in his district or to win applause, but to win votes, and if he could not succeed the cause was hopeless.

The chairman of the Appropriations Committee generally has the unpopular side, for he is generally fighting for economy. I do not believe it is simply the natural prejudice of my own membership which makes me feel that a spirit of economy always permeates that committee far more than any other committee of the House. Now is not the time to discuss the reason for it, which would be interesting.

But ever since I have been here the chairman of that committee has been the watch dog of the Treasury and the champion of retrenchment. Mr. CANNON filled that rôle preeminently, but with a good nature, a practical common sense, a sagacious judgment of the temper of the House, and a prudent mitigation of abstract justice by personal necessities which won him extraordinary success. He was ready to compromise when he thought it wise and reasonable, but he never shunned a fight, and he never surrendered till every resource was exhausted. The adversary who anticipated an easy victory just because he had the popular side had little appreciation of the persistence, the knowledge, and the resourcefulness of Mr. CANNON. He was, of course, sometimes beaten, but he often won where another would not have dared to fight.

When I first came to Congress I had a strong prejudice against him. But, as I watched his leadership, the time came when if I suddenly had to vote on a question of which I knew nothing, there was no man in the House whom I would follow so confidently as him.

In committee he was alert, wise, timesaving, and he had that charming quality so appreciated by ambitious younger men, of giving them plenty of opportunity to show their powers. He never tried to monopolize the chances of distinction, but shared them generously with his lieutenants.

I trust he will not think it disparaging if I say that he is a debater rather than an orator. You will recall that in the golden days of English eloquence Edmund Burke, who, in my opinion, wrote the finest orations ever produced, said of his

rival, Charles James Fox, that he was "the most brilliant and accomplished debater the world ever saw."

Some of Fox's friends took umbrage at the phrase, and thought the word "debater" did not do him justice. But I am not sure it is not quite as complimentary as "orator." A debater like Mr. CANNON measures his strength squarely with his opponent, asks no time for preparation, but is always ready, and must rely on his native powers to repel assaults, grapple with his antagonist, and from a hand-to-hand contest win his laurels. The orator at leisure ponders and develops and elaborates his material. In the one case you see the engine at work and can measure its actual force; in the other you see only the result.

It always seemed to me Mr. CANNON had not the taste, if he had the capacity, for elaborate preparation. He seemed to need the stimulus of a fight to arouse his faculties. Then he could summon his resources with unfailing facility, and showed a readiness, an astuteness, a variety, and a vigor which were marvelous.

Of course he was prepared, in the sense that he knew all about his subject, for he was a most thorough and thoughtful student of the questions which came before him. But he never seemed to make any special preparation for his speeches, but to trust to the inspiration of the moment, which has brought the downfall of so many would-be orators, but which never failed him. Indeed, I think his example was a bad influence on young men by discouraging preparation. I, like other New England boys, was brought up to believe that the price of success was industry. I always had dinned into my ears the

verse

The heights which great men reached and kept,
Were not attained by sudden flight;

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

Since I have known him Mr. CANNON'S "toiling in the night" has not been exclusively over his congressional duties [laughter], and yet his mind always seems saturated with knowledge of the varied subjects which come before us.

As he moves among us now, kindly, sedate, respected, beloved-a sort of perpetual statesman emeritus, bearing his 80 years more lightly than anyone I ever saw-) -he is an honor and a blessing to the American Congress; but I shall always cherish most the memory of the dauntless, resourceful, militant head of the Appropriations Committee, defending the National Treasury against all comers, fearlessly, tenaciously, judiciously, and with a success I have never seen paralleled. [Applause.]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Kitchin] is recognized. [Applause.