The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-16

Are YOU Inn kinu pi "A ltHiicGg
by CHARLES w. DUKE.
Tilted back In n four-lcgged, cane
seated chair Of the stralght-back Of
flee variety usually set out for un-
welcome visitors, n soft brown
chapcau Get rakishly one ono edo his
white-thatChed head, n gold-hand
cigar held firmly between his lips,
his recumhent figure cnvclopcd In a
nicotine smoke screen, Joe Cannon
was having the highllghts Of tho
morning news read TO him by n OF
his secretaries.
Tlmc-9.3O Ia tho morning, Place
Private office In the capitol In
Washington OF the distinguished
member of congress from the 18th
Illlnols district. Center stage and
"closeup"-The grand old statesman
emeritus who In probably the most
picturesque political personality that
has flashed across the stage OF Amer
lean public life since the days of
Abraham Lincoln with the possible
exception OF Theodore Roosevelt
tho Honorable Joseph Quincy Can
non, champion longtime fervnnt OF
the American people, erstwhilo cN-
ponont OF the political system known
as "Cannonism," venerable dean Of
congress,
Good morning, Uncle Joc!' was
my EalutRtiou. AS a representative Of
the American press aud spokesman
FOR the American public, I've como To
tClicitutc YOU upon your remarkable
career now that you have decided %
retire from public life. ana wish you
well for many more years.
Slowly, hut with n graceful gesture,
tho veteran statesman got M from
his chair. The cigar camo away
from his lips. with his right hand h,
dcffed the soft hat and crossed Il
over his heart after the fashion OF al
old warrior returning the salute a
his faithful old guard. In that gcs
ture-and the smile that playct
about his lips-was embodied dig
niflod acquiesconcc to the fate that
sweeping him out OF tho SADDLE
after long years OF service.
at is time for mo to get out O
here and to give my place To som
OUNCE man." Uncle Joe" was say
Ing. He stood directly under Ia
huge glass-tinkling chandelier tina
ndorns his officc-the ChandcliC
that Ulysses =, Grant once installe
in the white House, the chRndolio
under which Grover Cleveland an
his bride were married, the chaud,
Her that Theodore Roosevelt had re-
moved In the rcmodeling of III
executive mansion 20 yeHrn agu.
And what n remarkable man is tn
veteran OF congressional corridor
and chambers! Just for n momcr
SUM up the conspicuous highlight
OF his career
May Z he viii hc SO years old
aud still on the job In Washington
Michael Angelo painted his creates
picture at so. Tonnyson wrut
"Crossing the Bar at SO, Gladston
was master OF Great Britain az q
Victor Hugo was at his best frot
20 to so. Thomas jefferson, Her
bert Spencer. Tallcyrand and No.
taire were still active at so. But 10
Cannon dofts his hat TO none OF thcr
for the is still on the Job ever
day. rain or shine, hot or cold, /
congress AZ Sc.
out OF close 20 5000 men VIII
have served I'm our congress sine
i77S, "Unclc Joe enjoys the uniqu
distinction ot having served longer
public lie than any man I'm Amer
"a history, In 1850. on the sam
republican ticket on which Abraham
Lincoln was "A successful cundidat
for president, Cannon was a succes.
'ul candidate Tor prosecuting alto.
ney IN his Illinois home district. /,
mas been In public lite ever since.
G2 years,
Four times he WAS speaker OF q
1ouse-ln the 6Sth, seth, 6Oth a
,eeded him la tenure OF this Off
glst congress. Only Henry Clay
'The Great Kentuckiau' hRvl
heen elected 20 tho speakership
limos and serving In all 10 years Q
as days.
Elected to congress 90 times,
now rounding out his 46th year
re national legislative halls Ut