wrought o5
those who would reform the world
by statute.
He has no associate of his age
But rather than accept chairs offered
by younger men, he prefers to stand
It is the spirit that has kept hin
going throughout all these years
which fast approach a century.