Evening star., 1926-11-14
MANY HUMOROUS ANECDOTES !.
WERE CENTERED ABOUT CANNON
Gave Lavishly to Any One Who Expressed
Liking for His Property, But Was
"Stingy" With Self.

Uncle Joe" Cannon, whose death
Friday. in his 91st year, brought
and private life. was Speaker in the
| House of Representatives in the days
| of Reed, Sarlise, Crisp, Blaine. when
| the Speaker was boss. But although
assailed as "czar," Speaker Cannon
was really Tess of boss than any of
his predecessors. All the previous
| Speakers had made up the list Of
| committees themselves. In his organ
ization Of the House Speaker Cannon
sent for John Sharp Williams. then
Democratic leader Of the House and
later Senator. and said to him:
Williams, you're boss of your side.
/ believe in contest the leader should
control his organization. I wish you'd
make up the Democratic side of the
committee lists. I've made up the
proportion according to the majority
and minority strength. I'll make up
| the ma jority side and you make up the
minority side, and III incorporate your
list with mine.
"Ill make only two conditions
First, geographical. If l find it neces-
sary to put a Republican on any COM
mittee from a State which ought to
have only one member I'll not let you
assign a Democrat from the same
State. Second. I'll have to ask you to
do what | will do myself. refrain from
appointing new members to the rivers
and harborS committee from districts
where they have big new projects un-
der consideration, or to the naval COM
mittee where they are trying to get
new navy yards"
Williams agreed that that was mot
only fair, but a most generous propo-
sition," and yet it was out of this
arrangement that the furor against
"Cannonism' and "czarism" devel
oped. Williams did not give several
of the old Democrats the committee
places they wanted. For example,
Representative Shackleford of Mis-
souri, wanted place on interstate and
foreign commerce. Shackleford made
speech in the House against the
"czarism of the Speaker" and that
was the first note of rebellion.
Uncle Joe's" first speech in the
House has been written into history
as 1.-The hayseed Speech" but it really
resulted in revision of the postal code,
establishing the pound rate of paying
The postage on newspapers previ-
ously had to be paid by the subscriber
and collected by the postmaster MAX
ing the delivery. Under the legisla-
ton put through by Cannon the post
age had to be paid at the Office of
publication at a pound rate.
While making his maiden speech"
Representative Cannon was inter
rupted by Representative William
Walter Phelps Of New Jersey, who
said: THE gentleman seems to have
oats in his pocket"
YES" promptly replied Cannon,
"and hayseed in his hair, and that's
the style Of most cf my constituents.
hope that both are good seed and
will grow good crops here in the
East"
Mr.. Cannon was making a plea for
the country press. because the city
press had been attacking the bill.
Mr.. Cannon, who was one of the
most generous of men in expenditures
for his family, seemed to have q
grudge against himself when it came
to personal outlay. He was notorious
ly tight wad" regarding himself,
close as the proverbal bark on the
tree.
1t fell out that he was wearing an
years Of service. His daughter cx-
postulated with him. mildly at first,
then insistently, and finally en-
phatically, until he consented to 60 TO
a clothing store and select an over.
coat. He wouldn't think Of letting
anyone else pick 1t out. That would
not be in accordance with his inde-
pendence.
The salesman showed him a coat
which he fancied and which fit him to
his easygoing satisfaction.
How much?" was Uncle Joe's eau.
tious and suspicious question.
"Only $685." was the reply.
Up in the air he went. why" he
cried, II never paid more than $40 for
a coat in my life and he took the
garment off, going out Of the store
ripping and snorting at profiteers.
He duly reported the incident at
home, still indignant His daughter
soothingly said, well, you go back to-
morrow and see Mr.. So and So, and he
will give you $50 coat" Meantime
she arranged that the salesman men,
toned should fit him with a suitable
pay the balance. He did so. Supply
ing him with the $S5 coat.
Next day Uncle Joe breezed into the
Capitol and bumped into q fellow
member.
Hello, Uncle Joe; you have q new
coat?"
'Yes, it's all right.
"How much did you pay for it7"
Thirty dollars, and that was
enough"
'I'I give you $40 for It right now"
"You are on" said Uncle Joe, strip
ping off the coat while his colleague
counted out the four tens. They
teased him about it for a while, until
the coat was returned. But they say
that Uncle Joe always groaned at the
thought of that $S5.
X
When Mr.. Cannon first came to
Congress he served with a delegate
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