Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-01-25


patton of their risht 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 a 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 a conspicuous advantage in
another fact. The followers of Judson
Harmon are constantly under the ne
cessity of defending him against the
charge of ultra-conservatism and 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 CIark's Record FIawess.
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 a flawless record OF
rs 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
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
fee.
To pass, after his long experience,
from the speakership of the house of
representatives to the executive office
of the White House would be to Champ
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 a hammer to
batter his record or his capacity. He
is a Progressive Democrat, and the
leader of the Progressive Democrats
In a progressively democratic age. In
his inaugural as speaker, he assumed,
of President Taft, the high and sensi-
BILE position that the Democratic party
hadNa much interest in prosperity in
this country as any other party, and
that it had too much interest, both In
prosperity and in property, to endan-
ger either by unwise and foolish poll
cies in government.
A discreet radical and a progressive
conservative, with nothing in his rec
ord for which to apologize and explain,
| submit that Champ Clark offers the
best possible compromise between the
contentious of the conflicting factions
which champion the cause of Gov
ernor Wilson and Of Governor Har-
mon.
Equipment for the Presidency.
There is another remarkable qualifi-
cation which fits Champ Clark pecul-
iarly for the presidency. His long car
eer in congress, and his intimate
knowledge of the ways Of congress
and of the motives that move
the two houses is an equipment for
the presidency which the history of
that office will emphasize.
Grover Cleveland was one Of the
| greatest statesmen that America has
! produced. OF his ability and integrity
there can be no doubt. And yet Grover
Cleveland's two terms were incessant
wrangling conflicts with the house of
representatives, and he left the White
House with his party broken and dis
aorganized-simply because he did not
know how to handle the American con-
i gress.
William Mckinley had, perhaps, the
most. popular administration Of the
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 t. deal
with that body and how to secure leg.
islation at its hands.
\ Theodore Roosevelt, with his siren
uous and impulsive career, had geven
years Of strife and wrangle with the
American congress. WHICH he did not
understand. because he had never
been member
Benjamin Harrison, who had, per.
.haps, the smoothest administration of
the quarter century, had served three
terms in the congress of the United
States.
q Clark Could Handle Congress.
1t is safe to say that Il Champ Clark
were elected president, he would
know better than any man who has