The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-03

commemorate today securely establishes Joseph
q. Cannon in the place of Father of ali the
American Congresses" When he took his seat
at the beginning of the Forty-thrd congress, the
great empire of the West was still the frontier
of civilization. That and powerful sec
ton, row so potent in the councils of the nation
was then without votes, excepting a narrow fringe
or population on the shores OF the Paclnc ocean
The sovereign states of Arizona Colorado, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mex
leo, Utah, Washington and Wyoming were Win
out votes and we're represented here by delegates
What a wonderful galaxy of brilliant were
here when he came to congress! James G. Blaine,
the ''Plumed Knight of American statesmen, was
speaker of the house. James A. Garfield was
member of the Ohio delegation and was giving
evidences of those talents of leadership which
subsequently called him to the presidency. Julius
G. Burrows, of Michigan; James B. Beck, of Ken
lucky; William 2. Frye and Eugene Hale, OF
Maine; Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut; George
F. HOar, of Massachusetts; Roger O. 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
congress. men who rounded out their congressiOn-
al careers in this body and whose names equal
" 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 J. Rand.
all. of Pennsylvania; Alexander H. 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-
ginia; Edmunds of Vermont; Frelin ghuysen of
New Jersey; Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine; John
J. Ingalls, of Kansas; John A. Logan, of Illinois:
Justin S. Morrill,, of Vermont Oliver P. Morton.
of Indiana Carl Sehurz, of Missouri John Sher-
man and Allen G. 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
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 J. Randall J.
Warren Keifer, John G. Carlisle, Thomas B. Reed,
Charles L. Crisp David B. Henderson, Champ
Clark and Frederick H Gflett while he himself
occupied that exalted position for a period of
eight years 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 be
gan 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 bin and much similar
legislation of reconstructive nature, made neces
sary by that unhappy event, need not be referred
TO. The great granger movement finally resulted
in 1897 in the enactment OF the interstate com
merce law.
The numerous legislative battles growing out OF