The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-05-17

frequently there is a roll call in th
House when member is at work o.
his Committee; at a Department on i'm
portant work, or engaged in something
OF greater importance to his constituents
than answering to his name in tn,
House. challenge you TO point out
= single roll which ! have missed on at
important question, unless was either
paired or detained before a committee
or Department on some matter of i'm
portance to my constituents.
This is little lengthy, but you have
made ii so. | ask you in fairness tc
print il. Will you do so? WeShall see
Respectfully,
(Signed) FRANK CLARK.
The News stated that it had been fail
and that Mr.. Clark had testified publicly
to lis fairness. So he did. The News
proposes TO be fair still, and even more
than fair, hence we have given preferred
space TO the above card from MIR. Clark
While we are fair TO Mr.. Clark, howev.
er, we do not intend TO be unfair with
the public or with ourselves. Mr.. Clark
is fighting for his life; he is engaged in
desperate combat; he is employing the
weapons of man who faces defeat. II
is bitter pill for him 10 swallow. He
has been in public life, according TO his
own count, for twenty-five years. 1t is
an ignoble denouement for a man TO
reach after quarter of century in pub
lie life-to be faced with a record so
utterly bad, so barren of accomplish
ment, SO lacking in anything of essen
tial worth TO the people he has had the
honor OF representing. We can Sympa-
thize with Mr.. Clark in a purely human
way. We are genuinely sorry for him.
He made a pathetic picture Monday
night, pleading with the people to re-
turn him to the seat in Congress which
he has occupied TO such poor purpose.
The people are long suffering; they are
more than lenient with their public Off
cials; they generally give them more
Than one chance. This is proved in the
case of Mr.. Clark; he has had four
terms in Congress. Every time he has
come before the people, giving an ac-
count Of his stewardship, as he terms it,,
but in reality telling them each time of
the things he hopes TO do; there is moth
ing he can put his finger on that he has
actually done; not a single pledge that
he has fulfilled. Review the record, if
you will: Return OF the cotton tax
money. Vain promises built upon vain
hopes! Mr.. Clark would lead the peo-
pie TO believe that he was the originator
OF the idea of returning that illegally
collected tax. But that is of no mo-
ment. He is only one of some nineteen
representatives who introduced similar
bills. No one of them has passed, ii is
not likely that any one of them will
pass, and what would be done with the
money if they should pass? Ii is hardly
necessary TO discuss that question and
we haven't time now, for there are other
things more urgent that demand atten-
ton al this time. Put that down as
Number One of Mr.. ClarkS failures.
Next is his promise 10 secure a tax on
Egyptian cotton for the benefit of Flori-
da farmers. He has worked this prom
Use to frazzle; he made his first campaign
on it, and it is yet promise unrcdcem-
ed. National aid for good roads is
another; while Mr.. Clark is absent from
his duties the House takes action on this
measure, but il was not through the ef.
forts of Mr.. Clark. He has been away
while some of the most important legiS-
lation enacted in an age has been pend
ing; he hasn't been there TO lend the
support of his vote even TO the passage
Of the free sugar bill, or the several
other measures OF far reaching impor
lance that have been before Congress.
If this had been his only prolonged alb
SenCe ii might be justified under the
conditions by stretch of extreme con.
Sideration, but how does he account for
his other prolo lged absences? Mr.
Clark by his defiant attitude almoSt
forces those who oppose him to an ex-
tremcly unpleasant task. There are
some things that in charity were better
left unSaid, and even his unjust acCuSa
ton of The News will not bring US
down to his level of attack. Briefly
then, will we take up, Seriatim, the
charges in his card. He refers 10 an
editorial printed in The News OF the
last issue before the first primary. He
says that he is amazed that such an arti
Gle should have been printed without
giving him an opportunity 10 reply. He
does this for effect, and for effect only.
There was nothing in that article which
had not appeared in one form or another
in The News previously. The editorial
| in question was simply review of the
situation. There was no attack that was
new; he had ample opportunity TO reply
TO these same things before the primary
If he had cared to. Mr.. Clark is a willy
politician; he is one of the best the State
has ever known, and this, too, may be
regarded as a pity. 1t is pity that the
people should mistake political wit for
Statecraft; il is 10 be deplorcd that a
clever talker can get up before an audi
ence and so distort facts and figures as
to make them read in his favor when
they are in reality against him. 1t is de