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Show RATHER BE SPEAKER THAHPRES!flEHT That Is Uncle Joe Gannon's Satisfaction Sat-isfaction With His Present Pres-ent Job. HE IS GETTING ANCIENT; SEVENTY YEARS OP AGE Move for Federal Court Jurisdiction Juris-diction in the Congressional Congres-sional Elections. Corrospondenco to Tho Trlbnno. WASHINGTON. D. C, May 10.-Pub-Halied broadcast to tho world not long ago was a declaration from Josoph Q. Cannon Can-non to tho effect that ho woud rather bo Speaker than President and that ho was perfectly satisfied with his present status. So far, so good. But tho enthusiastic friends of Undo Joo aro going right along booming him for tho noxt nomination. Tho Houso of Representatives Is for him almost al-most to a man. In fact, ho Is no doubt tho first choice of mon of both parties ln tho House, with so few exceptions as to almost amount to nothing. Wo all ro-momber ro-momber when William Alden Smith, the exuberant statesman from Grand Rapids, Mich., nominated Speaker Cannon for President. A great many people were disposed to rogard tho whole proceeding ln tho nature of a joke. It is tar from a Joko now, and lt may be that William Aldon will prove to bo the original Cannon Can-non man, uf course, tho "original" does not become Important until thcro Is really somo prospect of tho man who has been mentioned early, Is a serious proposition before tho nominating convention. Wo have hoard tho story of how displeased tho Speaker was when Mr. Aldon mado his speech. It runs something llko this; Tho Michigan man was making a speech about nothing ln particular, but he wanted want-ed to say something nlco about Cannon, whose policy ho had been opposing, and ln his pralso ho said that Canrion was tho man best fitted for tho Presidency, and that tho people would tako groat pleasure pleas-ure ln olovatlng him to that exalted position. posi-tion. As this was Just beforo Roosevelt was nominated two years ago, tho state ment was ratnor startling, ana tno xiQ-publlcans xiQ-publlcans were astonished. Thon Smith went on to say that Cannon should bo the nomlneo ln 1903. That relieved tho tension. ten-sion. There was no harm ln that and no Interference with tho already arranged Roosevelt programme, bo the House broko forth in thunders of applause. Tho Speaker had been ongaged upon something at his desk and when ho found the House cheering and clapping hand3 ho looked about. "What's up? What's all this about?" ho asked, according to tho veracious chronicler. "You havo Just beon nominated for President, Mr. Speaker, and tho House Is cheering tho suggestion," said tho man near tho Speaker. Tho Speaker frowned and rapped sharply sharp-ly with his gavel," according to tho V. C . "and again thre was a demonstration." It was also recorded that the Speaker's angor disappeared when ho was Informed that tho nomination was after "four years moro of Roosevelt." That was two yoars ago. Some people mado fun of William Alden Smith. In fact, they formed a Joo Cannon Cablnot and made William Alden Socrotary of Stato. A number of other officers wero selected and thero was a great deal of sport made of tho suggestion. Thcro wero Jokes about the tlmo whon "Undo Joe" would bo Presldont, and William Alden premier, and big offices wero portioned to many members of tho House. Tho clerks and newspaper men took tho matter up and everybody In tho Joko had a place. "Whoro bo these funmakors now?" And -William Alden, ho who boasts not of being be-ing either a prophet or tho son of a prophet, pro-phet, but who had an Idea, exploited lt, what of him? As ho watches tho other fellows pushing tho boom along, and a dozen doz-en men looking forward to tho Speakership, Speaker-ship, if Cannon should bo promoted, ho smiles complacently and reads tho nows from Michigan regarding tho Sonatorshlp. And all over this broad land of ours there are many people who aro saying tho Republican Re-publican part)- might do worso than to run "Unclo Joo," oven If he will be 72 years old whon tho convention assembles. What to Bo With. Toit. While discussing tho Bubjoct of Presidential Presi-dential possibilities lt might not be amiss to say right hero that Secrotary Taft's future has not beon settled and will not bo as far as tho Supreme court Is con-corned con-corned until next December. At that tlmo a Supreme court Juatlco Is to bo named. Tho President has offered tho position to Secretary Taft, but tho Socrotary has hesitated. In fact, he has not decldod. Ho doesn't really