The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-16
TROUBLE CAUSED
BY CHAMP CLARK
Semi ocular Remarks Stir Tn
Excitement i'll England
and Canada.
BRINGS LETTER FROM TAFT
Expressed Wish 10 See Western
Hemisphere Under One Flag
Taken Seriously.

Washington, February l5.--Thc semi
5ocular remarks which t;hump Clark
the Democratic Speaker tu-be made In
tho House during the debate on the
Canadian reciprocity agreement 10 the
effect that he believed the stars ana
Stripes would one day float over the
entire Western Hemisphere, stirred UP
most unexpected trouble to-day. Presi-
dent Taft took occasion to write to
Representative Mccall introducer of
the reciprocity bill a letter disclain-
Ing and deprecating the annexation
talk, and 10 follow it up with per-
sonal remarks even more emphatic 10
his visitors. The letter of President
Tai, to Mr.. Mccall says in part:
This agreement II il becomes a law
has no political sgniticancc. No
thought of future political annexation
o. union was in the mind Of the nego-
tintors on either side. Canada is now
and will remain a political unit
The White House is said to regard
the remarks Of Mr.. Clark as most un-
fortunate, and the President has made
it known that he would like TO have
II understood throughout the world
that his administration had no thought
whatever OF annexation when the re-
cprocity agreement was arranged.
Tnft Is Hopeful.
The President it is said is hope
5ful that The people OF this country
Canada and Great Britain will look
upon the speech OF Mr.. Clark merely as
the expression OF All individual, Who
in lie sentiment thus expressed does
not represent the Democratic party, or
any party III this country. The news
OF Mr.. Clark's illusions had created cx-
element in Canada and in England
caused great surprise and consider
able amusement at the Capitol. The
man most surprised of all was Mr.
Clark himself. lie declared to-day
that he expressed lis own individual
opinion. and declared that he stands
pat on his speech.
Mr.. ClarkS entire speech on recipro-
city yesterday was delivered in half
humorous, half-taunting vein. The
House was In a gale OF laughter most
OF the time. IN return for the laughs
he WAS creating al their expense some
of the Republicans tried TO turn tables
on Mr. Clark BY Gliding him with the
fact that lie might have President Taft
as an opponent for the Democratic
nomination. This humorous exchange
reflected the spirit or the debate dur
ing the entire time Mr.. Clark was
speaking. and no one gave serious
consideration TO his remarks regarding
the possible annexation Of Canada at
some dim distant time. They regarded
ms statements Ill Inc nature oil COM
pliment To the CanadiaIapeoplc in that
he would be glad TO see the friend
ship that exists nj present between
the Canadians and the people of the
United States SO ripcn in the future
that all might some day be under ono
lag.
There was n further touch OF face
tiousncSs TO the debate when one of
tic Republicans asked Mr.. Clark if he
would like 10 he the first President o.
the magniiiccnt union he was creating
and he replied amid bursts Of laugh
ter that he certainly would. Friends
OF the reciprocity mcasure were in
clincd to take tho view that opponents
qf the agreement had simply seized
upon what was regarded here as an
entirely personal and harmless state
mcnt to make capital against the ratl-
tication OF the agreement.
Democrats Arc Pleased.
Democratic leaders particularly were
pleased to- day over the passage of the
MECH Shil, Representative Underwood,
OF Alabama, Minority Leader Clarlt'S
chief lieutenant, and the chairman OF
the Ways and Means Committee Of tho
next Congress. said that he regarded
the action Of the house as in every
way hclful TO the Democrats that
it married. the beginning OF the end o [
high protcction and foreSliadowcd n