Evening star., 1926-11-13
"Uncle joe"


Uncle Joe" And Joseph G.. Can
non. who passed away in his sleep
yesterday at the age of ninety,
cherished that title, with its implica-
ton of popular affection, more
greatly than any other that he might
have won in political endeavor. He
had been chosen once as States at
torney, after an initial defeat and
had heen elected twenty-three times
TO the House of Representatives,
with two defeats. He had served as
Speaker Of the House in four Con-
crosses He had been proposed for
higher Offices, Senator and President.
but had never seriously pressed his
candidacy for them. To him the
House of Representatives was his
life's arena. whether he held the
gavel or served on the floor in the
interest of his immediate conStitu
ency of Illinois or the greater con-
Stituency of the country at large.
And through all the years he was
known best as Uncle joe
President Coolidge has in his mes
sage of coincidence to the family of
Mr.. Cannon said truly that the
Nation has lost one of it's most able.
interesting and beloved public men
of the last generation; who will
always rank as a great American"
With this judgment there will be
universal agreement. Joseph G..
typical American. He had a pecuh-
arity of manner which distinguished
him. He had a quality of patriotism
which inspired him to indefatigable
labor. He was courageous, uncom-
promising and incorruptible.
Craftsmanship of the intellectual
type was not the role of Uncle Joe"
lie was rugged and unpublished. He
was direct and forceful. He became
known as a "czar" during his Speak
ership, because he ruled the House
with a strong hand. A revolt was
evoked by his system of legislative
control and it defeated him. In
1910 his power was taken from him
and he became but the servant lp-
stead of the master of the House.
1t was n good thing for Congress
and for the country that that change
occurred The "CZarShip" was the
aftermath of the revolt Of Speaker
Reed against the strangling power
az the minority to block legislation.
Then, the principle of majority rule
having been established by Reed and
carried out by Cannon until ii be
came fixed the occasion for Concen-
trated authority on the part of the
presiding officer passed, and 1t
CHANGED to he Cannon who appeared
TO suffer reverse.
Uncle Joe took his defeat in good
spirit, recognizing that it was in
evitable. assumed his place in the
ranks and continued to serve, faith
fully practicing the principles of
economy in Federal administration
for which he had fought many bat
ties, yet recognizing the need of
llberality for essential governmental
development. He would have liked
10 die in harness." But he wisely
retired To private life before his
powers waned too greatly to permit
him to discharge his duties with
dignity. He had witnessed n Won
4s-,.,>
great work OF national advancement,
had been Intimately a part Of gov
ernment during one Of its most i'm
portaut periods, and he stepped back
10 await the end. which came slowly
and with hut normal Giminution Of
his faculties, so that until almost the
day of his death he continued to
move among his beloved and his
Nving tuwnspeOple.
1t Will remain for the historians
of later time To determine the exact
result of the service rendered by this
sterling American during his nearly
half century of legislative work. 1t
Is. however, not essential to wait
fer the judsment of the future to
record the esteem and the affection
with which he was regarded by the
people of his own long day. AS
~Uncle Joe" he will be mourned as
one who served according to his best
lights, with all his energy, with the
Aighest concept of Americanism and
With Abraham Lincoln as his model
and his guide.