The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-03-30
UNCLE JOE" CANNON
BUYS HIS MONUMENT
Picturesque Figure VIII Retire from
Congress on 5oth Anniversary
of First Campaign


Congress on 5oth Anniversary
Of First Campaign
Chauncey NJ, Depew gratihed his ad,
mirers in his native town by unveil-
ing a statue Of himself Uncle Joe"
Cannon has erected his own monu,
ment in Spring Hill cemetery in Dan.
vile. He did not select a bronze re.
production Of his spare figure, but
chose a block Of gray granite weigh.
ing about twenty five tons and stand.
ing fifteen feet high. With nine inch
letters the family name Cannon" IS
carved. The yaulted base, also OF
granite, and the monument together
weigh fifty-six tons.
Uncle Joe IS quite proud Of the
monument because it was his own
design. He gave great deal OF
thought to IT, Those who have seen
It say 1t is the most striking object
In the cemetery, and that the sim.
plicity of its Ines and It's rugged.
ness harmonize with Uncle Joe's"
traits Of courage energy and resolu-
tlon. Under II he expects to rest
when lifes battle Is over.
The fftieth anniversary Of Cannon's
first campaign for Congress will
come next November, and he regards
that as a fitting date upon which 10
ask his constituents TO select his sue.
cessor. His span OF Efe extends from
the time OF Andrew Jackson TO War
rem G. Harding He can probably re.
call nineteen OF the Presidents Of the
United States; he had intimate ac.
quaintance with perhaps the last
twelve. He was candidate for
states Attorney OF Douglas county in
1850, Lincoln's name appearing upon
the same ticket, and he has been in
the public eye since. As politics and
law have always made natural
blend, Cannon displayed his wisdom
in combining the two He went as
often to caucus gatherings OF his
party as he did to court, and was as
much at home in one as the other
Public Prosecutor at 25, he became
a Congressman at 81. Elected TO the
Forty-third Congress IN 1872 he serv-
ed continuously until 1890. when the
country took exception to the Nc
Kinlay tarlff and retired Cannon with
scores OF other Republican Congress
men. There was but a two.year in
terruption, however, and then Cannon
returned to Wash ngton to remain
until 1912, when the Progresslves di-
yided the Republican vote, giving
Uncle Joe another two year vacation.
Since then he has served continuously
in the House, being elected Speaker
OF the Fifty eighth Congress and the
three succeeding.
lie has long been one of the most
interesting characters at Washington,
ranking with Andrew Jackson, the
rugged, and Roscoe Conkling, the i'm.
perlous. He has personality that is
unique, peculiar and magnetic.
His sobriquet of Uncle was ap.
piled by those who felt that he had
goodly share OF human kindness in
his makeup. He has nature that
Is brimming full OF sunshine, good
feeling, and quaint humor, and above
! all, his constituents have believed
that he is well endowed with the
homely quality that Is commonly ex
pressed as horse sense" He likes
| to place his arm affectionately upon
the arms or shoulders of the men who
are dear to him in public life. He is
fond of asking his callers to sit down
and have a good visit" He has al
ways been ready to talk il over" with
visiting supporters from home, col
leagues who may have a difference OF
opinion or some party leader whose
viewpoint is at variance with that OF
the veteran
Cannon's eyes are sharp and pen
etrating and can "see through men
and things with the searching power
of an X-ray-but are kindly and mer
ry You can't fool Uncle Joe" is q
common saying in Washington, He
is fully capable of taking care Of him
SELF be il legislation, politics or po
ker. He has been termed the DayiC
Harem of the House and the Watch
dog OF the Treasury He has disap
proved many wasteful, foolish and ex
travagant measures while Chairman
Of the Committee on Appropriations
His modest home in Washington
and the one in Danville accord wei
with the quiet dignity of the man anC
his unpretentious life. Few men have
been more typ'cally American thar
this shrewd and fearless philosophe
who now says that he is through
tfv..fI