The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-02-09

NAL of the peoples will and the usur-
patton Of their right to rule.
FOR Representative Government.
Attacking this veto In three strong
and powerful speeches, Champ Clark
has held up the theory of real repre-
sentative government, and in mill
tant Democracy becomes the central
figure standing for that great question
1t may be said simply and without
further emphasis that no man has
ever asked for the presidency in this
generation upon two stronger and
more logical claims than the speaker
OF the house.
OF the three prominent candidates
for the Democratic nomination, Champ
Clark has conspicuous advantage in
another fact The followers Of Judson
Harmon are constantly under the ne
cessity of defending him against the
charge of ultra-conservatlsm apd the
suggestions growing out OF his past
intimate associations as an attorney
for great corporations.
The friends and advocates of Wood
row Wilson are also constantly upon
the defense, because of the sudden
ness Of his conversion from the ultra
conservative to the ultra-radical view,
and because of certain surround
ing associations whose attitude to-
ward popular interests Is seriously in
doubt.
If either Mr.. Harmon or Mr.. Wilson
should be nominated, he will be con
stantly compelled to defend himself
and to explain himself both before
and after his nomination for the IL
lustrious office.
Champ clark's Record FlawIess.
The friends of Champ Clark. on the
other hand. have nothing to explain
and nothing for which to apologize
There is absolutely not a flaw in the
public career of the Democratic speak
er of the house, and not an objection
that can be urged against him. either
upon the hustings or in personal con
versation, He has aawless record OF
20 years of faithful capable and fear
less service for the Democratic party
He has gone through every office OF
development to fit him for this lofty
station. Through the kindergarten Of
Pike county politics; through the pri
mary school of the Missouri legisla
ture; through the high school OF the
i American congress; up to his present
lofty station as the second officer OF
the government, every step of his
career has fitted Speaker Clark for
service In the chief executives OF
flee.
To pass, after his long experience
from the speakership Of the house oil
representatives to the executive Office
of the White House would be to CHAM
Clark simply like passing from one
room to another.
And in all this career there has
been no act and no expression which
would give his enemies hammer to
batter his record or his capacity. He
is Progressive Democrat, and the
leader of the Progressive Democrats
In progressively democratic age IL
his inaugural as speaker, he assumed
far in advance of the recent speeches
of President Taft, the high and sensi
BILE position that 1.-the Democratic party
had as much interest in prosperity il
this country as any other party, ant
that 1t had too much interest, both ir
prosperity and in property, to endan
ger either by unwise and foolish poll
cies in government
A discreet radical and a progressiv
conservative, with nothing in his rec
ord for which to apologize and explain
submit that Champ Clark offers th
best possible compromise between tn
contentious OF the conflicting faction
which champion the cause of Gov
ernor Wilson and of Governor Ha
mon.
Equipment for the Presidency.
There is another remarkable qualii
cation which fits Champ Clark pecu
fairly for the presidency, His long ca
eer in congress, and his intimate
knowledge of the ways of congres
and of the motives that NOV,
the two houses is an equipment 70
the presidency which the history 0
that Office will emphasize
Grover Cleveland was one Of tn,
greatest statesmen that America ha'
produced. OF his ability and integritg
there can be no doubt. And yet Grove
Clevelands two terms were incessan
wrangling conflicts with the house o
representatives. and he left the White
House with his party broken and dis.
overwhelmingly because he did nc
know how to handle the American cor
gress
William Mckinley had perhaps. tn,
most popular administration of tn,
presidency that the country has known
With less Individuality than Cleveland
and perhaps with less ability. his ad
ministration was full OF achievement
and comparatively free of friction. be
cause his four terms in the American
congress had taught him how tt dea
with that body and how to secure leg
islation at its hands
Theodore Roosevelt with his siren
uous and impulsive career. had sever
years of strife and wrangle with thu