The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-12

4 genial autocrats who retired from
public life for few final years Of
leisure after stamping his name and
his philosophy on the politics Of his
country and turning the bitter antag
Onlsm Of his foes into the respect
and love Of friends-that was Joseph
&. Cannon Of Illinois, the "Unclc Joe"
of the last half century.
For 46 years member of Con-
gress. serving under IL presidents and
linking in his own career personal
contacts with Abraham Lincoln and
Calvin Coolidge, "unclc Joe" enjoyed
to the last the happy faculty Of max
ing his antagonists forget their enmi-
ties.
During the years that he was
speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives from 1908 to l912-Cannon
was probably as bitterly attacked as
any man in public life; yet long be-
fore his retirement from Congress
the men who had attacked him were
vicing with one another to show HIM
their friendship and respect.
Famed For What lie Was
For, while Cannon's long career
was marked by many constructive and
public spirited acts, his fame rested
rathsf on what he was than on what
he dnl.
The average man cannot list many
of CannOn's acts-savc perhaps that
he remembers Cannon as the embodi.
ment Of autocratic leadership;
what he does remember is the genial
smile, the ever ready wit, the tilted
cigar and the hOmely, human sym
pathy and kindness that stamped
Cannon's unique personality.
Cannon in manner of speaking,
came in with Lincoln, and in his per-
sonal characteristics he was not un-
like him.
It was in 1859 that Cannon first
tried his hand in politics. And Lin
coin was the cause of It.
On Ballot with Lincoln
Cannon's people had only recently
moved to Illinois from Cincinnati,
where Joseph had studied law while
clerking in store for Sc week.
Lincoln's debates with Douglas were
still in the public mind. and they
fired Cannon with enthusiasm.
When Illinois Republicans held Il
convention to launch Lincoln's boom
for the presidency, Cannon attended
as a delegate. And in 1860, when
Linc0ln's name appeared on the bal
lot, Cannon's name was on the same
ballot rs q candidate for county
prosecutor.
Through all the years that were
to come, Cannon never forgot his
personal contacts with Lincoln and
the whole-hearted admiration that
grew out Of them.
Cannon died at the age Of 30, and
in the span Of his life is compressed
the story of Americas. growth from
sprawling infancy to full manhood.
He was born in North Carolina, in
1886, IL years before Texas and Cali
fornia became parts Of the United
States and nearly quarter Of
century before the Civil War. Abra-
ham Lincoln was then an INDECENT
young Illinois st0rekceper. An in
credible time ago, measured by the
events that have happened since!
BY Covered Wagon
At the age Of Cannon's parents
moved west to Indiana, then u from
tier country, by covered wagon. I'm
pressiOns gained in his early years
in what was then little better than
wilderness stayed with Cannon
throughout his life, and he could not
pass the famous painting, "Wcst-
ward the Star Of Empire Takes It's
Way," on the wall Of q corridor in
the capitol, without stopping to look
at it with deep emotion.
Cannon picked up what schooling
he could get. Like Lincoln he hard
Continued on page six.)