Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-14
CLARK IN HIS BEST
VEIN FLAYs ROOSEVELT
Missouri Congressman HurIs At
Republicans Keen Sarcasm and
Shafts Of Rld|cu'e.
PRESIDENT CHAMPION ROW MAKER
His Whole Public Career One Long
Continued Quarrel With His Party
Takes Party in Control to Task
for Being Responsible for the Panic
--Thc Tariff.
tBy Associated Press.l

10y associated PreSS.)
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb. 49,
Representative Champ Clark, of Mis-
sousi, occupied the attention OF the
honsc OF representatives today for
over an hour in an address upon the
Presidents recent special message to
Congress, the financial disturbance of
last fall, ana the tariff question.
In opening. Mr.. Clark asserted that
reasonable view should be taken
In matters touching the President but
mat IL had not been done as rule.
He is such a belligerent person
age he declared, that his slightest
word is a challenge TO combat.
The President" he said. could not
express his views upon any question
under heaven, without precipitating
row. The Presidents whole public
life said Mr.. Clark, has been one
long succession of spectacular fights.
No man has been more yirtuously as
sailed by men OF his party, and none
was ever. while still in the flesh, so
'avishly Landed by some of the OPP
posing party
But he said, 'amid the swirl OF
things. the delnge of words, the shout
ing OF the captains, the beating of
tom toms, the sroans of crippled Re-
publicans. the yells of friend and foe,
one who was a personal friend of
Theodore Roosevelt the man but
political opponent of Roosevelt, the
politician, and statesman, had but lit
tie chance perhaps of being heard in
this bable of voices"
He gnOka af Int. ,,a..o,,-,t i;1.;.. r..
the President and said that although.
AFTER the manner of strong men. the
President had pronounced virtues and
glaring faults of character, he never
mas abused him nor had grown hys-
terical in admiration OF him but he
mad supported him when he was right
and fought him TO tooth and nail when
he was wrong.
But he said. whatever the Presi-
dents virtues or faults. he was not n
Democrat. OCCASIONALLY" he said.
the President very much to the de-
light OF Democrats and the confusion
of Republicans, appropriates or alb
serbs borrows or seizes a Democratic
idea and from his high coign OF
vantage urged 1t with tremendous
force. "For.' he said, "the President
obeyed to the letter Mt least one
scriptual Injunction Whatsoever thy
hand fndeth to do. do it with they
might"
The Active Big Stick.
III was the heavy hand of the big
stick of the President" he declared,
that had driven so many Republicans
nell nell into the cave OF Abdnllam.
where there is weeping and wailing
and snnshng of teeth and much pro-
fame swearing" and. he added $50
far as he has advocated Democratic
ideas. so far as he has mailed Re-
publicans with his mailed fist. thump-
ed them with his big stick he has
deserved the nnstinted praise of all
lovers of our country.
mo one knew" continued Mr..
Clark, whether or not the President
was great man" He quoted from
an old saying: Count no happy man
till he is dead" and said it was a
safe and sane rule 10 pronounce no
man great until he was IN his grave
we have not enough perspective
necessary TO fix his status In history"
he said land it is sheer folly to at
tempt it,
individually he wished the Presi-
dent well until March 4. 1909 when he
hoped the President would quit for
ever. for no President will ever be
elected TO third term till the Re-
public is on its last legs
THE Repnblicans,' he declared.
grew red in the face, landing the
President to the skies. for he is still
the dispcnser-in- chief of pie"
"A Republican statesman bereft of
pie said he was spectacle to make
the angels weep but he said when he
saw Republicans irving to apothe-
size him by mere "lip service II
seemed to him the lady doth protest
too mrch."
Referring to the last campaign, Mr..
Clark charged that "sundry Republic
can representatives sought and OBJ
tanned from the President certificates
OF Republican good character to help
them pull through so doubtful were
the Republican managers of results.
said Mr.. Clark, that the President was
induced to write the famous letter to