Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-27
CHAMP CLARK TO LEAD
He Will Succeed Williams in
House.
This Likely TO Result in Some Radical
Chnnges-Ic VIII Have United
support Of Pnrty--Dc Almond TO
HIVE Important Work on
New Tariff.

When the second session of the Six
tieth Congress convenes. regardless of
whether the republicans of democrats
have carried the House. there will be at
least one change OF regime that will be
interesting and. perhaps. important. says
Washington special to the Boston
Transcript. John Sharp Williams of Mis-
slssippi Will no longer be the minority
leader. In his place, will be Representa-
tive Champ Clark OF Missouri. probably
the best-known figure on the democratic
side and, without much question, the
most popular one Mr.. Williams. whom
tho people OF Mississippi have chosen to
bc senator gave 1t out some weeks ago
that he had concluded to give up the
minority leadership. regardless Of what
might he the result of the elections in
November. Up to the present time, moth
ing has developed to Indicate that Champ
Clark would have any opposition for
the succession.
The change IN leadership Is ono that
IS likely TO be felt in the conduct of
House affairs OF course n the democrats
should carry tho House, Clark would be
elected speaker. But II they do not carry
1t and the House remains republican,
there will be some phases Of the Clark
leadership that Will be in marked dis
tinction to the leadership Of John Sharp
Williams. Many democrats believe, and
In this number arc some Of the best
friends OF "J0hn Sharp" that Clark will
mako a moro effective leader than Will
l'ams has made For one thing. the Mis-
souri, representative will 90 into the
leadership with the united support Of the
democrats of the House. He Is account
cd better politician than Williams and
less inclined TO consult his personal likes
and dislkes in the mah"-up of commit
toos and ether matters He is expected
by the democrats of the House who know
him to sink his personal feelings MS to
members and to make up the commit
tees. on the democratic side, with ref
crence solely TO personal fitness.
1t IS asserted by friends of Mr.. Clark
that when he steps into tho minority load
ershp he Will have the united force Of tho
House democrats backing him. one OF
the important committees to which he
will have to Five consideration Is the
ways and means committee. in view Of
the fact that revision Of the tariff IS sup
noscdly near at hand. II will not be I'M
dertaken. II is true. in the sixtieth Con-
gross but, as the Ways and Means COM
mittce is made up next session. 1t will be
for the most part in the sixty-frst Con-
gress. Clark Is now tho ranking minority
mittec. Next to him is Bourke Cochran
Of New York. third. .s Underwood Of
Alabama from the Birmingham district,
Inv fhn-o l1v cta t,ta
Clark becomes minority leader he will
leave the ways and means committee
himself and It Is expected will put in
his place DeArmond Of Missouri. Dear
mond Is a hard worker and is a strong
advocate Of tariff revision.
Should the democrats. ms now seems
unlikely, cdrrv the House, then Champ
Clark would he made speaker and De
Almond would in all proba biIity be chair
man Of the ways and means committee.
IT Is obvious TINT If tariff revision were
tried. then the chairman Of ways and
means would be In tho limclght. He
would. In some respects, be the most po
tent fnctor In government affairs until
the legislation on tarif was settled.
For another reason this elevation of
Clark of Missouri to the minority leader
ship is worth noticing. IF It should hap
pen that the House turned over to the
democrats then It would devolve on Clark
as speaker to say whether he would con
tinuc the rules under which Speaker Can
non has conducted the House. The sup
portors Of Clark assert that II he comes
into the office of speaker and has ma
iority Of the democrats with him, tho
House and not the speaker will choose