Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1908 — LET CANNON TELL HOW HE HAS DONE IT. [ARTICLE]

LET CANNON TELL HOW HE HAS DONE IT.

Joseph O. Cannon, usually “Uncle Joe,” Is the boss of the house of representatives, the agent of the predatory Interests; and the father of the Infamous system of rules which denies the people a voice in congress—and James E. Watson has been one of his tools, the “whip” of the house. Cannon was influential In securing the nomination of Sherman for vice president —Sherman being also an agent of the trusts and a co-worker with Cannon In smothering legislation adverse to them. Cannon has been put in charge of the congressional campaign, which is to look after members of con gress. He has a separate fund and a separate treasurer, to whom the trusts can contribute their money without fear of publicity. Cannon is to speak for Watson and the Republican party at Indianapolis on the 24th of this month. He presided over the Illinois Republican state convention, held In Peoria on (he 10th. In his speech to the Illinois Republicans he said Bryan was a millionaire and asserted that he had become a millionaire by the use of “wind and ink.” The next day, in a speech at Olney, 111., Mr. Bryan frankly stated that he was worth probably *125,000. And he told how he had earned It. And then Mr. Bryan referred to the fact that Cannon had held public office for forty years, thirty-five years of the time as a member, of congress. As Cannon Is reputed to be wealthy, Mr. Bryan asked him to be as frank as he had been and tell the public how he got his money— “ What he had sold, whom he sold It to and what he got for It."

But Cannon won’t tell. His wealth is given as *2,000,000. As a member of congress at *5,000 a year he has drawn about *175,000. He has lived on his salary and lived well. He has not stinted himself, has smoked good cigars and drunk good whisky—and plenty of both. And yet out of his *175,000 of salary he has nfanaged to save two million dollars, or more than *50,000 a year. It is quite remarkable. What did he sell? To whom did he sell it? And what did lie get for it? Let-Mr. Cannon answer these questions. The people of Indiana, to whom he is to speak in the interest of his “whip,” Mr. Watson, and his friends Taft and Sherman, want to know how a member of congress on *5,000 a year can save $50,000 a year. Rut he won’t tell.