Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-24
CLARK CLUB FORMED
BY LOCAL DEMOCRATS
Representative Taggart Fa-
vors Plank Promising
Raises for Clerks.

Three hundred democrats got to kickin'
the republican "dawg' around at old Ma
sonic Temple last night, when the Champ
Clark Club of the District of Columbia
was organized. with several strong Dis
trict democrats on the list of officers.
The republican 'houn''' did not have a
single chance at the meeting, which was
presided over by Fulton r. Gordon, and
after Representative Taggart Of Kansas
tied the tin can to the poor beasts tail
it was seen scurrying up F street late at
night, and was reported to have taken
unto itself a supplementary scare when
it beheld the form Of ]. Fred Kelley, who
had failed to attend the Clark meeting.
1t was Representative Taggart's speech
which raised the meeting to a state OF
high temperature. Mr.. GOrdon's idea IS
to have inserted in the platform a plank
that will promise raises in pay to all
civil service employees who deserve 1t.
Representative Taggart took the hint and
denounced the executive order which for
bids clerks from writing to representa-
tives on the subject of salary as undemo-
cratic and unconstitutional.
Will Work for Clark.
He was introduced as the first demo-
cratic representative to be elected in Kan
marks by stating that he would gladly
work for Speaker Clark, as that leader
had spoken for him in the Kansas cam
paign. Getting down to local issues, ne
said:
Taxation without representation is
tyranny; yet right here in the District
you have taxation without the slightest
representation. l believe that under a
democratic representation you Will De
granted the right to govern yourselves
and believe you will be allowed to decide
for yourselves the qualifications OF voters.
Nothing has struck me so forclbly as
that executive order which forbids gov
eminent clerk to write letter to his
royal highness, a member of Congress
This is an order in direct violation of
that provision of the Constitution which
guarantees the right of petition. 1t is I'M
American and infamous. A man should
not lose any Of his rights of citizenship
Rap at Wilson.
Representative Taggart paid his re-
spects to college presidents, not mention
ing Woodrow Wilson by name, by al
ludina to him as a man with half the
alphabet in front of his name and the
other half behind 1t.
Champ Clark" he said, started out in
life as college president. but got
through with that job just as fast as he
could. If he had stayed at it long enough
he would have been spoiled
w. ]. Dryers resolution put the clYb
squarely on its feet as a Clark organizh-
ton, and, following him. Representative
Ferris of Oklahoma praised Speaker
Clark in the warmest of terms. Reprf
sentative Joseph Russell of MissokJi
made Clark speech. and George Killefn,
an old-time District democrat, called on
the club to rally round the flag.
Officers of the club elected last night
were: Fulton r. Gordon, president; Opt
ter Bride, D. A. Edwards, L. G. Warfi9d,
Thomas Jamison. William r. Riley. and
Joe Y. Reeves, vice presidents; H. Wyatt.
secretary; John Allocate. assistant secfe-
tary, and w. ]. Dwyer, treasurer.
These were nominated by a committee
consisting of Daniel A. Edwards, Golfer
T. Bride, Mayo c. Mitchell, John F. Cos
tello and John C.'Allicoate. A committee
on organization and membership was 3s-
pointed as follows: Mayo c. Mitchell,
William R. Riley and Harold T. Wyatt
This committee will begin at once 70
organize in every one of the twenty-five
districts in the District of Columbia.