The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-12
WILLIAMS TO BE
MADE SENATOR.
Clark's Plan Will Be Different
From That of Williams, Who
Was Head and Front of
the Minority-Will
Allow Others
to Act.

WASHINGTON, January I.-Chanp
Clark. leader Of the Democracy In the
House of Representatives. in the next
Congress!
Since this session Of Congress convened
the friends OF the eloquent Missourian
have been making a quiet BUT deter
mined campaign to put their man in the
place now occupied by John Sharp VIII
liams, of Mississippi.
As a result of their efforts, Clarks 8
friends are confident to-day that they
have the fight won-Wiliiarns beaten and
Clark's selection assured beyond all ques-
ton.
Thiss situation Is the outcome OF dis
satisfaction that has been felt for long
time in several quarters with Mr.. VIII
liamss leadership. and has been made
possible by an agreement among the dis
satisfied ones that Champ Clark is. above
all others, the man for the Job. Although
the formal vote on the proposition Will
not be taken until the next Congress
convenes in December, the vote at that
time will be only the ceremonious ex-
preston of the sentiment that is crystal
lized in this session of Congress.
Williams to Be Senator.
Those who have made certain, they say.
the election of Clark to the highest posi-
ton a member of the minority may hold
in tho House OF Representatives have not
consulted Mr.. Williams in the matter.
williams II will be remembered is a cam
didate against Governor Vardaman for
the senatorship from Mississippi, con-
test that will come up in that State the
latter part of the coming summer. How
ever It may result, and the indications
now are that Williams will be the victor.
the present minority leader will. at any
rate. be a member OF the House through
ont the next session, which is the long
session OF the House
The belief was expressed to-day that
Williams, when he learns the strength OF
Clark will announce his intention OF not
running for the position of leader in the
next Congress, owing TO his expected place
in the Senate the second session of the
next Congress. There are some who think
the Mississippian will want to hold the
leadership until his retirement from the
House to take up his senatorial duties
One-Man Affair.
II Clark gets the place he will lead
the minority in a manner somewhat
different from the features that have
been characteristic of the Williams re-
gine. Under the Mssissippians rule,
the leadership wss a one-man affair.
Williams was always on the floor, and
1T was claimed. and Is claimed, by many
that such tactics tend to stife indi-
vidualtty and to retard the Individual
development of strong men in the party
Clark, it is understood, will be the
leader, but he will call for help from
the members of the Democracy, his de-
sign being to strengthen the opposition
to the Republicans by an interested min
ority, instead of assuming to do ,all the
fighting. both by speaking and by par
lias>Sotary strategy, through his own
agency.
Democrats familiar with the situa ton
We're inclined to believe to-day that the
letter written yesterday by Williams to
New York newspaper. declaring HIM
self In favor of Bryan for tho Presiden-
tial nomination, presages his knowledge
of the fight that is being made on Nm
in the House. and indicates that he
will do everything possible to conquer
the opposition to him.
Williams's Tactics.
Clark has for long time been re-
garded as a far better Bryan man.
than Williams, and it might easily be,
say many Democrats. that Williams, by
the letter referred to, seeks to show
that, from the Bryan viewpoint. he is
as good a man as Clark for the posi-
utterance:
II wish to God Democrats would quit
fighting one another and unite In fight
ing against bad policies and tendencies
for fundamental Democratic IDEAS
Details are hard to obtain regarding
the exact location of the Clark strength,
but reliable information is that the Mis-
sourian will be strongly backed for the
leadership by the men from Texas, Mis-
souri,, Virginia, Louisiana. Kentucky,
Florida Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and
Georgia, with a strong sprlnglink of
supporters from Alabama and other
Democratic States.
Clark has not yet publicly announced
his candidacy for the position, but his
friends. the men closest to him. say he
is "in the hands of his friends" and will
accept the honor which they are now
prepared to pass over to him.
Power of the Place.
To appreciate the honor of being tile
leader OF the minority. one has only to
know that the leader OF the minority
occupies, to his party, the same position
as that occupied by the Speaker of the
House to tho majority party, He np-
points the minority men to all commit
tees and represents on the. floor the gen
eralship of his party.
That the selection of Clark for the
will do the District OF Co.
lumbia great good cannot be doubted
Tie has, all through his congressional
career, taken marked interest in local
affairs, especially in school affairs, and
his Increased influence as minority lead
er will tend to throw In his way greater
and more varied opportunities for ben
citing tho District.
Champ Clark Is known all over the
as brilliant lecturer and
writer, He Is one of the most widely
read men In the country to-day. His llfa |
has been varied one, AT different
times In his career heihas been farm
hand, newspaper man, clerk In q
& Sclnnll anllnr- q In l,a,,-. l