Evening star., 1923-03-04
@'Uncle Joe" Cannon Leaves Congress
After Breaking Long g-Distance Record

N1HILE Mr.. Cannon has been ac-
w corded the reputation of being
the champion smoker OF America and
the government authority on all
brands OF cigars, 1t is a fact that he
sticks 60 one brand OF very light PAN
etela cigars, which he buys for him
self in Washington, fifty in q box. He
destroys probably a dozen cigars
day but really smokes no more than
hve or six. He breaks them up. chews
them up or throws them away only
half consumed.
Probably no man has ever received
more numerous or more valuable
gifts OF cigars than Mr.. Cannon-and
no man has moro earnestly expressed
his appreciation Of the good will that
prompted a gift or more punctually
given 1t away to the next caller.
This proneness Of Uncle Joe" to
give away everything In sight that
any visitor manifests a liking for has
been q source Of great annoyance to
his secretary and his daughter. who
as far as possible keep out OF his
reach whatever he might be inclined
to give away impulsively.
While for years 1t has been the Gus.
tom OF many Of the great men of the
country. whenever they went away on
any little trip. to bring back a box of
tho best cigars they could fnd to
Uncle joe" and while functionaries
In Cuba, the Philippines and many
places famed for their cigars have
sent gifts Of their best to the former
GEAR of the House"-it was a mer-
chant in Georgia who put across the
really unique gift He wrote to Mr..
Cannon one day about like this:
II see by the papers that you have
the reputation Of being a great smok-
er, but that often you never light
your cigar, but chew 1t. Under sep
arate cover 1 am sending some cigars
I have made expressly for you. /
guarantee that you will not be able
to light them and that you find they
will chew better than any you ever
had in your mouth"
His gift was a box of panetela-
shaped black cigars. All efforts fall
ed to light one. and II chewed with
unsurpassed flavor and moisture, for
II was made of the choicest plug to-
bacco.
TT is doubtful IL there is single day
i throughout the year when tho
Capitol at Washington is not visited
by at least a dozen couples on their
honeymoon trips. Washington seems
to be the mecca for newlyweds from
every section OF the country. from
FL Paso to Augusta, and from Cape
Cod to Seattle. A majority of these
brides refuse to leave the big. beauti-
full building until their newly ac-
quired lords and masters have taken
them to Uncle Joe" Cannon's office.
Their object is twofold-frst. they
want to shake hands with Uncle
joe" and then they want to see the
bride" chandelier that hangs in his
outer ofice. The bride" chandelier
was formerly one of the attractive
decorations OF the White House. 1t
was under this chandelier that Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland and Miss
Frances Folsom stood when they were
married, back in 1886. The chandelier
was discarded when the White House
was remodeled during the Roosevelt
regime Elliott Woods. architect of
the Capitol, had it placed in Uncle
Joe's" ONCE.
Uncle Joe" Cannon is ready to
challenge men of his age to f1sticuffs
or q foot race. When w. E. Morgan.
veteran Of the Illinois sth Cavalry.
who is q doorkeeper on the Senate
side, dropped around tho other day to
Uncle Joe's" ONCE to swap ancient
political history, one Of the first ques-
tions the former Speaker asked
was. How old are you?" and
when ne learned that they are the
same age he backed up, squaring off
at the old cavalryman. Then his next
sally was. Say. I'll run you a foot
race"
Morgan and Cannon are quite SINH
lar in appearance. Morgan was sworn
in on his present job on his eighty
third birthday. He is living today on
a farm in Virginia, where he saw
service when detailed to check the
raids Of tho old Confederate Mosby's
Guerrillas. After the war he lived in
Nebraska for forty years.
WHEN Gov. Frank o. Lowden Of H.
w iinois visited Washington to tes-
tify on the national budget system.
he was strolling uptown en- route to
his hotel and encountered Uncle
Joe" Cannon. The former Speaker
was walking with his head down. deep
in thought.
pardon me. sir. but could you
direct me to the Shoreham Hotel?"
said the governor, with a twinkle in
his eye.
certainly" replied "Uncle joe"
.rn show you just where it is"
Taking the governor by the arm, Mr..
Cannon turned around and started up
the street. After a few steps he
glanced up into his companions face.
Uncle Joe stopped short in amaze
ment upon observing that the supposed
stranger" was his governor and long
time friend.
Mr.. Cannon takes considerable pride
in the fact that what wealth he has
came through his confidence in the fu-
ture Of tho country, and that the very
agencies which brought him money
also contributed to the development of
communities and to the establishment
Of hundreds of happy homes in a