know what ho Is going to do. In this uncertainty lt Is a 'good guess that he will not go on tho bench. In that caso, he will be ln the running when tho delegates are chosen, two years from now. Possibly ho will have tho warm support of tho administration. At all evonts tho Presidential handicap for 190S cannot be proporly booked, until wo know what Is to become of Secrotary Taft. When ho Is out of the way thero can bo a now alignment suggested. Mark this, also. When you hear a man Bay that Taft would not llko to bo President you tell him to report that statomont to tho marines or to the deaf asylum. How They Stick. It beats all how a squad of representatives representa-tives who mado their lirst appearance ln the House In the Fifty-third Congress hang on. Fifteen of them wore re-elected to tho Fifty-ninth Congress and fourteen aro now ln tho House. Thoy are Adams, Pa.; Babcock, Wis.; Bartholdt Mo., Cooper, Wis.; Cousins, Iowa; Curtis, Kan.; Gardiner, N. J.; Glllett Mass.; Lit-tlo. Lit-tlo. Ark.; Loudonslager, N. J.; McCall, Mass.; McCloary, Minn.; Mahon, Pa.; Tawnoy, Minn.; W angor. Pa., and Williams. Will-iams. Misa. Swanson of Virginia was reelected, re-elected, but was chosen Governor since, ho lt leaveB fourteen "Flfty-thlrders," as they aro sometimes called. They havo got to tho front pretty well, too, especially ln committees. Adams la acting chairman of Foreign Affairs; Baboock la chairman of Dlstrlot of Columbia and has conducted six QUCceB8ful political campaigns as chairman of tho Republican Congressional Comrnitteo: Bartholdt Is chairman of Public Buildings and Grounds, and ono of the leaders ln tho Interparliamentary Peace movement; Coopor Is chairman of Insular Affaire; Cousins Is chairman of a minor commlttoo and member of Foreign Affairs and Naval Affairs; Curtis Is a membor of Ways and Means and Indian Affairs, and his friends say ho has a seat In tho United StateH Senate "cinched;" Gardiner is chairman of Labor and member mem-ber of Poatofficcfl and Post Roads; Glllett Gll-lett Is chairman of Civil Service and a member of Appropriations; Loudonslager Is ohalrman ot Pensions and member of Naval Affairs. McCall Is a member of Ways and Means, and Library and Labor, La-bor, McCleary Is chairman of Library and membor of Ways and Means. Mahon 1h chairman of Appropriations; Wangor la ohalrman of a minor committee and membor of Interstate and Foreign Com-merco: Com-merco: Williams Is a member of Ways and Means, Rules and leader of the minority. mi-nority. All of which shows that tho "Flfty-thlrdors" aro not among tho "numbered, but unknown mon of the House. A -Toko by Fairbanks. Ono day during the long debato on the railroad rato bill ln tho Sonate. Vlco-PreHldent Vlco-PreHldent Fairbanks called up to tho desk one of tho nowopaper mon who reports tho nrocoedlngs of tho Senate and said: "Tom, there la a llttlo itom- of news ln the Senate which I wish you would mention." men-tion." K "Cortalnly Mr. Vlco-Presldont," aald the newspaper man, "1 shall be very glad to do so. What Is lt?" "The rate bill." said tho Vice-President, Tho nowspapor man had been writing rato bill debate all day, Vlco-Prcsldent Fairbanks had been listening, not only that day, but to a month of talk on this same subject. Hardships in the Navy. The stories of hardship which woro told in the House about the young mon who enlisted ln the navy and could not thero-foro thero-foro support tho large families which their parents had created, or where a young man could not bo married because the navy hold him llko a vise, woro really pathetlo and stirred the hearts of many mombors of the House, who thought the orders against discharges woro unnocco-aarlly unnocco-aarlly harsh. No doubt thcro aro casos whoro young mon enlist ln both army' and navy whon they should remain at home and holp support parents or dependent brothers and Bisters. On the other hand, there are many enlistments mado "Juat for a lark," and whon the young mon tiro of tho Jlfo they want to get out. They dosert from tho army, but thtfy find lt very dlfllcult to get away from a battleship battle-ship or cruiser. Consequently there aro demands to secure discharges. If a lino should not bo drawn and otrictly enforced, en-forced, tho demands for discharges would crowd tho departments and cauao demoralization de-moralization ln both army and navy. If enlisted men could get out of tho servlco by making application to their Sonatora and Representatives, thero would be a flood of such applications mado to tho