The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-17

1xN w i ON ~ NxONs n
ran country paper for another year
and then started the practice Of law.
He tried for the legislature, but was
defeated. He was made city attorney
| Of Louisiana and afterward of Bowl
Ing Green, his present home. He was
deputy prosecuting attorney and pros
ecuting attorney of his county. When
| about to leave the last named office
the grand jury nominated him for the
legislature. He regarded it as a joke,
but the people of the county heard of
the Indictment and sentenced him to-
one term. There he was the wit Of
the house and floor leader Grand
juries often start men on the road to
the penitentiary, but this is the only
case on record, so far as l know,
where that useful and salutary body
bound man over to that kindred in
stitution, the state legislature.
Champ was such big man during
his one term at Jefferson City that he
concluded he ought to run for con-
gress. There were not enough others
OF his way of thinking, however, so he
was defeated for the nomination. Two
years later he tried it again. That
was the most spectacular campaign
ever known in the district, which was
used to hard scrapping, as may be
judged from it's name, 1.-THE bloody
NINTH It was also called 1.-THE toss
up NINTH" for the reason that Dick
Norton, Champs predecessor and an
tagonist, had tied with another man
for the nomination and the two flip
ped a dollar to see which was it, Nor
ton winning. Dollars have decided
many elections in America, but not
exactly in that way.
Gained a National Reputation.
In Clark's case there was no heads
Twin tails-you-lose proposition, how
ever, but two good, hard fights. In the
| first convention there was a contest,
with two sets Of delegates from one
county, the rest of the counties break
ing even. The case was appealed to
the state central committee, which
ordered new primary In the contest
ed county. Both candidates, therefore.
| went into that unfortunate county and
| canvassed every man, woman, child,
mule and jack rabbit in it, making as
many speeches day as people would
stand for. Champ won and was elect
ed. This was in 1892. In the ensuing
| congress he made his maiden speech
and gained a national reputation, of
course. He also spoke before Tam
many and gave its members new kind
Of oratory which made them wake up
and cheer like real live men. In 1894
| the Democratic party, after its great
| victory Of two years previous, went
back to sackcloth, ashes and crow.
Champ went along. He was beaten
132 votes by music teacher The
! music teacher was the fifth man the
Republicans had offered the nominal
ton and accepted 1t only because he
| thought it would give him the control
of the district patronage. When he
was elected he was surprised, and
Clark was surprised more. He said
eight years in the presidency would
not reconcile him to that reverse. He
was doubtless thinking of it when he
answered a query as to how it felt to
be defeated: "The first sensation is
that produced by an ice water bath,
| then one Of anger, then a determina-
! ton to pick your flint and try it again."
Clark did try it again in 1896, won
out and has been elected to every con-
gress since. In the house he has stead
| lily gained in influence, being Leader
Bailey's right hand man, then contest
ing for the leadership with John Sharp
Williams, but being defeated, serving
on the ways and means and other i'm
portant committees and finally going
to the head of the minority when Viii
liams relinquished the reins Mr..
Clark was the permanent chairman OF
the Democratic national convention OF
1904, notifying Judge Parker Of his
nomination. He was also an unsuc-
cessful candidate for the senate This
year he was widely urged as a candi-
date for governor, but declined to run
on the ground that he wanted to stay
in congress- Had he been nominated
the result in Missouri probably would
| have been different
AS minority leader it is thought that
Clark will give more responsibility to
his lieutenants than did Williams, who
| was accused of wanting to be tie
| whole thing and doing all the talking.
Mr.. Clark's real name is Beauchamp,
from his mothers people. He behead-
| cd # with his own hand IF Was q for
tunate thing. Think Of the irrepressi-
BILE Champ Clark masquerading under
the name Of Beauchamp or the dimin-
| utive Beau! The man who asked
"What's in a name?" has his answer
| right here.
Aided to Fame by His Wife.
Mrs. Clark is also Kentuckian, be-
| ing related to ex-senator McCreary
Sho ia q S11norior woman ovco11in0 &C.