Live Oak daily Democrat., 1907-11-26
CONGRESSMAN CLARIL'S SPEECH
LAST NIGHT.

Board OF Trade, Hon. Frank Clark,
OF Gainesville. our representative in
Congress from this district, address,
ed the people OF Suwannee County at
the courthouse in this city. There
was a good audience present, includ-
ing number OF ladies. and the bust
ness and professional circles of Live
Oak were we'll represented by those
in attendance. Mr.. Clark has reason
to be gratified at the character of his
audience, for it stood for the best in
telligence of our people and was keen
ly appreciative of the good points
made by the speaker. Mr.. Ridley
y dalled the meeting to order and ask
Il ed Colonel l.. E. Robertson to intro
charged that function in a brief and
yentfely appropriate address.
Frank Clark is a man of impress
sive appearance to those who look
Z beyond mere bulk and stature, and
students of physiognomy would pick
him out in any crowd and want to
know more about him. His clean
shaven, clear-cut features are of
classical strength and refinement, and
there is a suggestion of courage and
purpose about his firm mouth and
penetrating eyes which the observ-
ing man will not fail to note. His
voice is excellent, with a deep note
in it invaluable to a public speaker,
and his unassuming courtesy and
quiet Difference for others and their
opinions are traits which ne has in
marked degree. He gives the i'm
preston of abundant reserve power.
and his public career fully justifies
that impression. He doesn't tear
passion to tatters' when ne talks,
mistake noise and gesticulation
for eloquence, but he can reach his
climax with ample emphasis and his
few gestures are always appropriate
and help out the effect of his words.
And, moreover, he tells d good story
and his speeches are illustrated with
abundant quiet humor and reminis-
cenSeS effectively told ard with the
point always apparent to the dullest
understanding. But it is noteworthy,
above all else, that Mr.. Clark ad-
dresses the calm intelligence of his
audience and is no rabble-rOuSer ap-
pealing to passions and prejudices to
carry his points He talks like a
sincere man who thoroughly believed
what he said and makes the impress
sion that his earnest desire as pub
lie man is to promote the best inter
ests of his constituents. So much for
Frank Clark, personally. congress
man from the Second District of
Florida, and quite likely to remain
SO as long as he wants the job.
He had no prepared speech last
night and spoke without notes in a
pleasant conversational way. touching
on matters in which We all feel a
lively interest and telling us a good
many things we didn't know before.
and which we were glad to hear.
What is said here is not intended to
be a report of the speech, nor even
synopsis, but merely some of the
leading points. He first told about
the difficulty of getting legislation
through the Lower House of Congress
because under the Reed rules gov
erning parliamentary usage, the
Speaker of the House was absolute
master and no bill could be consid-
cred without first securing his con
sent; no member recognized on the
floor, no matter how loud he bawled
for recognition to present a bill or
make a motion. unless the Speaker
chose to recognize him. The will of
the majority was absolute and the
will of the Speaker absolute over that
majority Under such circumstances
to get a bill through Congress was
an immense task, no matter what its
merits.
Passing from a most entertaining
I-.- IN