Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-04-07
CHAMP CLARK

Champ Clark. who will be elected
Speaker of the Sixty-second con-
gress. which convene in extra ses-
ison today, had picturesque early
career. Mr.. Clark was born March
z. 1850, in Anderson county, KY,
and was educated in the common
schools. Kentucky University,
Bethany College and Cincinnati
Law School. In 1894 he was
president of Marshall College, West
Virginia, and says In his biography
in the Congressional Directory that
for twenty-five years he held the
record for being the youngest
college president in the United
States" Mr.. Clark worked as
hired farm hand, clerked in
country store, edited county
newspaper and practced law in a
country village.
Champs full name isBeauchamp.
That was too long and too Frenchy
for is early associates, so they
called him Champ for short and
Champ he has been ever since.
When Champ was seven. years old
his father "farmed" him out to
John Call. Call couldn't read,
but he struck bargain with
Champ to take the Louisville
Journal if Champ would read him
the news every day. The seven
year-old boy. having smatering of
readin', 'riting and 'rithmetic and
eager to learn more snapped al the
chance and faithfully fulfilled his
contract doubtless adding greatly
to his small store of knowledge
in the process.
When sixteen years old Champ
thought he would like to be a
school teacher. He went to Wash
ington county, secured a school,
and was then informed that it had
been previously taught by three
Yankees in succession, each of whom
had been run out of the county at
the muzzle of a shotgun. Nothing
daunted, Champ took the job. The
district was divided into two
factions the Bakers and the
O.' iGes. One day Champ larruped
about seventeen pupils whose
parents belonged to the Devine
faction. The following day, as a
matter of precaution, the young
teacher took brace of navy
revolvers to school with him, and
thereafter hung them up behind
his desk with as much regularity
as he hung up his overcoat. Dur
ing recess Champ happened to
be standing in the doorway when
one of the Devine family dashed
up. drew bead on him with
rifle and fired. The ball lust
missed Champs head. The teacher
grabbed his pistols, adjourned
school. got horse and dashed
after Devine. He chased him into
the next county before giving up
the pursuit. Devine never came
back while Champ was school
teacher.
Champ had several narrow
escapes while teaching the young
idea how to shoot" (they needed
no instruction in the use of fire.
arms. however) and on one oc-
casion was compelled in self-defense
to wing his man."
But Champ never showed the
white feather. He hung on stub-
bornly and finally gained the
respect and admiration of his foes.
Ihen he went to Bethany College,
West Virginia where he graduated
in June, 1873 with the highest
honors and the highest grade ever
taken by a student in that insii-
tuition In his subsequent career
he became newspaper editor, a
lawyer and member of congress.
In every position he showed the
same indomi-table spirit, courage
and stick-to.itivcness that con-
quered his first school district for
him.
There is inspiration for the
youth of the land in he career of
Champ Clark. Pluck, honor,
industry and ambition are the
cornerstoncs of his life, and his
qualities may be emulatcd by
Young America with credit to itself
and profit to the nation. Hum.
hn1II CIax