The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-09

the same time he was CHOSEN TO the pres
idency OF Marshall College in West Viz
gIuia. He was then only twenty-threa
years old and was probably the youngest
college president in America. There he
remained for one year. The impressions
Mr. Clark gained Of the pedagogic pro-
f@ssion were very favorable and some
times he thinks he would prefer 10 be
back in that profession. Teaching" said
he the other day. afforded me a good
living, ample time for intellectual i'm
provement, ard II guarantees a good
place in society"
How He Got Dat of Kansas.
When he decided TO leave West Viz
gInia young Clark went to Kansas and
pitched his tent at Wichita There he re-
manned for eleven weeks TILL as he tells
the story. the grasshOppers drove him out
His fortunes there were not rosy; he did
not make money, although he says If he
had remained in Kansas he would have
been rich now. He received a request from
an Old friend TO write a commencement
speech 10 be delivered at Kentucky Uni
yeTsity. For that he was paid SIS. and il
marked the beginning of better times.
Il was able with that money" said he,
Ito pay board bin and get my trunk out
of hook. Then / went to Missouri, and
taught school at Louisiana, in Pike Coun-
", for one year"
At the end of that time he was bust
ed" again and launched into a newspaper
venture. At Louisiana he found the pro-
prietor Of an Independent newspaper who
was anxious to sell out. He bought. made
the paper Democratic. and in eleven
he -
he said. Il lived like a lord. sold the pa
per back to the former owner for 500
more than ! paid for 1t. and bound him
in an article Of writing TO keep its poll
tics Democratic"
Almost as soon as he had begun TO prac-
tice law Champ Clark began to dabble
in politics. He had only been in Mis-
souri, three years before he had aspira-
tons for the legislature. In that con-
servatiye region he ought TO have known
better, as he admits. but he made the
race and after bitter fighting got the NOM
ination. 1t was the greenback year in
Missouri and Judge Buckner, then in
Congress, kicked the platform out from
under him, and by that performance cut
his majority from 5000 to 1890. 1t resulted
in Mr.. Clark's defeat for the legislature
Nevertheless. in 1884. he was elected as
prosecuting attorney and was reelected
in 1886. His own language best describes
the events that led up to his COMPRESSION
al career from that time and throws some
light on the character that he held among
his own people
Nominated by the Grand Jury.
'In 1885, said M. Clark, Just as my
term as prosecuting attorney was expir-
ing. and just as the grand Jury was getting
through their work, the foreman, Judge
John McCune, who was a very good
friend of mine asked me if | did not want
10 go to the legislature. | told him that
! could not afford II. / had good law
practice and was getting on my feet. I
did not want 10 run the risk of losing IT,
He said ii was a revising session, and
he wanted me TO 90, and then and there
nominated me. putting the vote himself
and every member of the grand Jury, in
GLIDING one of the bitterest Republicans
on earth, voted Cor my nomination. So
j suppose l am the only man. living or
dead, who was nominated by a grand
jury. l regarded that rather in the ma
ture OF joke, but the grand jury didn't.
They voluntarily raised the money and
paid my announcement fees for the pri-
mary elections. The primary elections
confirmed the nomination made by the
grand jury and l went TO the legislature
Having got started into it, l have kept
on ever since"
Representative Clark's aggressive char
acter and his love for contest were as
serted in the various steps that led to his
election 10 Congress. Hon. Richard II
Norton was serving his first term as a
member from that district. The precedent
had been in favor Of a second term. but
throwing precedent 10 the winds. Mr..
Clark. thirsting for higher place. after
his experience IN the legislature. went
out after Mr.. NorU0n's seat That was
in 1890, and Mr.. Norton won out by =
majority of 81 votes out of poll of nearIy
1909 in the pivotal county. Two wears
later the two joined forces for one of
the most picturesque contests in the his
tory of the State of Missouri Chamn
Clark won. Since then he has had no
opposition for the Democratic nominal
ton.
Defeated by "a Mnsie Teacher.
A huge joke in Champ Clark's career as