Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-11
A NEW DEMOCRATIC
HOUSE LEADER
Champ Clark to Succeed John
Sharp Williams. 81
ENOUGH PLEDGES SECURED
To Make the Change in the Sixtieth
Congress.
A FIRM FRIEND OF DISTRICT
The New Man Has Always Been
Deeply Interested in Local
-
ENOUGH PLEDGES SECURED
A FIRM FRIEND OF DISTRICT

After weeks of determined effort the anti
Williams democrats of the House today
finally secured sufficient additional pledges
from disaffected minority members to make
1t certain that John Sharp Williams OF
Mississippi will not be the minority leader
in the Sixtieth Congress. Champ Clark of
Missouri will succeed Mr.. Williams as the
floor leader of the House democrats
Ever since the present session of Con-
gress convened Champ Clark's friends,
aided materially by those minority menu
bers who have 1t in for the ironical Missis-
sippian, have been making a determined
fight to put their man in Mr.. Williams
shoes. 1t decided to take no chances
of a repetition of the abortive effort to
Dust Mr.. Williams made last year. That ef-
fort failed, largely because the mine that
had been tunneled under Mr.. williams
of wrath from Representative Lamar OF
Florida.
This year no chances at all were taken.
Mr.. Williams opponents worked hard. but
they didn't make any more noise than was
necessary, and although there has been ru-
NOR that some such scheme was In prog
ress, it was not until today, when the nee
essary additional pledges were secured, that
the word was passed around that John
Sharp was down and out so far as the lead
ership Of the next House was concerned.
Clark Friend of District.
AS important as is the news of this sue
cessful revolt to democrats generally, IL
will probably be received with as much IN
terest right here in the District OF Column
bia as anywhere else around the country.
For Mr.. Clark, who will head the demo-
cratic forlorn hope in the Sixtieth Congress
has taken at all times an. intelligent in
terest In District affairs
The school teachers friend" Mr. Clark
was christened at the last Session, OF Com
gress as result of his labors in connection
with the school law. There is hardly a Dis
trict day when he IS not on the floor want
ing to know something
This situation is the direct result of the
dissatisfaction that has been felt for long
time by great many House democrats
with Mr.. Williams Leadership, and has been
made possible by a unity of sentiment
among the disaffected minority members
that Mr.. Clark of Missouri is the best man
for the place. OF course, the formal vote
for minority leader-which on the demo-
cratic side of the House is equivalent TO the
election to a complimentary leadership-wiU
not be taken until next December when the
next Congress convenes. But the affair lie a
cut and dried one from now on and the
vote Will undoubtedly be registered accord
ing to the formal pledges that have been Sc
cured.
Some democrats who We're seen by Star
reporter today indicated their belief that
Mr.. Williams is well aware of the turn that
anairs have taken, and will gracefully step
aside.
Champ Clark is friend of Mr.. Williams
and has not in any sense been cunning for
the minority leadership job. He has even
gone so far as to refuse to indicate posi-
lively that he would accept the place But
his friends sure that when it is offered
TO him, and when it is made plain that Mr.
Williams cannot by any chance be re-elect-
ed to the position, and that unless Mr.
Clark takes ii ii will go to some other
democrat, he will gracefully submit and
slap the crown his head. Mr. Williams
Will probably serve only during the first
and long session of the Sixtieth Congress-
as he is a candidate against Gov. Vardaman
of Mississippi for the senatorship of that
state, and it is pretty generally believed
that he will win. This contest will not
come up until the latter part of the COM
ing summer and Mr.. Williams ST victori-
Gus, would take his seat in the Senate in
1909.
Entirely Different Tactics.
Mr. Clark. as leader of the minority,
would undoubtedly follow entirely differ
ent tactics from those adopted by John
Sharp. In fact, a great deal of the dis
satisfaction with Mr.. Williams leader
ship has resulted from the fact that he
has been a leader in truth as well as in
name. That's just the trouble. He has
done all the leading. There are a good
many strong democrats in the House. but
they have had nothing to do but play
follow your leader since Mr.. Williams
took hold of things individuality and
democratic side, for 1t is said by the dis
affected ones that the present head of
the minority forces has made II plainly
understood on numerous occasions that
l,a ta1 70 IN al hn IA no inn Sal
Clark, from what is known of his methods,
will undoubtedly let his lieutenants do
good deal of the work and take their share
of the credit Optimistic democrats be-
lieve that this will be the best possible
way to get together strong and cohesive
band on the minority side of the chamber
From information obtained today from
reliable sources it is understood that Mr..
Clark has the support of the Texas. Mis-
souri,, Virginia. Louisiana, Kentucky, tlori-
da and Georgia delegations solid, with
democrats from Alabama, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and a good many other states to
help along. He is not ready to make a
public announcement of his candidacy for
the reasons above stated, but with the
strong showing that the pledges make 1t
would not surprise those familiar with the
situation If he would come out for the job
before very long.
Mr. Clark is well known not only as a.
figure but as a writer and
lecturer on the Chautauqua circuit and else
where. Mr.. Clark he himself says, in
rhyming jingle in his congressional d.
rectory autobiography:
Worked hired farm hand,
Clerked in a country store.
Edited a country newspaper
And finally pract1ced law
All that is true and more besides. In 1873
"A he was president of Marshall College,
w. Va, and for twenty-five years held
the record for being the youngest college
president in the United States. He moved
to Missouri In 1875 and held various Offices
He has been in Congress since way back
in the fifty-third. He is popular on both
sides of the House and his direction as the
minority leader will be lust about as pleas