Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-06

lost in the way of modern newspapers!
Still, there was one way in which this
journalistic love of gossip made things
easier for me. I once said to McKin-
ley that a politician could get along
better with a newspaper reputation as
a sinner than as a saint. ] was ad-
vertised as a man who cussed and
played poker, while he had a reputa.
ton for being good, kind and gentle,
man who never swore or took
drink or bought chip.
Mckinley and Reed.
Mckinley admitted there was much
force in my argument after his cam
paign for Governor of Ohio. His pub
lie reputation caused him a lot Of en-
barrassment, and he charged it to
the newspapers. He couldn't talk
plainly to people because of his gentle
ness, and he couldn't take a glass of
beer without starting a scandal.
could do as pleased without shock.
ing anybody, for little was expected
Of me. If I behaved like gentleman
I simply caused surprise at my i'm
provement. Mckinley said, with much
pain, that had the better Of the argu-
ment and that he wished he had q
reputation as a sinner instead Of as
saint
He told this story with his usual
good humor. but think in bis later
years he was doubtful if the atten-
tions Of his newspaper friends had
put the score in his favor. In poll
tees nothing is more injurious to a
mans success than to establish a repu-
tation for humor. OF his two asso.
ciates in the House leadership, Nc
Kinley and Reed. Reed was unques-
tionably the man of superior intellect
and greater craftsmanship, but Nc
Kinley came nearer the popular idea
Of what President should be. Nc
Kinley was not exactly a mediocre
man, but no one could call him bril-.
liant; Reed was too brilliant to be
thought safe by the average dull mind.
Mr.. Cannon's well meaning newspaper
friends, who believed they were doing
him a service, continued to use him
as the peg on which to hang their
amusing stories, and Mr. Cannon
could do nothing. 1t is no more diff
cult for the leopard to change his
spots than it is for the public man
to change his character when it has
become a household word. The man
who was known throughout the length
and breadth Of the land for his drol.
leries, his peculiarities, his originality,
was "Uncle Joe,' and Uncle Joe" he
must remain to the end.
Not a HumOrist.
In spite Of his keen appreciation
Of humor, he was not a humorist. 1t
was his salty common sense, his cour-
age and his hatred of sham and folly
that made him Uncle Joe. The deep
est vein in his character was not one
of humor, but Of sentiment. but few
ever suspected he owned that price
less possession. Only one newspa per
writer of all those who studied him
for so many years ever discovered this,
and she, with woman's intuition,
saw it when she first met him. She
wrote for the New York World under
the name Of Kate Carew.-' She met
Mr.. Cannon in 1904, after having read
the superficial accounts Of his charac-
teristics, and wrote:
''They (the tobacco chewing and
profanity don't typify him, because
they are non-essentials in the compost
ton Of very punctilious and debonair
gentleman Of middle age, with a great
deal of natural dignity, very vital,
| very much in love with the world and
sunshine and people; gallant, gay,
with graceful social gifts and a store
of old-fashioned chivalry, unaffected,
keen, clean, American, masculine, and,
| though renowned for his humor, not a
bit more remarkable for that quality
| than for a deep and strong fiber OF
! sentiment, which 1 make bold to pro
claim the most essential Of his at
tributes"
That keen analysis by a stranger
sums up Uncle Joe better and more