Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21

From Photograph by Frances Johnston.
and this seemed to have a SOLDERING effect
upon him. He has said that II he were to
live a hundred years he should never re-
cover from the disappointment of that de-
feat, the discontinue was so severe. The
man who beat him was a music teacher.
who was nominated in a tidal-wave year
with no expectation of election, and who,
after he got through Congress, never rose
above mediocrity.
An Admirer of Reed.
When Champ Clark came back to the
Fifty-ffth Congress he was different sort
of fellow. He had broadened and mel
lowed and had ideas on a good many sub
Jects that commanded respect, both from
political friends and opponents. For one
thing he was a great adnirer of Tom Reed.
and never hesitated to express admiration
for him. even in companies and under con-
ditiOns where 1t was not to his personal ad-
vantage to DO He was fascinated with
Reeds force. originality and wit. and espe-
cially by the classic virility of his speech.
Champ Clark Orofesses to be judge of
congressional oratOry, and he has said
more than once that in his Judgment Tom
Reed is the best short speechnaker in the
United States. At times Clark tries to pat
tern his own style of oratory on that of the
former Speaker. He is one of the men who
make practice of studying the Bible pure
ly for literary purposes. and because he
knows that nothing is more effective with
or language which carries the biblical
mark. Clark IS old fashioned in his democ-
ract- He has all the southern reverence
for the letter of the Constitution and his
most eloquent periods those in which
he denounces what he calls republican con-
tempt for constitutional ideas. When in
the heat of debate he never spares Ian
guage or hesitates for an epithet He
speaks with brutal frankness that some
times brings criticism. as when. not long
ago, In a debate in the House, he scored
the memory of President Hayes in such un-
qualified terms that his friends were in
clined to apologize for him.
Student of the Bible
Champ Clark tells in an interesting way
how It happened that he came to be such a
student of the Bible His father was a
deeply religious man. but Champ as a boy,
would have nothing to do with that sort of
thing. One day, however he happened to
run across Patrick Herry's Grafton in the
mouse OF burgesses, beginning, 1t is mai
uraI for man 10 indulge in the Illusions of
nope. one sentence in the speech espe-
claIy struck his youthful fancy: THE race
Is not always to the swift. nor the bartIe Ia
the strong He told his father how nuch
he liked the speech and how much he was
impressed with that sentence His father
took him down by remarking: King solo
mon wrote that sentence. and if Won vii;
read the Bible you will find a great MAN.,
others equally good" SO, just from cl.rios
has
Kept II up ever since
His Autobiography.
when Clark first came to Congress be
wrote MS biography for the Congressional
directory, and that brief autobiography
was the first thing that really attracted ar
tention TO him in Washington, for In # he
specihed: December IA, 1881, was mar
RED to Miss Genevieve Bennett of Gala
way county: has one living child Rennett
ozark This IS the only Instance so far
as is known. where a member of Congress-
mas gone thus into his domestic affairs
ana the newspaper gossips all over the
country took II up and commented on n
with humor more or less forced Almost
any other man after an experience like this
would nave struck the Objectionable SEN
tence out when he came to rewrite his an
IoDlography. Not so with Champ Clark
On his election to the F'ifty-fifth Congress
he went still further: Has had four chill
dren born to him; little Champ. Ann Ham
lton, bennett and Genevieve the two lat
Ter sui living. There was sentiment &c
well as persistency in this
champ Clark Is exactly fifty years of
age He was born March :. 1850. and he
looks younger than his years He has a
smoothly shaver face beaming with good
humOr. He is one Of the most companion-
able men in the House