The Washington herald., 1907-01-12
CLARK WILL SPEAK TO-DAY
Expected to Discourage Anti-Wil-
liams Talk.
Large Claims of Minority Leaders
Personal Grievances.

Representative Champ Clark. OF Mis-
soWi. said last night that he would issue
brief statement to-day with reference
Leader Williams in the ranks of his OWL
party.
The opinion is general that he will dis
courage the talk that he is an active can
didate for the leadership against the
Mississippian. IL is obvious that he is
more troubled than gratiied over the sit
uation.
The enemies of Mr.. Williams on the
Democratic side of the House caused the
statement to be circulated and published
yesterday that they had a sufficient num-
Der Of votes to depose him and put Mr..
Clark in his place. Such talk has been
heard before, and il excited nobody, with
the possible exception of the leaders of
the movement
There are nearly nine or ten OF these
Democratic enemies Of the Mississippian.
and they have never failed TO take ad-
vantage Of an opportunity to score
against him. Chief among them are ex-
Candidate Hearst, Mr.. Lamar, OF Florida
Mr.. Shackleford and Mr.. Lloyd Of Mis-
souri, and Mr.. Hay, Of Virginia. Each
has what he believes TO be a personal
grievance against the minority leader.
Mr.. Hearst. because Mr.. Williams would
not accept his rate bill; Mr.. Shackleford
and Mr.. Lamar because he recommended
that they be removed from the Commit
tee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
and Mr.. Lloyd and Mr. Hay because of
real or fancied sights In justice TO Dir.
Hearst. il should be said. that he has not
been here at all this session, so that the
active floor work Of unhorsing Mr.. VIII
Hams had devolyed largely upon the
others.
Some time ago Mr.. Williams enemies
went to "A prominent member Of the
Texas delegation and offered him their
support for leader against Mr.. Williams
if he would make the fight. The Texan
refused, and finally the OPPOSITION cen
tered upon Mr.. Clark, who, although
presumably in a receptive mood, has
given the matter little or no attention.
He and Mr.. Williams are fellow-members
Of the Ways and Means Committee, and
the best Of friends, personally and po-
litically.
Mr.. Clark would not confirm last night
the statement made by his supporters
that he was a candidate for Mr. VIII
Iiams place Despite the fact that the
statement was 10 the effect that enough
pledges had been obtained to overthrow
Williams, more than one-half the Demo
cratic membership of the House when
questioned in regard 10 the matter pro-
fessed to know nothing about the move
ment Mr. Williams friends say that
talk Of a majority against him is absurd.
II is we'll known that at times there
has been "a little grumbling against Mr..
Williams, but he has always had the sup
port OF most Of his Democratic associates.
He is a candidate for the Senate TO sue
ceed Senator Money, whose term ex-
pires in 1911 The election. however. will
be held this fall, and it is generally con-
ceded that Mr. Williams will defeat Gov.
Vardaman. Despite this, he expects to
serve in the Sixtieth and the Sixty-frst
Congresses. to continue as leader in the
Sixtleth, and TO be a candidate for the
Spoakership in the SiXty-first.
The Williams Democrats endeav-
ored yesterday to stir up some excitement
over the situation. but their effort appa-
rently met with little success. Neither
Ir Williams nor his friends were dis
turbed.
In case Of my election to the Senate, q"
said the Mississippian. L would not take
my seat till 1911 There could be no con-
hict at that time with my being leader in
the Sixtieth Congress, and no interference
with my Duties a \ leader
Il do not believe for one moment" he
continued, that Champ Clark has en-
any opposition to me or will per-
nit his name to be used.