The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-10-06
Br Rmes. q. wAIker.
tALail speeial % The Advelliser.l


WASHINGTON, September 1s.--of
recent days Speaker Champ Clark is
distancing all possible rivals in his out,
put. With President Taft on the cir.
cult, the Speaker may not hold his new
record very long. The country Is well
aware that the President is capable of
an able and convincing speech. Some
of his set Efforts, already advertised
before he left Beverly, can be depend
cd upon to measure up to high stand.
ard and thus set the writers and read.
ers Of both parties to thinking
The new Champ Clark, the Speaker
of hardly six months, rather than the
representative in eight congresses,
stands forth in these later utterances
referred to. Those, who have followed
the MissOurian at all closely, probably
remember the emphasis he has put upon
careful action when one has official re-
sponsibility. There can be no question
that official responsibility has soberej
the present Speaker. He has not lost
| his oldtime fire, but he no longer al
lows fondness for striking phrases to
dominate his thought when he is upon
his feet. rs
Many of his friends thought the
IlSpeaker never appeared to better ad-
vantage in house debate than that day,
late last session, when he put aside his
gavel and closed the discussion for the
| Democratic side on the President 8
veto of the wooden revision bill. He
was then, as he is now, the ranking
official spokesman of the Democratic
party. 1t has no official higher than
he in public life.
All of which goes to indicate not
only that Speaker Champ Clark is az
| quitting himself exceleltiy in his new
official station but 1T emphasizes the
equipment of the old Democracy for
intelligent discussion of public ques-
tions. Governor Harmon, of Ohio has
not gained very strong reputation at
Washington as a public speaker. His
speech at Boston recently, widely cir
eulated by the press, was something
of surprise because it was s1ch a
straightforward and forcible argument
from the Democratic standpoint. Gov
ernor Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey,
of course, is a charming public speak
er, which qualification has boosted him
greatly in public estimation and fur
thered his prospects for the presiien-
tial nomination not little.
One of Big Trio.
Whichever one of this trio is given
the Democratic nomination next sum,
mer, the country seems assured of a
party standard bearer who can take
care of himself as forceful, dignifed
debater. All three men win be speak
ing stars in the campaign, whatever
the fortunes of any one of them be-
fore the national convention. And in
campaign of great and absorbing is
sues, such as the next campaign prom
Uses to be, stump oratory will play no
small part.
1t has been supposed that that fight
ing faction, the Republican Insurgents,
commanded the best speaking aggrega-
tion of notables. This has been a
source of great strength to them. For
while the written word in the daily
newspaper disseminates the political
information that used to be conveyed
directly to the ear, the great champions
of political issues exert an influence
which remains considerable factor.
Great debates by the chieftains are
not only occasions but warrant for
news exploitation. When Speaker
Champ Clark or Governor Judson Har-
mon or Governor Woodrow Wilson hits
straight out from the shoulder in a
speech the country takes notice be-
casse of their eminence, because, if
you please, they are high officials and
candidates for the presidency. By the
same token, there is no living Ameri-
can whS, speaking, can command as
wide attention as the President of the
United States. A great speech by Pres
ident Taft win be more widely read
than an equally good effect by Speaker
Champ Clark. President Roosevelt had
more earnest attentiSn than ex-DBesi-
dent Roosevelt has or can ever hope to
have.
La Toilette, the Master.
Senator La Toilette, the leading in
snrgent, has long been an exceedingly
popular public speaker. He is master
of the art. What he says of any impor-
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