His reputation as a special champion of economy in government expenditures dates back to the early nineties when he was made chairman of the Committee of Appropriations in the Congress which first elected "Tom" Reed Speaker. Yet while he scrutinises each project carefully and effectively condemns wastefulness and extravagance he cannot be said to be parsimonious. He is a ready and forceful debater and skilled in repartee. In private life he is genial and has a host of friends.
The determining factor which settled the choice of Cannon as Speaker with so little show of contest is that he comes from the West and that section claims as of right the Speakership since the East has the Presidency.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.