departments. de-partments. If a secretary granted ono request of this kind, he would havo to grant all, and tho result would be discharges dis-charges without number, greatly to the prejudice of discipline. That Is tho view that has been taken of tho matter by tho officers of both army and navy, and offlolalo ln civil llfo having tho subjects in charge tako tho same view. That was why stringent ordors against dlsohargeo wero Issued and such discharges aro now mado only whon actually nocessary. For Federal Authority. By a' bill which has been favorably reported re-ported by tho Committee on tho Election of the Presldont, Vice-President and Representatives Rep-resentatives ln Congress, It Is proposed that United States courts shall havo Jurisdiction ovor certain Interferences with tho elections to the Houoo of Representatives Repre-sentatives and have power to punlah such offenses. "This Is ln no sense a 'force bill,' nor docs it provldo for Fcdoral control of elections, declares tho report which Representative Brooks of Colorado has submitted ln favor of tho measure. Speaking of tho legal questions and the power of Congress, the report says: "Tho most important legal question which ari30s Is whether Congress may Impose upon Stato oiucors charged with the performance of duties toward the Government of tho United States In connection con-nection with tho election of Representatives Representa-tives ln Congress additional limitations, directions and ponaltles Intended to secure the faithful performance of those duties, ond may through tho Instrumentality of the United States courts punish falluro to perform those duties. No ono would doubt that Congress might toko entire ohargo of tho conduct of elections for thcso offices. Tho Congrees might prescribe the tlmo, place and mothod of election and provldo for appointing tho officers to conduct the election. "May not Congress, whllo leaving tho tlmo. place and manner of tho election to bo determined by State laws, and tho elections to bo regulated by Stato law, and conducted by officers of State selection se-lection and appointments, confer upon tho courts of tho United States tho power to punish violation of duty on tho part of such officers In tho conduct of National elections and registrations therefor? Is there no mlddlo ground bctwoon absoluto control by tho United States Government of elections for tho offices montloncd and the entiro abandonment by the Government Gov-ernment of tho United States of all right and authority whatsoever ln regard re-gard to the elections of Its pppular branch of Congress? Or, If there Is such middle ground, will lt be claimed that lt Is to bo found only ln Federal supervision of elections held undor Stato law and by Stato officers and registration conducted under Stato law and by Stato officers?" I It is assumed as a matter beyond question ques-tion that nobody will claim that the Unltod States Is without power to pass and enforco laws for honest elections, and, discussing tho Importance to the United Statos, tho report says: "Nothing can bo of moro vital importance impor-tance to any form of government than Its election of tho officers who are to conduct lt. In our dual form of Government Gov-ernment it would seem clear, both In reason rea-son -and authority, that whero officers are appointed by a Stato government to conduct tho elections of officers, both for a Stato and tho United States. Buch officers offi-cers are answerablo to both governments, govern-ments, They aro answerable to tho Stato, because they aro State officors and because be-cause the Stato Is Interested ln tho eleo-tlon eleo-tlon of Stato officers and ln the oloctlon of members of Congress; and thoy aro answerablo td' the United States Government Govern-ment because that Govornment may be vitally affected by Infractions of duty by ouch Stato election officers In tho matter of the oloctlon of Buch Representatives. "No argument should bo ncoded to convince con-vince tho Congress that tills legislation Is both proper and necessary. A similar bill was reported ln tho Twenty-seventh Congress, and every reason that existed ror notion with rognra thereto at that time exlet3 now with groatly Increased forco. "Almost every recurring election contest ln this House discloses the same most unfortunate and dcplorablo condition with rogard to tho conduct of elections ln many parts of tho country. The possibilities possi-bilities for fraud and abuse of tho electoral elec-toral franchise aro unfortunatoly very numerous, and