The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-29
Editorial Comment
Speaker Cannon
New York Timcs)

CCllOquially Mr.. Cannon was Known ny MS l'''hI-
lar nickname, but in the long congressional tradi-
ton he will always be thought If as Speaker Can
non. This was only in part because his last speak.
ershp was marked by resounding and only partly
sincere political fight to clip the wings of his power
Long before that episode which has receded
into something like its true proportions, ne had
come to be known as one of the great figures OF
the house of representatives. In appearance and
speech he was a sort of Joseph Prudhomme OF
American politics. Homey but shrewd, common
place but sagacicus he spoke and thought IN the
velnacuar Of the common people. 1t required, for
example, apt persuasion and all kinds of diplomatic
establishments to induce him lend his authority to
the great and finally successful plan for the beaut-
flying of the city of Washington Why urge upon
him the glcries of Florcntine palace, when 1t was
his profound conviction that such luxures never
should have been INDUCED in by any people and
were certainly NIT fitting for plain Americans :"
However, he rather reluctantly joined this march of
esthetic progress
1t is needless to comment on the length and vics-
STUDIES Of his long public career. Full obituary
notices will supply all needed details Of that kind
| But nc mere chronological record do justice to
the kind Of service which for years he rendered the
country strong and glowngly influential men,
Der of the house of representatives AS chairman
Of the committee appropriations, he came to
know infinitely the whole business of the govern.
ment. The duties and personnel Of each big depart.
ment he had at his fingers end When it was a
question IF voting money to carry on the federal
! establishment, more acute and ready
than he in detecting the encroachments of extrava-
gancc and political favortism. On occasion he
announced the floor of the house what might well
be called an immortal principle of public finance
"You think he said, that it is the duty of the
mittee appropriations to make appropriations
On the contrary it is its chief duty to prevent their
being made"
| AS one looks back now upon the immense uproar
which attended the revolution that led to the
change in the rules Of the house greatly reducing
the power of the speaker, it seems far less impor-
tant than it did at the time Mr.. Cannon was at
tackled as a ear tyrannical tramper upon the
Liberties Of private members and upon the freedom
of debate and was pictured type of political
|obAurantsin and reaction that must be got rid OF
if the country to be really progressive A
a slight indication pf the way in which opinion has
since vcered note that the Idaho statesman de-
clarcd the other day that Theodore Roosevelt
played !; sorry trick on America when he dressed
up the wcrd progressive and made it the banner
the shield and the battle cry of political party"
! That would have been rank heresy to say in 1910
Then the country was to be signally blessed by get
ting rid OIL 'Canf3nlSm. Yet the more the CSSeHct
Of it was got rid of, the it has since seemed
| necessary Saying nothing now about Speaker Can
mons personal attitude affiliations, the main thing
for which he commended was that it necessar,
to have strong party organization in control O
the house of representatives At that time, as fo
years previously, the chief centralizing and direct
ing force the speaker But the work which
the reformers took out of his hands, it was soo'
found, had to be done by somebody, unless the con
gressona machine to be left running wild
One great point CT attack the speakers powe
| to appoint committees. He shOrn of that, blu
! it will have been Noted that committees of abou
the same sort have continued to be selected by tn
new method, and with about the same iron grasl
| on the business of the house. Moreover, speaker
! subsequent to Mr.. Cannon have been compelle'
quietly to adopt some of his methods. Nobody to
day refers to Speaker Longworth as a car, yet il
quiet but persistent ways he has done a good dea
to assert the inherent authority and power Of hi
office, much in the old Cannon fashion.
| From the summit Of his greatly prolonged life
Mr.. Cannon looked out upon the developments O.
government and Of public life during his time an,
acquired serene and benevolent philosophy con
corning it all. Even the bitter contest against hin.
when he was speaker left no sting with him. HI
probably thought that the more the rules Of IA,
house Of representatives were changed and ttl
mere the methods Of politics were altered the NOR,
they reInained the same thing. But among tlins,
which never changed with Mr.. Cannon was hi,
thorougheoing Americanism. and his unfaltsriSe =
~ - - hisa dsstiuiss y ~ osunts5 !.