Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-13
ROOSEVELT LAUDED,,
PRESIDENT SCORED
Champ Clark of Missouri Gives
Voice to Unusual Address i'll
the House
PRESIDENT GREAT, WHEN DEAD
Clark Declares President is Not
DEMOCRAT But Comes Near Advocat-
ing Democratic Principles = Loves
Him Because He is Fighter and an
Enemy of Toadyism.

Washington, Feb. 13. Representa-
tive Champ Clark of Missouri, occu-
MED the attention of the house today
for over an hour, in an address upon
the presidents recent special message
20 congress, of the financial disturb
ance last fall, and the tariff ques-
zion. 1t was characteristic talk, ana
aroused the interest of the house to
high degree. In the opening, Clark as
serted a reasonable view should be
taken in the matters touching the pres
ident, but that it had not been done
as a rule. HE is such belligerent
parsonage" he declared, "and his light
est word is a challenge to combat
The president, he said, could not ex-
press his views upon any question un-
der heaven, "even upon subject SO
prosaic and thread bare as the pros
pective state of the weather" without
precipitating row. But with ms eN-
treme aoherents, swearing there never
had been such a weather prophet on
earth since Adam and Eve were driven
from the Garden of Eden with the
flaming swords from paradise, and
with his extreme vociferating, he
knows no more about the weather than
does the ground hog"
A Spectacular Fighter.
The presidents whole public life.
said Clark, has been one long success
sion of spectacular fights No man had
been more viciously assailed by the
men of his own party, "and none was
ever, while still in the flesh, so lavish
ly lauded by some of the opposing
party" But" he. said, 'the truth is
that { this extraordinary man has
waxed stronger and stronger, by Wag-
ing his battles' Even defeat. he de-
clared, had made him larger and
more commanding figure.
"So,", he said. "amid the swirl OF
things, and deluge of words, shouting
of captains, beating of tom-toms,
groans of crippled republicans, and
yells of friend and foe, one who was a
=
politician or statesman, had but little
chance. perhaps. of being heard in this
! babel OF voices"
Clark, however, insisted he would
have his say.
Likes and DisIikes Him.
He spoke of his personal liking for
the president, and said altho after the
manner of strong men, the president
had pronounced virtues and glaring
faults of character, he never had
abused him, nor had he grown hyster-
ical in admiration 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 president wanted to be
treated
'He must indeed" said Clark, "en-
tertain an ineffabe contempt 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: 20. triumph. 10 triumphe.'
Clark spoke of the claim that Roose-
welt was better than his party, which
fact he estimated, "he easily could be.
without running any imminent danger
of being translated after the manner
of Elijah in the chariot of fire, by reas-
on of his goodness"
Roosevelt Not Democrat.
But he said. whatever the pres
ident's virtues or faults, he was not a
democrat. Occasionally" he said. "the
president, very much to the delight of
democrats and confusion of republic
nc a
rows or seizes democratic idea, and
from his high coign of vantage urged
it with tremendous force; for,' he said,
"the president obeyed to the letter at
least one scriptural injunction: What
soever the hand findeth to
do DO it with thy might
1t was the heav hand Of the "big stick"
of the president he declared, that had
driven so many republicans "pell nell
into the cave of Abdulham, where there
is weeping and wailing and gnashing
of teeth and much profane swearing"
and, he added, so far as he has ad-
vocated democratic ideas, so annulled
wicked republicans with his mailed fist
or thunped them with his big stick, he
has deserved unstinted praise from all
lovers of our couptry."
Great Man After He Is Dead.
No one knew, continued Clark,
whether or not the president was a
great man. He quoted from the old
saying Count no man happy until he is
dead'' He said it was a safe and sane
rule tc pronounce no man great until
he was in his grave. individually he
wished the president well until March
i, 1908 when he hoped the president
would quit forever, for no president
will ever be elected to third term
till the republic is on Its last legs" Ev-
eryone could be honest, he maintained
even If he could not be great, land if
you republican bigwigs would be can
did you would confess you are not
half 50 much enamored of the president
as YOU would seem to be-" Republic
ans, he declared. grow red In the face