The Washington times., 1922-05-07
bOYHOODFR|END
TELLSOF CAREER.
Of UNCLE JOE"
Old District Resident Came
Here With Cannon In 1873.
Knew Him Since.

'Jncle Joe" Cannon. eightysix
years old today. was not always carl
catured with an attenuated stogie.
He was not always known as
"America's Grand Old Man of Poll
TICS John A. Chapman, OF 1924
Tenth street northwest, remembers,
indeed, when the veteran statesman
was tho fiery young States attorney
OF Illinois and the terror Of the
gambling fraternity.
1T was my good fortune to know
Uncle Joe Cannon before he entered
Congress reminisces Mr.. Chapman,
and presume I have known him
more intimately, and perhaps longer
with him to Washington In 1873"
Mr.. Chapman vouches for the in
tegrity of his oId.time friend with a
letter received from Uncle Joe" in
1884. when Mr.. Cannon was becom-
ing famous in ths House and Mr..
Chapman was at Charleston. Ill.
Against His Principles.
The letter concerns one Of Cannon's
constituents, who withdrew his sup
port from Uncle Toe" when an ex.
pected appointment failed to ma.
terialize in time. The Congressman
pointed out in his letter that, with
on election approaching. he would
not sacrifice his principles for q
vote.
II believe am as loyal to my
friends as any man living. and where
! have friends who act from 1udg-
msnt and give me their support. you
know that I am glad to serve them
rs rapidly as possible" the letter
concludes. II write plainly about
this matter, for I would not, now
that I am In the very heat of tho
contest, get his support or the sup.
port Of anybody else by making a
representation, by implication or
otherwise, that I DO not intend to
carry out and that ought not to be
carried out upon its merits
I'm his political career" AYERS Mr.
Chapman. "he always played a square
game. and while enemies. especially
political, called him a CRATER, he
never got a dollar dishonesty in his
life. 1t was charged that he would
do anything for political gain. but a
bAser scandal never was uttered. No
more honorable man ever lived. He
never deserted a friend"
Mr.. Chapman recalls the part
played by Uncle Joe" when the
former was dismissed from his posi-
ton as special agent Of the War De
partment on account Of an alleged
shortage OF appropriations. This o.
CURED during a Congressional recess,
and Robert T. Lincoln. son OF Presi.
dent Abraham Lincoln, was Secre-
tary of War.
Uncle Joe" in this instance first
made his cigar the symbol Of his
wrathy determination.
Is Big Land Holder.
"'Uncle Joe went to the War De
partment." says Mr. Chapman, land,
with blood in his eve. and a long.
black cigar in his mouth, irately said
TO the Secretary of War:
Bob, that's a damned nice trick
you served me. wasn't it2'
Bob replied: I don't know what
you mean. Mr.. Cannon And Uncle
Joe said Why. dismisstns my man
Chapman as soon as got out of
town
Bob was perplexed and replied
Why, Mr.. Cannon, / did not know
Mr.. Chapman rad been dismissed
And thereupon he directed his
secretary to order my reinstatement,
,out loss of pay"
,ncle JOE" according TO Ny.
N. oman, has accumulated a fortrue
of unknown size. With his brother.
william, he worked In financial mat.
'ers for many years. Following MS
BROTHERS. death, Uncle Joe" has
oe'- playing a lone hand" a Mr..
"a mans words, "speculattnS &
Mostly in Western lands