“Fifty Cents Per Pair”

Take notice you who squander cash

     For high-priced underwear;

Your Uncle Joseph Cannon pays

     But “fifty cents per pair!”

And he has reached the topmost plank

     On the politic stair;

He’s done it in an undersuit

     At “fifty cents a pair”.

Economy and common sense

     Has helped his journey there;

Long may he “speak his piece” arrayed

     At “fifty cents per pair!”

Aug. 3, ‘09

Joseph Gurney Cannon (May 7, 1836 – November 12, 1926) was a United States politician from Illinois and leader of the Republican Party. Cannon served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1911, and historians generally consider him to be the most dominant Speaker in United States history, with such control over the House that he could often control debate. Cannon is the second-longest continuously serving Republican Speaker in history. He was also the first Congressman to surpass 40 years of service (non-consecutive), ending his career with 48 years of cumulative congressional service, a record that held until 1958. He was the subject of the first Time cover.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gurney_Cannon