The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-13
CHAMP CLARK DAY
The Missouri Congressman
Makes Characteristic Speech.
ArOuses the Houses Interest
to a High Degree.
THE SPECIAL MESSAGE
Financial Disturbance and the
Tariff Are Discussed.
PrOvOkes Mirth at the Expense
of the Opposition.
THE SPECIAL MESSAGE


Washington, Feb. 13.-RepresentatiVe
Champ Clark (Mo.) occupied the atten-
tion of the house of representatives to-
day for over an hour, in an address
upon the presidents recent special
message to congress, the financial dis
turbance of last fall, and the tariff
question. 1t was a characteristic talk
and aroused the interest of the house
to high degree.
In opening, Mr.. Clark asserted that
q reasonable view should be taken on
matters touching the president, but
that 1t had not been done as rule.
"He is such a belligerent parsonage,
he declared, that his lightest word IS
challenge to combat" The president,
he said, could not express his views
upon any question under heaven, even
upon a subject as prosaic and thread
bare as the state of the weather." with
out precipitating a row, his extreme
adherentS swearing that never mad
there been such a weather prophet on
earth since Adam and Eve were driven
from the garden of Eden with flaming
swords and his extreme enemies Voc1-
ferating that he knows no more about
the weather than does a grounding.
The presidents whole public life. said
Mr.. Clark, had been one long success
sion of spectacular hghts.' No man had
been more vigorously assailed by men
of his own party, land none was ever,
while still in the flesh so lavishly
lauded by some of the opposing party.
But" he said, "the truth is that
this extraordinary man has waxed
stronger and stronger, by waging his
battles"
Even defeat. he declared had
made him larger and more command
ing figure. So he said, "amid the
swirl of things, the deluge of words,
the shouting of the captains, the beat
ing of tom-t toms, the grOans of crippled
Republicans, the yells of friend and
foe one who was a personal friend of
Theodore Roosevelt, the man, but
political opponent of Roosevelt, the pol
itician or statesman had but little
chance perhaps of being heard in this
babel of voices"
Bound to Have His Say.
Mr. Clark, however, insisted that he
would have his say. He spoke of his
personal liking for the president and
said that although after the manner of
strong men, the president had pro-
nounced virtues and glaring faults of
nor had he grown hysterical in admir-
alton of him, but he had supported him
when he was right and fought him
tooth and nail" when he was wrong
He believed that was the way the presi-
dent should be treated. HE must in
deed.' said Mr.. Clark, entertain con-
tempt for the invertebrate sycophants
who grovel before him on all occasions,
and who no matter what he does or
says, throw high their sweaty caps in
the air and shout 10 triumphe, 10 tri-
umphe.'
Mr.. Clark spoke of the claim that
President Roosevelt was better than
his party which fact he estimated.
"easily could be established without
running any imminent danger of be-
ing translated after the manner of
Elijah in a chariot of fire by reason
of his goodness
But. he said. whatever the presi-
dents virtues or faults he was not a
Democrat. Occasionally he said the
president very much to the delight of
the Democrats and confusion of Re-
publicans, "apropriates or absorbs,
borrows or seizes a Democratic idea -
and from his high coign of vantage
urges 1t with tremendous force; for
he said, the president obeyed to the
letter at least one scriptural injunc-
tion: whatsoever thy hand fndeth
TO do, do it with thy might" 1t was
the heavy hand or big stick" of the
president, he declared, that had driv-
en- so many Republicans 'perl-mell
into the cave of Adullam where there
is weeping and wailing and gnashing
of teeth and much profane swearing
and he added, $50 far as he has ad-
vocated Democratic ideas, so far as
with his mailed fist or thumped them
with his big stick, he has deserved
the unstinted praise of all lovers of
our country"
No One Knows.
No one knew, continued Mr.. Clark,
whether or not the president was a
great man. He quoted from an old
saying, count no man happy till he
is dead" and said it was safe and
sane rule to 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 attempt it," In
dividually he wished the president
we'll 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 repub-
lie is on it's last legs" Every one
could be honest, he maintained even
If he could not be great "and.'' he
added, 'if you Republican big wigs
would be candid you would confess
that you are not half so much enam-
ored of the president as you seem to
be-"
The Republicans, he declared grew
red in the face lauding the president
to the skies, "for he is still dispenser
in chief of pie" Republican states
man bereft of pie. said he, was a
spectacle to make the angels weep
but he said. when he saw Republi-
cans trying to apotheosize him by
mere Zip service it seemed to hin,
'the lady doth protest too much''
The Last Campaign.
Referring to the last campaign
Mr. Clark charged that "sundry Re
publican representatives sought and
obtained from the president. "certifi-
Gates of Republican good character
to help them pull through So doubt
full were the Republican managers of
results in the last campaign, said Mr..
Clark, that the president was induces
to write 1.-The famous letter. to "my
Gear Mr.. Watson which he said was
Blanket endorsement of all Republi-
-