Cannon, Joseph Gurney (1836-1926), an Illinois Republican, served in the United States House of Representatives for 46 years of the 50 years from 1873 to 1923. He was speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911. As speaker, Cannon built up his authority so much that the House voted to reduce the powers of the office.
Cannon was a leader of congressional conservatives called Stalwarts. The Stalwarts opposed liberal legislation sought by progressives, including Republican President Theodore Roosevelt and both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. During Cannon’s time, the speaker served as chairman of the House Rules Committee, which determined when proposed legislation would be taken up by the House. The speaker also appointed many of the members of other House committees. Cannon used these powers of the office to block progressive legislation. Discontent over Cannon’s control of the House arose. In 1910, the House members voted to strip the speaker of his membership in the Rules Committee and further reduced the power of the office of speaker by ending its role of appointing committee members.
Cannon was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, on May 7, 1836. He grew up in Indiana. He settled in Illinois in 1858. He began his political career as state’s attorney of Illinois, from 1861 to 1868. Cannon served in the U.S. House from 1873 to 1891, from 1893 to 1913, and from 1915 to 1923, when he retired. From 1872 to 1920, he won election to the House 23 times and lost only twice. Cannon was nicknamed “Uncle Joe.” He died on Nov. 12, 1926.
