Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-02-16
JOcuIar Remarks of Champ
Clark During House Debate
Stir Up Unexpected Trouble
for Reciprocity Advocates,
BRITISHERS SLOW TO
SEE POINT OF JOKE
President Taft Promptly Dis
claims Any Idea Of Political
Union of United States and
Northern Neighbor.
inv Morning journal Special leased wirel


Washington, Feb. 15.-The semi
iocular remarks which Champ Clark,
the democratic speakerto-b made in
the house yesterday in the debate on
the Canadian reciprocity agreement
that he believed the stars and stripes
would one day float over the entire
western hemisphere, stirred up most
unexpected trouble today. President
Taft took occasion to write to Repre-
sentative Mccall, introducer of the
reciprocity bill, disclaiming and
deprecating the annexation talk, and
10 follow it up with personal re-
marks even more emphatic to his
visitors.
The news that Mr.. Clark's illusions
had created excitement in Canada and
England occasioned great surprise
and considerable amusement at the
capitol. The man most surprised of
all was Mr. Clark himself.
Mr.. Clark's entire speech on reci-
procity yesterday was delivered in q
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 at their ex-
pensc, some of the republicans tried
TO turn the tables on Mr.. Clark by
chiding him with the fact that he
might have President Taft as an OPP
ponent. for the democratic nominal
tion.
This humorous exchange reflected
the spirit of. the debate during the
time Mr. Clark was on his feet and
no one gave serious consideration to
his remarks regarding the possible
annexation of Canada.
They regarded his statements in the
nature of a compliment to the Cana
dian people, in that he would be glad
to see the friendship that exists at
present between the Canadians and
the people Of the United States so
rlpen In the feature that all might
some day be under one flag.
There was a further speech of
facetiousncss to the debate when one
of the republicans asked Mr.. Clark II
he would like to be the first president
of the magnificent union he was
creating and he replied amid burst
Of laughter that he certainly would.
The excitement abroad was at
tributed at the capitol today in part
to the fact that several English and
Canadian newspaper correspondents
: were in the press gallery following
the debate when Mr.. Clark spoke. His
remarks may have appealed to them
as the most important feature of the
story and have been cahled accord
ingly. In "skeletonizing" his re-
marks for cable purposes the semi
humorous character of the debate
probably was entirely lost sight of.
Friends of the reciprocity measure
We're inclined to take the view that
opponents of the agreement had
simply seized upon what was regard
ed here as an entirely personal anu
harmless statement to make capital
against the ratification of the agree
ment
The declaration similar to that
made by Mr.. Clark was contained IN
the opening speech last Monday in
favor of the reciprocity bill in the
house delivered by Representative Hill
Of Connecticut, o member of the ways
and means committee. and member
OF the administration party This
speech, widely reported in the Amer
lean papers, caused not a ripple so
far as its annexation sentiments were
concerned.
Mr. Hill also quoted from a speech
made a few years ago by Speaker
cannon in which he not only took
canada Ia under the American flag,
nut proposed to make the entire
western hemisphere into one country.