Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1908 — CONCERNING “UNCLE JOE" [ARTICLE]

CONCERNING “UNCLE JOE"

Last week one of the ablest and best liked Republican members of congcess, J. Adam Bede, of the Eighth Minnesota district, was defeated for renomination by members of his own party because lie declared himself unflinchingly in favor of the re-election as speaker of .loe Cannon. This seems to be a fair indication of Republican sentiment concerning the czar of the lower house of congress. Collier's Weekly, which so far as it has any policy, is certainly friendly to the Republican party, denounces Cannon unreservedly. and last week printed a communication In which it was said that If Taft and Sherman were elected the long arm of the speaker would reach from the house end of the capitol to the senate and make the pnppel Slier Ulan do fhr bidding of the autocrat In the speaker’s chair. President Roosevelt, In 1801, said of Cannon: “We cannot escape from the fact that It was no credit to the Republican party of the honse that Mr. Cannon of Illinois should be one of Its leaders." Cannon then was temporarily out of office, the only time he has been out of office in thirtyfive years. Among all the prominent Republicans there Is none upon whom the country looks with so much hesitancy and doubt. His face is always set against any measure for the good of the people, his power is Invariably exerted for those measures that are demanded by the great interests. Whether as a result of this attitude or not, the faot remains that after thirty-five years of offleeholding, with only a moderate salary most of the time, “Uncle Joe” has grown rleh, his wealth Increasing as his power increased. lie is 4 emphatically an issue In this campaign—-not merely an Issue between the Democratic and Republican parties, but between the decent and patriotic element and the corrupt [element which he has so long dominated.