Evening star., 1927-05-23
MEMOIRS OF UNCLE JOE CANNON
1:Tod L. WHITE BUSBEY His Confidential Secretary for
I REMEMBER only one occasion
when fha Watchdog WAS I'm.


| true to his economical princi
ple," said Uncle Joe Cannon
in speaking of Judge William S. Hol.
man of Indiana, who was, he said
the original watchdog of the Treas.
ury''-a name often applied to Cannon
himself. Holman was chairman of
the appropriations committee. IAN
appropriation bill was up, and one of
the items was for an improvement in
Holman's own district. He had been
objecting steadily to such improve.
ments in other districts, and when
he failed to object to this one the Re-
publicans demanded to know why.
| The watchdog rose and explained
that this was very necessary and
useful public improvement. The Re-
publicans Uttered, and one Of them
asked permission to interrupt. Hol-
man granted it, and the Republican
| sonorously declaimed the following
quotation from, think, Byron:
"'Tis sweet to hear the honest watch.
dogs bark
Fay deep.mouth'd welcome as we
draw near home
"The House roared with laughter,
and Holman was utterly flabbergasted
and speechless.
Become Watchdog"
"T myself afterward held Holmans
job and people fixed the watchdog
name on me. There was always a
good deal of growing over my refusal
to approve expenditures that seemed
necessary to those who wanted them.
Yet sometimes | was accused of ex-
travagance. One such occasion was
when it was proposed to build the
executive offices which now form the
western wing of the White House.
When the bill came in it was for
$650,000, several times more than
what was expected, and, of course,
there was a big fight when I reported
deficiency bill with this item in it.
The Democrats saw an opportunity
to make capital against President
Roosevelt and the debate soon descend
ed to personal abuse. Everything
about his management Of the White
House was attacked, and finally John
Wesley Gaines of Tennessee dramati-
cally announced that while we were
asking this great sum for the White
House the Government had been so
stingy as to sell at auction the side
board presented to Mrs. Hayes by the
W. c.. T. L. as a testimonial to her
for barring liquor from the White
House table.
Gaines Wants to Know.
'In his most tragic manner Gaines
called on me to tell why the sidebOard
of the w. c. T. u. now rested in
Pennsylvania avenue saloon, where
they used it in the service of whisky.
The House was in an uproar and some
Of the Republicans who did not like
Roosevelt and We're afraid of the tenn.
perance vote were getting restive.
Gaines stood facing me in a theatrical
attitude, one hand in his trousers
pocket and an arm stretched out, one
finger waving at me. rose, assumed
precisely the same dramatic attitude,
and very solemnly said:
Mr.. Chairman, we are told that
good Abigail Adams was wont to hang
the White House wash in the east
room to dry. Great God, what has
become of that clothes line.
1.-The House broke into shout Of
laughter. I demanded a vote. Good
nature had been restored by magic
and the item passed without even a
division. That one minute of buff
foonery turned the tide and put the
bill through. 1t was not wit or humor.
It was only a diversion to save the
bill from serious discussion of ques-
ton that had as much place in the
House as would a discussion of the
Pope's bull against the comet.
Maine Delegation Powerful.
"The Maine delegation in the House
was a small but powerful one when
l took my seat; it had only four men,
bers, and it was always noted for it's
ability. 1t is extraordinary that lit
tie State like Maine should have sent