The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-23
CHAMP CLARK OF MISSOURI.
SOME CONSIDER HIM CHIEFLY a
HUMoRIST.

How He Came 10 he IA student of the
bible Which He Now Reads Close
~ for Literary PurpOses-His Curl
GUS Autobiography in the Congress
sionaI Directory.
Washington, April 21.-There are those
who class Champ Clark of Missouri among
the humorists Of Congress. There are 9TH
ers who say he combines with a sense Of
humor certain stalesmanlike qualities
which ought to give him a high position
as a leader in the House Clark himself
Is a good deal Of philosopher, and as
pires neither TO distinction as a leader nor
fame as wit He is contented, apparently,
to remain one of The most entertaining
and interesting members Of the lower
branch of Congress. When Clark first en-
tered the House in the Fifty-thlrd Con-
gress he was great deal in evidence. He
attracted attention by his originality and
a fiambOyant style of oratory that kept
the older men in smiles or gaspng with
establishment He was one of those of
whom II was useless to make predictions
and ne thrust himself upon the notice of
the House on all sorts of occasions until
it began to be a question whether he was
to be taken at all seriously or not. Then
he was defeated for reelection, and this
seemed to have SOLDERING effect upon
him He has said that if he were to live
a hundred years he should never recover
from the disappointment Of that defeat,
The discontinue was so severe The man
who beat him was a music teacher, who
was nomina ed in tidal wave year with
no expectation of election, and who, after
he got through Congress, never rose above
mediocrity
When Champ Clark came back to the
Fifty-dfth Congress he was a different
sort of fellow. He had broadened and
mellowed and had ideas on good many
subjects that commanded respect, both
from political friends and opponents. For
one thing he was great admirer of Tom
Reed, and never hestated TO express ad-
miration for him, even in companies and
under conditions where it was nos to his
personal advantage to do so. He was
fascinated with Reeds force, originality
and wit. and especially by the classic
virility of his speech. Champ Clark pro-
fesses TO be a judge of congressional ora
tory, and he has said more than once
that in his judgment Tom Reed is the
best short speech-maker in the United
States. At times Clark tries to pattern
his own style of oratory on that of the
former Speaker He is one of the men
who make a practice of studying the Bible
purely for literary purposes, and because
he knows that nothing is more effective
with popular audience than Scripture
quotations or language which carries the
Biblical mark. Clark is old-fashfoned in
his democracy. He has all the Southern
reverence for the letter of the constitu-
sion, and his most eloquent periods are
those in which he denounces what he calls
Republican contempt for constitutional
ideas. When in the heat of debate he
never spares language or hesitates for an
epithet. He speaks with a brutal frank
ness that sometimes brings criticism, as
when, not long ago. in a debate in the
House. he scored the memory of Presi-
dent Hayes in such unqualified terms that
his friends were inclined to apologize for
him.
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 10 do with that
sort of thing One day, however, he hap
pened to run across Patrick Henrys ora
ton in the House of Burgesses, begin
ming, ut is natural for man to indulge
in the illusions of hope" One sentence
In the speech especially struck his youth
full fancy: THE race is not always to
the swift nor the battle to the strong"
He told his father how much he liked
the speech and how much he was i'm
pressed with that sentence. His father
took him down by remarking: King Sol
ONION wrote that sentence and If you will
read the Bible you will find a great many
others equally as good" So, just from
curiosity, Champ began to read the Bible.
and has kept it up ever since.
When Clark first came 10 Congress he
wrote his biography for the Congressional
Director, and that brief autobiography
was the first thing that really attracted
attention TO him In Washington, for In 1t
he specified: Dec. a. 1881, was married
to Miss Genevieve Bennett of Galloway
county; has one living child, Bennett
Clark" This is the only instance, so far
as Is known, where a member of Con-
gress has gone thus into his domestic af-
fairs, and the newspaper goesips all over
the country took il up and commenced
on 1t with humor more or less forced. AL
most any other man after an experience
like this would have struck the objection
able sentence QUE when he came 10 re-
write his autobiography. Not so with
Champ Clark. on his election to the Fiji
tv-fifth Congress he went still further:
HAS had four children born to him
little Champ, Ann Hamilton, Bennett and
Genevieve. the two latter still living"
There was sentiment as we'll as persist
ency in this.
Champ Clark Is exactly 80 years OF age.
He was born March L 1850, and he looks
younger than his years. He has a smooth
iv-shaven face, beaming with good humor.
He is one of the most companionable men
in the House.