The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-07-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence of Inteliigencer.

Washington, d. o., June 20, 1908.
Hon. Champ Clark, of Missouri, is
one of the most picturesque figures in
political life. today. He leads the
democratic anvil chorus. He is the
knOcker-in-c chief of the democratic
in the national house of rep
resentatives, and when he gets to his
feet he does hit the republicans some
of the hardest blows ever administered
to them by any speaker on the demo-
cratic side of tho house. He has q way
party that is very attractive to the
democrats OF the country. 1t is home
spun truth told in IN fashioned
hOmefOlksy manner that is decidedly
refreshing because it is 30 seldom we
hear it. When in action, Champ Clark
needs more floor space than any man in
the house. lie filings his great long
arms around like fails, and he pounds
his desk like deep water twO-gall0n
with Champ Clark as leader would
be the fact that he is too uncompro-
missing. He hits hard and tells tho
truth, but he does it in such manner
as to excite the animosity of the OppO-
sitlOn, leaves sore spots that never heal,
and does not convince the republicans
of tho righteousness of his cause.
When man is honest, even though he
be republican, he is open to cOnvic-
tion in many matters, but if he is in
suited and his feelings hurt by the man
who makes the speech. and who, 9TH
erwise, would convince him of his er-
ror, he thinks Of nothing but revenge,
and ho gives the man no credit for his
unansweraDle argument and his intel
lectuality.
That is tho trouble with Champ
Clark. lie makes enemies for himself
and his party by his speeches and does
his cause no good. Therefore he would
not make good leader for the n,inori-
ty party in the Congress-, and his friends
and admirers knowing this have chOs-
en- John Sharp Williams in his stead.
There is no better man and no better
democrat in congress than Champ
Clark, but he is too indiscreet by his
vehemence to be successful leader,
and hence he will not be chosen by the
democrats when they meet in caucus
next November. There is another rea-
son why Champ Clark is not the popu-
lar man for the leadership. He seems
to have All especial antipathy to the
sO-called gold democrats, who left the
party in 1896 and 1900, and he never
loses an opportunity to roast them to
brown turn when he is on his feet in
tn. house. That not only does no
good, but it nntagonizes the element
that wo want to come back and affili-
ate with the party in the next cam
paign. They are as good democrats as
anybody on the tariff and the trust
questions, which will be uppermost in
the next campaign, and the only ques-
tion on which they areat variance with
the dominant faction of the party is ON
the money question, and all cOncede
that 1T will not bo one of the issues in
the campaign next year. The bimet-
allists have won their contention that
moro money was needed to do the bus
mess of the country on in order to bring
prosperity to the nation, because there
is today. one-fourth more money in
circulation than there was in 1906. but
discoy cries in Alaska, the failure of
crops in the old countries. and an avail
anche OF money and gold placed in
during the Spanish h-Ameri-
can war. With the money question
those people will come back
and vote the democratic ticket next
year. and we will win victory over
corruption, monopoly and special priv
ilege. 1t would not help to bring them
back, however, If we put q man in the
ASssoOA ohAp va tAo phA ~ III luo uOub6
who, upon every occasion, like Cato of
old, laundering against Carthage, said
democrats Thus it is that Champ
Clark, tho sterling man and splendid
though one of the natural
leaders In the house on account OF his
intellectually and virile democracy,
will not be the man who will map out
the next campaign against the enemy
OF the people and the peoples govern
ment.
The republicans Of Iowa are still
shouting that the "Iowa idea" is not
dead, and that it will be Incorporated
In the platform adopted bY the Repub-
llcan State convention.
IT the republicans who believes as
doe iOv. Cummins concerning the re-
VISION of the tariff covering tho sched-
uies that shelter the trusts and monOp-
9iies want real tariff revision and re.
duction they can get 1t. Instead of
bowling about it in their State plat
forms, why not put it in the platforms
on which their members of Congress
are nominated and elected and compel
those candidates TO stand for tariff re-
vision and reduction or get out of the
race. Tariff schedules are changed by
the Congress and not by State cOnven-
tiOns or Legislatures. If they are GO
th6 W puC tuttu ICtISiOIl anu T6uuCClOn
IN their State platform, why not put it
In the shape OF positive Instructions to
their delegation in Congress to vote
for itP 1t is well-known fact that
the delegation in Congress- from Iowa
1s bitterly opposed to any tariff legisln-
t!On that will lower tho tariff wall in
any way. II the Iowa idea" ia to have
any weight or bear any fruit it must
be adopted by the Iowa delegation in
4 n Il
in the next house will vote with the
democrats we will have q bill passed by
the house shortly after Congress meets
in regular session that will take the
shelter tents off many of the worst
and trusts in the country.
Or course such a bill could never get
through the republican senate. bnG it
would prove the sincerity of those re-
publicans who afe bowling about tariff
revision and reform.
The truth OF the mater is that they