The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-06
Caucus Elects the Mis-
 sourian. PERFECT HARMONY
 PREVAILS AT MEETING Resignation of John Sharp Williams
 Accepted. New Lesder, in Characteristic speeeh, Immigrants--Ansi-saieoa League and Expresses Hls Hlgh
 ObIisntsgn ts
 Friends.

Washington Dec. 5.-Representatlva Champ Clark of Missouri was chosen minority leader of the House of Rep resentatives tonight at a caucus of the 1 Democratic members Of that body.
 Mir. Clark's election was unanimous. Ills name was suggested to the eau GUS by the retiring minority leader. Senator-elec John Shsrp Williams of Missouri Resolutions were adopted thanking MT. Williams for his services to the party on the floor. of the House.
 In accepting the leadership. Mfr. I Clark said: | T am profoundly grateful for the great honor just conferred on me--an honor prized because of the unaniin- l ity with which it comes.
 T hope to discharge the numerous and difficult duties of the position so as not to cause you to regret the ac- ton Of this hour. but ! cannot do it-- no man can do it---wtthout tic cordial cooperation and constant asslstauce of his fellows. This co-operation p now invoke in the interest Of the country and of Q great historic party. These Interests are largely committed to our friends. To promote them by securing unity of action requires some seif-abnegation, some yielding of opinion some sacrifice of tho case on the part of every Democratic mem Der.
 By conference. by pulling together. by regular and punctuai attendance on the sessions of the committees and Of the House. by sinking personal Jeat- ousies. by mutual concessions. wefean accomplish much for the welfare Of the country and the strengthening og the party Of which we are membere, for let 1t never be forgotten that He serves his party best who serves hts country we'll.
 T shall confer with you as frequently as possible and invite suggestions on the brincipla that in a nuititmde oR counsel there is wisdom. Each mena- Der should make himself thoroughly \ familiar with the business pertaining 1 to his committee and should be fn tha ! House to look after it. have ne policy other than to carry out thelf
 Truth to tell. being elected tu al out the unexplred term of my brilliant and long time friend. Hon. John Ghmrp Williams. who voluntarily relinQuishea tiie burdens and h0norE yoE the ppat- ton, l feel that it Is really his term and his arrangements will be carried out so far as possible, On political questions he and I have agreed aa nearly as two men who think for themselves can agree.
 s"rhe chief thought in my mind on this occasion and always is that in unity there Is strength. and we must stand together # we would increago the influence of the Democratic party as q factor in public afEairs.
 "I feel that now enjoy the friend ship of every member here tonight and of every member who has a right to be here tonight. The fondest wish that l could entertain for myself te that on the 9th of March I win have as many friends as 1 have on the bth of December.f
 Mir. Clark. in succeeding Mr. Wii- | Hams. who has been the Democratic leader for six years, takes up the lead ership with aunited Democracy behind him.
 During the six terms he has served | in the House, he has won the repu- tation among hts admirers of both par ties of being one of its most scholarly and eloquent members. As : ranking minority member of the Ways and Means Committee he has been well 10 the front in legislative affairs during ! the past few years.
 The program for the election of the new leader was disarranged by the 1 retiring leader, Mir. Williams, who dld not wait for the man selected 10 nom mate the Missouri Representative. but performed that function hiuaseiL
 Retirement of Willtama
 As soon as Chairman Clayton of Alabama had read the resignation of Mir. Williams. Mir. Stanley of KeH- lucky presented a set of resolutions thanking Mir. Williams for his ser~ vices and accepting the resignation.
 Just as that resolution was adopt ed Mir. Williams arrived. He re sponded to the applause with a speech which concluded with a prediction of what an excellent leader Mr. Clark would make not appreciating that the selection had not yet been made.
 Mr Henry of Texas was to have ! followed with a speech nominating Mir. | Clark, but air he could do was to ap- prove of the manner In which Mir. Wlls | Hams had performed that task, and to second the nomination.
 Messrs Sulzer of New York. Macon | of Arkansas. James of Kentucky. Cox | of Indiana and Sims of Tennessee also | seconded the nomination.
 Upon Representative candler's mo- | tion the election was made unantmuos. Representatives Lioydl of Missouri. | Russell of Texas and Bartlett of Geor- l gia then brought the new leader into l the caucus to tell him the news. |