The Washington times., 1912-05-02
CLARK LAUGHS At
ATTEMPT TO SHOW
HE WAS RUFF|AN
Story of Old Escapade and
Court Fine Only Politi-
cal, He Says.

In 1898. Champ Clark, now Speaker OF
the House and at that time simply a
member OF Congress from Missouri, paid
fine OF sos and costs in Washington
Police Court on a charge Of assault end
battery preferred by a colored waiter.
The other members OF the Missouri
delegation. who We're familiar with the
fcts at the time. insisted on reimburs &
the Congressman for the expense incl
dent to injuring the colored man.
There is no secret about It," said
Speaker Clark, this morning. 1T Is a
matter of court record. The affair oc-
Cured at 4s4 Pennyslvania avenue. I
went into restaurant one morning and
the trouble brewed there. The man said
I cut him. could not wait here to
fight an assault and battery case. and
paid the fine. That Is all there Is to 1t.
The story has been circulated in
dustriously in my district every two
years when my opponents tried to de-
feat me. and 1t has recently been print
ed. in a badly distorted form, in a cir
cular spread broadcast in Massa chu-
sets. Only two or three weeks ago It
was printed in a Newark paper. There
Is nothing new nor nothing secret about
it,"
This affair, which has been frequently
mentioned in other places, was played
up" by Washington newspapers at the
time Of its occurrence. Recently a let
ter was published in The Washington
Times advocating the support of Speak
er Clark for President by the colored
voters. This called forth reply from
]. M. Pearson, 324 B street northeast,
who says he is Taft supporter, and
who opposes Clark because of his alter
cation with a colored man nineteen
years ago, and Is against Roosevelt be-
cause of the summary discharge of the
colored regiment at Brownesilie. Pear
son asserts that Clark. without any
proVocation. cut the negro's throat from
ear to ear" He asserts that Clark later
hit a colored waiter on the head with
a sugar bowl, almost killing him on the
spot" Nothing Is recalled of this last
charge. The victim OF the first-men-
toned encounter said he was cut. The
Speaker called 1t scratch" In speak
ing of the incident.
AS the story Is circulated in distant
States, however, II is said to bear little
resemblance to the truthful narrative
and Is distorted into a heinous ofrense
on the part OF the Presidential candi-
date.
In line with this tale is one in Wis
consin to the effect that Clark was
forced to leave the State OF Kentucky
when he was young man because he
killed a man. The episode on which
this bloody story is founded occurred
forty-two years ago when Clark was
in college. He was a large man ther
and two of his enemies in school de-
cided to overcome him by combining
forces. One of them held him while
the other pounded him.. AS soon al
Clark could break away he got hold OF
q pistol and took a shot at one of his
assaiIants. The bullet went wide.
Just a college incident and forty
two years ago." is the way the Speaker
dismisses the story. But as the tale IL
told by political opponents 1t Is a har'
rowing story of blood thirst.
What political effect these yarns
about Clark will have is conjectural
The Speaker doesn't seem to be worry
ing, however.