thero aro not wanting In every part of the country those who will take advantage of theso possibilities, and thereby not only defeat tho popular will, but commit tho gravest crimes against the sanctity of the ballot and agalnBt tho perpetuity of our Institutions." Warships on the Lakes. Owing to tho long continued absence of Representative Robert R. HItt from tho House, whoso HI health has allowed him to be present only a few tlmos this session. "William Alden Smith has not pressed his resolution providing for the abrogation of that part of the treaty with Great Britain which prevents tho construction con-struction of wnrshlps on tho groat lakes. Mr. Smith has presented and advocated advo-cated a rewolutlon of this kind for years. H believes that uevcral naval vessels, especially thosG of a smaller type, would be constructed on the lakes and that Bevoral shipbuilding plant3 would bo encouraged If they could have a part ln building the navy. The old problem as to whether the Government Gov-ernment ehall rent buildings for Government Govern-ment purposes Is one that la constantly being agitated here. There aro two factions fac-tions In Washington which aro antagonistic antagon-istic to each other and which aro lighting light-ing all tho time. Ono owns or Is interested inter-ested In real estate which lt wants to 6oll tho Government for these buildings, and tho other owns or Is interested ln buildings build-ings which It rents to tho Government. Of course, the owners of buildings which .can bo occupied by tho Government are anxious to havo tho Govornmont as a tenant. Uncle Sam Is prompt and suro pay and generally can bo mado to pay moro than any ono elso. A score or moro landlords would not know whero to look for tenants if tho Govornmont should construct and own all tho buildings which lt ocouplos. It has been carofully figured out that the Government could borrow money and construct Ita buildings, and that the Interest and cost of nmlntenanco would not bo as largo as the amount paid for rents. Several moro public bulldlngp are needed, here not only because of tho i monoy lt would savo In tho matter of I rent, but because the orderly transaction of business requires better facilities than Is afforded for many Important bureaus and departments. Grumbling at Conforenccs. Every eeselon thero brcaku out ln one House or the other llerco comnlalnts about tho lnstrustlng of iosislation to conference. When a bill with two or throo hundred amendments Is sent to conference confer-ence lt means that very Important legislation legis-lation is intrusted to six men, threo from each House, and thoy havo It In their power to bring In a completo bill which must bo accepted or rejocted as a whole. If very bad legislation has beon put ln or accepted bv the conferees tho majority will probbaly accept tho bill because thoy havo got something in the measure that they want to have pusscd. Conferees havo great power and they aro always the men longest In service, tho men who havo reached ranKing places on committees. commit-tees. This Is what makes long Hfirvlce ln Congress of so much powt". Conferees aro generally the men who nave handled tho bills when considered ln open session and they know Just what they want to do with amendments which may be adopted. Complaint Is often mado that both Senate and House put It beyond their power to legislate when they send a bill to conference. confer-ence. As for Instance, there Is no possible method of obtaining a report on the Statehood bill which Is In conference. It simply stays thero. The Houso cannot get a vote upon It or any of the Senate amendments until tho conferees are ready to report. No ono Is permitted to make a motion to dlschargo tho conforees and thero the matter rests. Only by tying up all other buslnesa could the Houso secure action and that will not be attempted because be-cause there is really no decided pressure anywhere for a Statehood bill cave ln a" few Isolated sections. In tho matter of tho annexation of Hawaii the sentiment was so strong that the whole business of the House was brought to a standstill until Speaker Reed allowed tho bill to bo considered. A majority, if determined, could force a roport on tho Statehood bill. In fact, a majority can do anything when lt Is determined. Whenever com-l plaints are made about the tyranny of rH tho Speaker or of conferees it may be jH sot down as an absoluto fact that both jH tho Speaker and the conferees must bo iH sustained by a majority to be effective. 'H |