The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-03-29
CLARK is TAGGART's CHOICE
Kansas Congressman Writes Letter
Giving His Reasons.

Giving His Reasons.
Congressman Joseph Taggart OF the
Second Kansas district writes a let.
ter back home, giving his reasons Tor
the faith he has within him of Mis-.
souri's fayorite son. 1t follows:
| Mr.. A. II. Gillis,
Kansas City, Kansas
Dear Friend; II have received your
kind favor. agree with you that
either Clark or Wilson will be nomi.
mated, although you did not state your
preference. Clark has record of six.
teen years in congress, speaking anG
voting on the questions as they came
up, and, during all OF these sixteen
years, he has spoken and voted as you
and would, had we been in his place.
He has represented everything that
you and and Bryan's supporters have
stood for.
The record of Governor Wilson is
one Of contradiction. He has been ut
terly opposed to everything for which
we have stood, and he has so voted
and so acted He is now talking in a
vague way in favor Of some of the
principles we have supported.
On the one hand is a consistent per-
Torrance and consistent record, On
the other hand a shifty and yaciIlating
record Of utterances only.
The Democratic party has been in
the Slough of Despond" ever since
Cleveland left the presidential chair
until Champ Clark appeared as the
leader.
After serving with the Democrats
in congress for twelve years, they Sc
lected him unanimously from their
members to lead the Democratic mi
nority. The qualities of Champ Clark
are not shining; they do not appeal to
the imagination, but they do appeal to
his associates in congress- for he weld
ed them for the first time in years into
a united and aggressive minority.
With that united minority under his
leadership he made "Cannonism" and
-all that "CannOnism" stood for odious
He dethroned Cannon and changed the
rules under which the interests, with
a complaisant speaker, dominated the
house of representatives.
So powerful was the example fur
nished the Democracy of the country
by the magnificent achievements of
the Democratic minority under Clark s
leadership that the Democratic senate
\ forSthe first time in years also united
and destroyed "Al,. M in the sen
ate.
While doing these things, Clark, at
the same time, hurled the Democracy
solidly against the Payne-AldFich tar.
III bill. This aggressive and united
Democracy in the house and senate
aided by the Insurgent Republicans in
both branches, showed what the
Payne-Aldrich bill really was. 1t was
a magnificent fight. On the strength
OF the record time made, the Demo
Gratis carried the house of representa-.
tfves in the last election.
President Taft called congress to-
gether in extraordinary session and
Mr. Clark was Immediately elected
4 speaker Of Democratic majority; he
was elected unanimously, something
that has never happened before in the
history of our government, in the cleo
ton of a speaker for his first term.
During the extraordinary session
Mr.. Clark kept his majority party to
gether and again presented united
and aggressive front. The house
passed its tariff bills and sent them
over to the senate, and there was
again united Democracy In the sen
ate. and, as was the case when Mr.
Clark was minority leader, the Insur
gent Republicans stood with the united
Democracy in both branches of con
gress.
Congress is again in session; Mr.
Clark is still the speaker and the UNI
disputed leader; again ne is holding
his party unitedly against the most
adverse circumstances.
| 1t Is evident that the Republicans
intend to make the next campaign on
the tariff issue. The Democrats, sure
\ ly, should be willing to accept this
gauge of battle With the tariff as the
chief issue 1t seems to me there is but
one leader.
i In regard to all the other issues (as
| said In the besinning) for which you
and l. and those like US. have contend
ed, why should we turn from the true
and tried exponent of these issues
one who has been tested by fire-tC
one who. to say the least, Is vacillating
and uncertain?
Mr.. Clark has no money for this
ampaign-scarcely enough to keeE
headquarters open--and has not beer