Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-04
Joe CANNON SAYS
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS VIVID PORTRAIT
Veteran of House Tells Drink.
water That Drama e.
Beyond Reproach.

The announcement that the fine
American citizen known affectionately
as Uncle Joe" Cannon will soon re.
tire from his long service in congress
comes as a vivid reminder that the
generation which knew and lived with
Abraham Lincoln is fast disappearing.
When William Harris Jr. produced
John Drinkwater's play abraham Lin
coln," with Frank McGIynn as Lincoln.
he received many tributes to honor die
play and the playing. In the thousands
of letters and articles there is none
more highly praised than the following.
BY JOSEPH GURNEY CANNON
Men who lived and played a part in
the stirring events Of the early sixties
are ever grateful for an opportunity to
turn back histOrys pages for a more
intimate peep into a past so fraught
with memories. When those events
are wildly enacted and men and WON
en- of that period are actually por-
trayed, one can well realize all that
1t means for a man who was just com
ing back into his W at that time, and
whose mind goes back to it more and
more each day.
When | was invited to attend the
initial performance in Washington of
Mr.. Drinkwater's Abraham Lincoln
l confess that / accepted the invitation
with some dread and many misgivings.
l had known Abraham Lincoln. I had
seen him many times and he stamped
himself so indelibly on my memory that
| did not believe it possible for an ac-
tor. no matter how consummate his art
might be, to portray the Lincoln / had
known. Lincoln's little mannerisms
were as individual as his character.
HIS gestures. while few, were SO dis
tinctly Lincolnistic that / did not be-
ileve 1t possible for any actor to stalk
forth upon the stage and give anything
IKE a true, or even partially true por-
trait of the Great Emancipator.
Il attended the debates between
LiHcoln and Douglas in 1858. The one
at Charleston, ILL.,, in September that
year practically denuded the prairies
central of Illinois of their stalwart
sons. for nearly all had followed on to
Charleston to hear this wonderful
matching of wits. in which Douglas
finished a poor second. I wa. in the
Illinois state convention which finally
ratified the emancipation pro clamation.
over which President Lincoln devoted
so much thought and ray and which
came so near causing a split in his
cabinet. Is IT any wonder that Y should
have lost no time in hurrying to Wash
lngton to see the opening performance
OF the play which had caused more
earnest discussion in Washington than
any ever presented there? Had I not
been almost an eyewitness to many of
the stirring deeds which immortaiized
Lincoln and had + not heard some Of
his magnificent efforts as a debater
and a public speaker?
Il am glad to say that l did attend
the opening performance of Abraham
Lincoln and / told Mr.. Drinkwater.
the author, a day or two later thar 7
didnt think it possible for him to alter
any line or scene in his play which
would tend to improve it. He has done
a superb piece Of work in dramatizine
Lincoln. A Washington critic
was a little captious as to the actor
VINO played Lincoln. l think l am bet
yer tortured to pass on that point than
ne. and right here | will say that l do
not belleve 1t possible for any one 70
paint a more vivid portrait of Abraham
Lincoln. 90 years after his pa ssine.
than that presented by Mr.. Frank Me,
flynn. He was superb and so were all
the others who assumed roles so close
II the hearts of all good Americans
i believe that Mr.. Drinkwater ia
rendering this country a truly great
service IN giving us Abraham lincoln
this time. And most assuredlv VIII
Harris Jr. is to be congratulated
on his foresight in bringing this plav
TO America. At a time when the conn
try is rent and torn. this play will prove
a great stabilizer and should be re-
celved as one of the most powerful
sermons ever delivered on American
ism. No red-blooded American can sit
through this play withou. realizing that
after all the herculean efforts of the
great Lincoln to hold the Union intact
they should rise in their might To
stamp out all ~sectionalism and rout
those invading aliens who are here to
undermine our government and set up
tor themselves a reign of terror such
as resulted in the overthrow of Rms
and those who once ruled that
proud empire.
Abraham Lincoln is too near thu
of all Americans to be taken
lightly. None could go to see Mr..
l,rinkwater's play without an emotion
all but overpowering. I know full we'll
that the thoughtful men and women
who sat near me in the Washington
fheater sat is awed silence, held spell
by the wonderful magic Of the
Lincoln philosophy, the Lincoln charm
and the Lincoln method of hewins close
70 the line and maintaining right at an
,ost."