The Washington times., 1903-04-18
SETS HIMSELF RIGHT
WITH TINES READERS
Champ Clark Calls Attention to His
Opinions Regarding Gen. CoclueH.

To the Editor Of THe Washington Times.
IN your issue OF April C you say
that I am IN favor Of Gen. Francis Mar
ion Cockrell for governor OF Missouri 70
succeed Alexander Monroe Uockery,
whose term expires January 1865. Tou
are very much "oG your base I an
not in favor Of CocEreH for governor.
but am in favor Of him for President Of
the United States. and in the interview
which you must have read wita great
haste, I gave these reasonz:
/. Because Of his long and dIstin-
guished public service
?. Because he, in good faith. support
I ed Democratic candidates and platforms
/ in 1896 and 1900-in fact at ali times
g. He would De acceptable TO the buzi-
/ ness interests of the country.
4. His record as a Confederate soldier,
which is first class. would commend him
/ to Union veterans.
/ Missouri being the most populous
State which invariably casts her eIector-
/ al vote for the Democratic candidates,
is entitled TO the honor
/ You say that I have a dual purpose in
making a suggestion Of the CockreII can
/ didacy-one being my own ambition 10
go to the Senate IN reply. I say. *Honi
soft qui mai ; pense"-eviI be to him
who evil thinks One OF the aggravating
features Of public life is that there 10
/ always some malvoIaut person ready 10
attribute unpraisworthy motives TO the
public man for every act, public or pri-
waite In the first interview which I ever
had on the subject Of Cockreu as Pres
identiaI candidate. I declared that I vas
in favor of nominating him with the dis
tinct understanding that should he Be
defeated for President he should be
unanimously reelected TO the Senate,
Does that look as II my suggestion Of his
Presidential candidacy were intended for
my own benefit?
In your article you try TO make It ap-
pear that I was defeated for reelection
to Congress in 1854 because took 1t for
granted that I had "eiBch" and ne
/ elected to canvass my district There
is no truth in the statement That year.
1894. was the year OF the Republican
flood. The Republicans elected twelve
out Of fifteen Congressman in Missouri
that is. they elected eleven and stole
one IN the whole country the Democrats
elected less than 100. That was the
year we made vicarious atonement for
your Uncle Growers political sins.
The doctrine Of viearious atonement is
ali right in religion, but 1t is decidedly
unsatisfactory when you are running for
Congress. sure as you live IN Missouri
a. 600 Democrats stayed at home. suIking
/ in their tents. 1850 IL my district, about
that many in BANDS, more IN others
twice as many in some As I had only
about 2 500 majority. I was showed IN
der By 1872 silver Dick Bland was de-
teated by Il. Dockery, who had nearly
s. 600 majority in 1S92-twice as much as
Bland or I had-pulled IN in 1894 By 800.
: L. s. Hall, who in 1892 received over .
300 majority. fell on TO about 1900 IN
1894. You. Mr. Editor. know ali these
, facts. Why did you not state them 10
vour readers. instead Of enaeavoring to
/. convey TO them false impression
CHAMP CLARK
Bowling Green, No, April y, 1893
Mr.. Clark fatters Us IN saying that
? we have our editorial notebook
stocked with full details Of his politi-
cal career and his political projects.
He Is a parsonage Of consequence,
: figure of light and leading. Yet there
t are others-eyen IN Nissouri-ve
might truly confess TO have forgotten
more about. II we have mistaken the
: purpose of Mr.. CIark's newborn zeal
f to promote the Hon. Francis II. Cock
relPs political fortunes, we owe him
reparation. We shall absolve HIM IN
the future Of any such frailty
5 common, alas! IN the world Of politics
E as planning to create fresh stand
t ing room on the political ladder by
Q conveniently kicking a friend and as