The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-14
CHAMP CLARK /
IS ATTRACTION !
DEMocRATlcWlT SPEAKS IN THE
HOUSE ON THE PRESIDENT.
GRAFTON IS ,APpLAUDED
Republicans and Democrats Alike Are
Pleased at Clever and Humorous
Speech Of Gentleman From Missou-
ri-He Likes the Executive.

s7s000@S1 at NtSvST ana t1UmOFCuS
Speech Of Gentleman From Missou-
ri-He Likes the Executive.
Washington, Feb. 13.-General de-
bate on the legislative appropriation
bill was brought to close In the
house today after session full of in
terest and entertainment. Several
speeches were made on. the issues Of
the day, the most notable being
Champ Clark Of Missouri, who com
manded the attention of the house for
an hour and half. s 81.
Upon the conclusion of his remarks.
he was accorded an ovation by demo-
Gratis and republicans alike Mr..
Clark arraigned the republicans for
their attitude on the tariff question
and said that the announcement that
there would be a revision of the tariff
after election was simply "in prepara-
ton Of another stupendous confidence
game on I the people, He discussed
the presidents message and said that.
what ever his. virtues or his. faults
the president was not a democrat. At
! .5:03 p. IN. the house adjourned until
tomorrow.
u In opening, Mr.. Clark asserted that
= reasonable view should be taken on
matters touching the president, but
that 1t had not been done as a rule.
''He is such an important person
age" said. he, that his light and
word is a challenge to combat"
'e' The president, he said, could not
express his views upon any question
under heaven, "even upon a subject
so prosalc and, .threadbare as the state
of weather" without precipitating a
row, his extreme adherents swearing
that there had never been such a
weather prophet on earth since Adam
and Eve were driven from the garden
OF Eden with flaming swords from
Paradise and his extreme enemies
that he knew no more about the
weather than any other man. "but,"
be said "the truth is that this extra
ordinary man has waxed stronger and
stronger BY waging his battles" s3
Even defeat, he declared, had made
him larger and more commanding
figure.
President Saved Them.
Referring to the last campaign. Mr..
Clark charged that "sundry republic
cans representatives. sought and OBJ;
tained from the president "certif-
Gates Of republican good character to
help them pull through. SO doubtful
we're the republican managers OF re-
suits In the last campaign, said Mr..
Clark. that the president was induced
70 write "the famous letter" to NY
Dear Mr.. WATSON which, he said,
was blanket endorsement Of all re.
publican candidates for congress Tex;
cept the unfortunate Mr.. Wadsworth'' I
Notwithstanding that letter, he said.
the republican majority In the house
had been reduced from ia to IS. He
depicted Speaker Cannon. to whom
he referred as Uncle joe" studying
the returns. repeating the sad ex-
ciamatton; OF Pyrrhus, king. Of Epirus.
when, surveying a hard won field,
said another such victory and we
are undone." s5
Addressing himself further to the
republicans, Mr.. Clark exclaimed: !:
And the signs OF the times indicate
that even the ready letter writer In
the white house cannot write enough
letters between this and the first
Tuesday after the first Monday In No
yember to give you another majority
IN this house."
He predicted that on March 4, 1909,
q democratic president would be In
augurated. backed by such demo
cratic majority in this house as will
induce ever q republican senate to
enact into law the peoples will"
Message from President.
!, In the midst Of Mr.. Clark's re.
marks oneof the presidents secretaries
appeared in the chamber with a mes
sage. Instantly there was general
laughter. When the secretary made
his exit Mr.. Clark convulsed the
/ house by declaring:
''1t's cold day when the president
does not send message to some
body" 5&
Mr.. Clark's remarks were hailed
with shouts of democratic applause
and shrieks Of laughter on both sides
Of the chamber.
At times some Of the democrats
arose in their seats and wildly mani.
tested their delight at his utterances
He took his seat amid q demonstration
seldom witnessed on the door Of the
house.
WOULD REcoMPENsE CHURCH