The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-11
Champ Clark Tells His Wichita
Experiences in Seventies.
Sells Only Case of Importance to
Another Lawyer.
3OES TO GREAT BEND
From Border Town to Missouri
His Next Jump.
Knew CIVIC" Murdoch as a Kid
Even Then an Insurgent.

| Wichita, Kan, Oct. 1.-Champ Clark
speaker of the national house of rep
resentatives, did not come to Wichita
to talk politics and he steadfastly re-
fused to be drawn into a discussion
of any political situation. Instead tue
distinguished Missourian devoted mis-
leisure time to "reminiscences of the
year of 1875, when for a brief period he
engaged in the practice of law in TINS
| city. For an hour or more Mr.. Clark
sat in the lobby of the Hamilton hotel
and related incidents of pioneer days
here. He had as his audience Thomas
Blodgett, of the Cox lodgett Dry
Goods company, and a newspaper -e-
porter.
It was on May 1, 1875, that Mr.. Clark
| hung out his single in Wichita, which
was little more than hamlet then. He
had just graduated from a law col
| lege at Cincinnati, O., and he argued
his first case right here in Wichita.
Mr.. Clark was not pleased with his
showing in this part of the country
and on the night of July OF the same
year, he packed his grip and went tC
Great Bend, Kan, where, after trying
the Kansas game a while longer, he
finally wendell his way, somewhat dis
couraged, to Louisiana, Mo-, from
which city he made his last move to
Bowling Green, his present home.
Had just One Case.
81 had Just one real good case wh'e
in Wichita and it was some kind OF a
damage suit in which considerable
money was involved said Mr.. Clark.
1.-THE case was still pending when
decided to go elsewhere and I turned
my client over to H. @. Ruggles, VINO
paid me $40 as my share of the Zee
to be earned from the case"
At the time Mr.. Clark cast his lot in
this city, the outlook was not bright for
this section to develop much and many
another young man, like the ambitious
Champ, branded the field as hopeless
and went away to do battle with the
when I was here, Wichita was as
dead as doOrnail,' continued the
speaker. 1T has been dead twice: then
and afterwards when the boom busted,
but whether statesmen and prize fight
ers can come back or not Wichita
has demonstrated concluSively that
CITY can come back for she is one
of the best cities of her size in Amer
lea today
Recalls Early Day Incidents.
Mr. Clark was able to vividly de-
scribe several incidents of the early
day here and he retains an intimate
acquaintance with many of the pioneer
citizens, some of whom still reside
here.
col. Marcellus Murdoch was run
ming the Eagle when I hit town and
[ always found him inclined to predacr
great things for this towns future. he
a
Former Governor Stanley was prose-
cutting attorney here then and William
P Campbell was circuit judge KOS
Harris and his father, Judge Harris,
were partners in the law business ana
thew were building up a fine practice
while Mr.. Dyer and Fl. G. Sloss already
had full practice. Balderson & Bald
win were partners too and We're among
he prominent attorneys of that time
John c. Fraker was running the prln-
giles and Judge Dale were among the
leading barristers. F'itz Snitzier was
running 3 restaurant on Main street
and 1 used to take my meals with MI
Doctor Fuuua was the leading physi- !
clan and a man by the name of Riley
was running a big wholesale grocery
He Remembers 'sVic' as Kid.
At this juncture a broad smile spread
over Speaker Clark's face
Vic Murdoch. He was lit |
tie red-headed boy in knee breeches-
and a mighty bright and lively young
ster too. II had known what present
dav insurgency was then, would nave
at once proclaimed Vic the mak1ngs
Of an ideal insurgent.
Randall D. Bordeaux, sign writer
who still is in business here, painted
sign read: Champ Clark, Attorney
at-Law.'' Mr.. Bordeaux was among the
irst visitors Mr.. Clark entertained at
the Hamilton hotel and the two men
had lively half-hour chat of the days
Mr.. clark declared that he had deliv-
cred at least As speeches and lectures
IN the state of Kansas since entering
public life, but he was given his hrst
opportunity of addressing the people
IF Wichita. last night, when he dis
,oursed on 1.-The United States 4
America in the Twentieth Century,
1t ST. Paul's church.
Clark Speaks at Hays.
Havs, Kan. Oct. 11.-''Yes. I believe
he world is getting better" Speaker
Champ Clark declared in his lecture IN
he normal auditorium. land you can
zee the proof everywhere. The great
.roubIe is that you can do thousand
rood things and you never get your
lame in the papers. but make just one
lin and you picture goes in and often
rou are charged with a great many
Kings you did not do"