Evening star., 1936-05-02

ILLIHOIS.
spite opposition. Quaker disapproval
of his wedding with Methodist, with
out permission. cost Mr.. Cannon his
good standing in the Friends Meeting.
Two children were born to the Can
mons and their domestic life was a
very happy one.
Spurred by new responsibilities, the
young lawyer prospered. In 1861 he
won the Office of district attorney after
making a house-to-house campaign all
the preceding Winter and Spring.
When the Civil War broke out Mr..
Cannon's official position prevented
his enlisting with the Union Army,
but gave him an opportunity to do a
great service for the President. Illinois
"disloyalists" attempted to discredit
Lincoln in every way possible. They
hit on a plan of attacking him
through his stepmother, to whom he
was deeply attached. In the Charles
ton village store it was customary to
take out samples of material for con-
sideration. Mrs. Lincoln had done so
without telling the clerk. Her step
sons enemies laid a charge Of shop
lifting against her.
The bewildered lady could not deny
that she had taken the goods and was
too proud to make excuses. 1t was
Joseph Cannon's duty as States attor-
ney TO prosecute her. He explained
the circumstances to the judge, and
together they took the responsibility
of wiping the charge of the records
and "forcibly expressing their disgust
to the compliments.
Mr.. Cannon's brilliant record as
States attorney earned him nomina-
tion for Congress in 1872. He was
elected in the wave of postwar Re
publicanism, which made Grant Presi-
dent. At So he came to Washington
an awkward, unknown country men,
Der.
THE new Congressman showed his
shrewdness in his maiden speech.
When he began it. supporting reduc-
ton Of the postage rate on second
class matter, Representative Phelps of
New Jersey remarked: The gentleman
from Illinois must have oats in his
pocket" Cannon replied: "Yes and
hayseed in his hair. and that is the
style of most of my constituents. I
hope that both will grow good
crops here in the East" His quick
Wit gained him the respectful atten-
| aF Ia
of his bill.
The gentleman with oats in his
pocket" served uninterruptedly for
the next l8 years in Congress. His
salty humor. vehement sincerity, and
loyalty to his party earned the re-
spect of both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis.
Within few years Representative
Cannon was famous as the champion
watchdog of the Treasury" During
his long service as chairman of ap-
preparations. unnecessary requests for
funds infuriated him. He never pre-
pared speech, but spoke with ex-
temporaneous vehemence. In excited
debate, he pranced about the House
aisles, waving his left hand violently.
Members dubbed him the Dancing
Dervish of Danville.'
His pungent Western speech, tall
figure, and long, pink-cheeked face,
fringed with close-cropped red beard,
made him favorite subject of car
toonists. One admiring reporter called
him Uncle Sans Uncle joe" and so
he became to all America.
Mr.. Cannon's fiery personality was
missing in the Fifty-second Congress.
but he sat in the next four bodies. As
a Stanch Republican, he was a strict
protectionist and helped enact the Nc
Kinley tariff. When interviewers
asked Uncle Joe how he spent his
time. he used to say that he raised
the tariff in the afternoon and the
ante at night.
Representative Cannon had a true
Westerner's love Of chance. It led him
even to make one exception to his
strict curtailment of appropriations.
Prof. Langley Of the Smithsonian In
stitution testified hesitatingly one day
that he would like $4,000 to expert
ment with a flying machine. Uncle
Joe liked the idea. He overcame ridi-
cule and opposition to secure the ap-
preparation. When Prof. Langley's
machine fell into the Potomac, Mr..
Cannon was caricatured everywhere as
Mother Shipton riding a broomstick.
Later the Wright brothers repaired
the plane and Uncle Joe had the sat-
isfaction Of seeing his gamble" fly
over Washington.
| zach year his whole hearted leg
islative efforts brought him new
supporters. In 1903, at the height
OF his power, he was named Speaker
Of the House. The veteran Con-
gresham believed in pressing for
legislation he favored. For eight years
he ruled the House with an iron hand.
He was accused of recognizing only
those members whose views appealed
to him. His enemies named him the
"czar," and "Cannonism" became a
by-word for high-handed legislative
tactics. The day of reckoning came
in 1910, when Uncle Joe was "A. In
surgent Republicans organized a re-
volt against his policies and proposed
measures to strip the Speaker Of his
power. Democrats joined them in a
bitter battle against the regulars. +"
The Speaker lost much Of his au-
thority, but Cannon's friends refused
to remove him from Office. However,
his star had passed its zenith, and he
lost both speakership and seat in the
next year.
Uncle Joe had another good rea-
son to detest political independents
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