The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-17
Thus Says Congressman Clark, Next Speaker of
 the House
Democratic Party Must Demonstrate It's Fitness to Conduct the Govern ment.
Especial from United Press.)

ment.
 Especial from United Press.)
 Baltimore, Jan. 17-Democrats were marshalled here, today, under the hickory tree and the harp, the emblem that adorned the political flag of St. Jackson. For the day the historic gotten.
 The National Democratic celebration of Jackson Day has brought to Bal timore more distinguished members of the party than have assembled on any occasion, except at National conven- tions A large number came in last night but the majority arrived today. The latter included Governor Harmon of Ohio; Champ Clark, Speaker-to-be of the House of Representative and Senator J. w. Bailey, of Texas, who spread the light of Democracy up-to- date at a great mass meeting.
 Governor Harmon, of Ohio, and Gov ernor Wilson of New Jersey, were most talked of when the conversation turned to the presidency. There was general regret that Wilson was unable to come. Y
 There was much interest before the meeting in Governor Harmon. The fact that he had twice carried Oh'5 seemed to have made him an impress sive figure with many of the visitors.
 Senator Bailey's speech was d ring ing demand for sufficiently Demo- cratic tariff. He declared for pro gressiveness'' and without mincing dangers attendant upon the coming tariff.
 "I do not underestimate the diff culty inseparable from all tariff leg islation," he said, "nor do l ignore the differences which exist amongst enough, however, to believe the diff ficulty of revising the tariff is not in- superable and the differences among us are not irreconciliable.
 Unless we limit the free list to the necessities of life and to those arti- cles which will not yield an apprecia- ble amount of revenue we invite a repetition of the scramble which is sure to result if we encroach on our parties.'
 Tempering his cry of exultation over the result on November 8 ocratic party must make hay while the sun shines and now get ready for 1912, Rep. Champ Clark. Speaker-to- be of the next House of Representatives, today, delivered the keynote" speech of the Democratic publication and harmony meeting here.
 "When we analyze the figures of the last election" Clark asserted, cit will be seen that the result was not so much of a victory for the Democrats as defeat for the Republicans. Our success was the result largely of the stay-at-home vote. Therefore, we are
 o&a41 of hot 1, O country has given us another chance to demonstrate our fitness to conduct the Government after sixteen years cf exclusion from power. We hold our destiny in our hands We have a golden opportunity. Coupled with this a.e grave responsibilities. If we are equal to the opportunity. if we meet the responsibilities with wisdom, cour- age and patriotism, we will have lor lease of power.
 'That Democrats will be faithful to their pledges and, so far as in them lies, enact into law the progressive and beneficent ideas which they have originated and advocated for the well fare of all the people and the honor of the Republic, is beyond paradven- ture. For years, though handicap. ped by being in the minority. we have labored assiduously for the accom- plishment of these things: and, at last after hard trials and great tribula- tion, having come into possession of the House, we will keep faith with tho people and thereby make our title clear to the possession of all branches of the Government in 1912.
 ''We have lost election after election for so many years that many Demo- crats had lest hope. If six months ago we could have made everybody believe that we would elect a major ity of the House in the 62nd Congress, our majority would have been 150 in- stead of 65. Many Democrats were as much astonished as were the Re publicans at the results on the 8th of November. Now they have plucked up hope and are both in fighting trim and fighting humor.
 ''They realize that we have more than an even chance of sweeping the country in 1912. This glorious result can be accomplished by the very sim pie process of carrying out religiously the promises which we made in order to win last November, and that is the only way of achieving success. That is the only rule of political conduct by which honest men will work. The people deserve to be treated honestly and fairly. They are entitled to that square deal of which we hear so much and see so little. Even if we were not disposed to redeem our promises as a matter of prime pie. when we look upon the wreck of the Republican party We have a most valuable object lesson of the low state to which great organization may fall by failure to live up to it's promises, because all those who having eyes, see, and hay ing ears, hear, know that the G. O. P. was brought to deaths door be-