Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-02-24

commemorate today securely establishes Joseph
u. Cannon in the place of "Father of all the
American Congresses" When he took his seat
at the beginning of the Forty third congress, the
great empire of the West was still the frontier
of our civilization. That vast and powerful sec
tlon, now so potent in the councils of the nation
was then without votes. excepting narrow fringe
OF population the shores of the Pacific 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 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
speaker of the house. James A. Garfield
member of the Ohio delegation and giving
evidences of those talents of leadership which
subsequently called him to the presidency. julius
G. Burrows, of Michigan james B. Beck, of Ken
tucky William p Frye and Eugene Hale, of
Maine; Joseph r. Hawley of Connecticut; George
f. Hoar of Massachusetts; Roger Q. Mills of
Texas; apd Stephen B. EIkins of the territory of
New Mexico, were elected members Of the
house and subsequently called to the other
end of the capitol. But there WERE in that same
congress, men who rounded out their cOngression-
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 j. 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 Vlr-
GINA; Edmunds, of Vermont; Frelinghuysen. of
New Jersey Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine: John
]. ingalls,, of Kansas; John A. Logan, of Illinois:
Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont; Oliver F. Morton,
of Indiana; Carl Schurz, of Missouri; John Sher.
man ana 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 mercifu 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 c.
Blaine, Michael c. Kerr Samuel j. Randall. ].
Warren Keifer, John G. Carlisle, Thomas B. Reed.
Charles L. Crisp, David =. Henderson, Champ
Clark and Frederick ii. (iillett, while he himself
occupied tilat eHaiteu position Tor period of
eight years. He has also served under 10 presl.
dents, as follows: Grant Hayes, Garfield. Arthur
Cleveland, Harrison, Mckinley, Roosevelt Taft
and Wilson, and in a few weeks Harding will he
added TO the list.
The Forty-thrd 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 Civil war The
civil rights bill, the amnesty bill and much similar
legislation Of reconstructve 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 out of