The Washington herald., 1911-11-28
ORGANIC ACT SAFE
FOR THIS SESSION
CHAMP CLARK
No Time for Extended Fight
in Congress.
SPEAKER REAssUREs DISTRICT
Back from Chautauqun Circuit,
House Leader Puts in Busy Day
mt CapitoI-SfIent on Bryan At
tack, but Ready to Map Out
Legislative Programme.

The Hon. Champ Clark. Speaker of the
House, fresh from the chautauQua cir
cult, received at the Capitol yesterday.
Mr.. Clark put in a busy day. He re-
ceived between 75 and 100 newspaper men,
according to his secretary, Mr.. Bassford;
discussed District legislative matters in
general sort of way; denied the pa
rentage of any cohesive" Canadian an
nexation idea; browsed over the Missouri
political situation with Senator Stone,
and tried to straighten out with Chair
man Augustus o. Stanley the kinks in
the committee investigating the steel
trust" resulting from Representative
Martin Littletons desire to fight out in
the committee the charges recently pub
IIshed against the New York member in
New York paper. In addition, Mr..
Clark gave out prepared statement on
the legislative prospects for the coming
session.
Mr.. Bryan. S-h-h!
The principal thing Mr.. Clark did not
do, to the evident disappointment OF
Jennings Bryan's recent attack on him in
the Commoner. On this subject Mr..
Clark was about as talkative as
tongue-tied clam.
The Speaker discussed prospective Dis
trict legislation. In the first place, he
said, consideration of District business
would be restricted to the two days
month-the second and fourth Mon
days-reserved on the House calen-
dar. This fact, Mr.. Clark believed, would
prevent the bringing up of any District
business that would call for extended
discussion or would meet with widespread
opposition.
District Need Not Fear.
Speaking of the reported forthcoming
attempt on the part OF Chairman Ben
johnson, Of the House District Commit
tee, to bring about radical changes In
the organic law of the District, Mr..
Clark said:
II cannot see for the life Of me where
there will be any opportunity whatever
at this coming session to tackle a subject
of such vast Importance, not only to the
population of the National Capital, but
to the people of the whole country as
we'll. 1 know from my wide travels
throughout the country that the people
as a whole are interested in their Capt.
tai City.
Personally, I do not feel that the peo-
pie of the District Of Columbia need
ever feel alarm as result of prospective
legislation pending in Congress or over
any discussion Of propositions that may
occur from time to time and which may
strike the average resident Of this city as
being radical and revolutionary and as
striking at the very foundation upon
which the government Of the city rests.
Let them rather take the sensible view
and appreciate that the average member
of the Congress is as much interested in
the National Capital as is any resident OF
1t, that he appreciates his responsibility
as a member of the body which makes
laws for this community, and that any
action that may be taken will be care
fully considered and undertaken with the
idea of Fegislating for the future needs
of the District"
Mr.. Clark declined to comment in de-
tail on specific legislation affecting the
District, on the ground that he had just
returned and was not in close enough
touch with local conditions.
Political Complexion Unchanged.
After sizing up the situation in nine
teen States in the course of his lecture
tour, the Speaker is convinced that the
drift of sentiment throughout the coun-
try Is toward the Democratic party and
that the Republicans are on the run.
president Tafts long trip" said the
Speaker, seems to have left things In
status quo so far as he is concerned"
Inc speaker mace the prediction that
the tariff question will be the overwhelm-
ing issue at the coming session of Con-
gress, and with ii the trust question.
II have always considered the tariff
question and the trust question as one,"
he said. 'Of course, the fact that Presi-
dent Taft vetoed our tariff bills will
lengthen the session. as some new tariff
bills will undoubtedly be passed. 1 feel
reasonably certain that the antitrust law
will not be repealed. On the other hand,
there will be an effort to make it
stronger. I do not believe there is any
obscurity in the language of that statute
now, but we will endeavor to clear up
any obscurity, If there be any, and
strengthen the statute. The anti-intunc-
ton bill, the contempt of court bill, the
automatic workmen's compensation bill,
and a great many other important bills
will be considered"
Mr.. Clark took occasion to enter en-
phatic denial of the report that he was
in favor Of the annexation of Canada,
whether Canada wanted 1t or not and
that he was continuing to agitate the