Evening journal., 1912-10-08
cLARk-IEAp pENcn cAMPAIeNFR.


party Mr. Clark is of such winning personality
that the average voter fails to regard him party
man, but rather regards him a public-spir1ed
citizen in whose mind the interests OF the
transcend those of party In short he is the sort Of
a whom other men trust instinctively and who,
II he become County Comptroller, will be fitting
to the grand and good old Republican who
now holds the ohice-Phemma c. Chandler. Ex-
pressions of opinion heard among Republicans, Pro-
gressive Republicans and Democrats would seem 70
indicate that in the November election Mr.. Clark will
make phenomenal and that he will be elected
by a handsome majority.
Mr.. Clark is a Delawarean Of Delawareans, a New
Castle countain of New Castle countans and so far
the geographical circumstances surrounding HIS
birth would permit Wilmingtonian Of Whining
tonians He born in New Castle hundred on
June, 90 1885, and he comes Of a good old Delaware
family. His father Philip r. Clark, formerly
sheriff Of New Castle county Of its most promin-
ent real estate operators and also lifelong Re-
publican and good citizen generally. Young Clark,
who enjoys the distinction Of having been nominated
for County Comptroller was educated n the public
schools in New Castle hundred, and he completed his
education in the Harkness Academy at Tenth and
Market Streets this city.
When he ended his studies in that academy Mr..
Clark became associated with his father in the real
estate business in this city and the two put through
many important deals the many years they operat-
ed here. Although young Clark always an ardent
Republican. It was not until 1900 that he sought or
held any political Office In that year County Comp
troller Kelley appointed him chief clerk in his office
He held that position until 1904 and during that time
obtained an intimate knowledge of the details of the
office which he aspires to hold. He sytematized
the clerical work OF that important department of
county government, and in many other ways de-
monstrated his peculiar fitness for the position Of
Comptroller
When Comptroller Kelley retired, Mr. Clark retired
with his chief Subsequently he became connected
with the management of the Ancient order OF United
Workmen and displayed such ability in that work
that he elected financer Of Wilmington Lodge
No J. succeeding Charles Wood who not only
hnancer OF Wilmington Lodge but also Grand Re-
OF the Grand Lodge OF Delaware Of that order
Mr. Clark still holds that position in the United
Worlmen and every year has served to increase his
popularity with its members He is genial intelligent
painaking scrupulousy honest In his dealings with
his feow-men and particularly careful in looking
after the material interests OF those whom he
in hduciary capacity Those are some OF the
qualities which he possesses which constrained the Re
publican voters TO nominate him this for the
oce Of Watchdog Of the county treasury exceed
ingly important office.
Mr.. Clark has been active in politics since he was
Is years old and even before he could vote he had
shown that he could do effective work electioneer-
ing. His work Of wholly unselhsh nature and
the first reward he received for it. and that
small one the appointment Of clerk the County
Comptroller Prior TO the retirement OF Mr.. Kelley,
many friends who knew Of the good work Mr.. Clark
had done in the office, importuned him to become a
candidate for the Comptrollership. He ran for the
/ nomination I'M 1904 There we're four candidates in
the field, which led by Philemma c. Chandler,
who just had distinguished himself in the Levy
Court as outspoken opponent of grating and ex-
travagance The other candidates for the nomination
were Joseph Wgglesworth and Mr.. Parker of Middle
town. The fight hotly contested in all the hun
dreds and when the votes counted II was dis
covered that although Mr. Chandler had he only
had defeated Mr.. Clark, his closest competitor, by a
plurality of 22O. Mr. Chandler declared the
nominee and Mr.. Clark and his friends supported him
heartily In the election which followed.
In 1908, when the term Of Mr. Chandler expir-
ing Mr. Clark once more became candidate for the
nomination. John II. King, Of New Castle, also en-
tered the field. Mr. Chandler announced that he
would stand for a denomination. That made tran-
gular fight which hoty contested all along the
line Mr. Chandler won with Mr.. Clark in second
place Mr. Chandler had defeated him with only 80
VOTES to spare in total poll Of more than 10000
votes in the Republican primaries During the last
four years Mr.. Clark continued to build his fences
for the position and Mr. Chandler made no effort to
conceal the fact that he would for third term.
He had made such good record as Comptroller that
Mr. Clark and his friends realized that he would be
dangerous opponent third term issue. They
laid their plans accordingly and the campaign was
prosecuted along unique lines but with uncomproms-
ing aggressiveness. Mr. clark resorted 10 lead
pencil campaign He had his name and the fact that
he was candidate printed thousands Of lead pen
ellis and they sood ones, too. Those lead pen
ellis were distributed in this city and all the outy
ing hundreds by Mr.. Clark and his friends and they
served 70 advertise his candidacy with effective
ness which resulted in the undong of Mr.. Chandler
When the primary vote finally was cast and counted
il was discovered that the leadpecil candidate had
defeated the old Republican warhorso Of Brandy
wine hundred by 652 votes m a contest which Mr.
Chandler always was confident of winning. In fact
it perhaps would have been better for him il he had
been lass sanguine Of success.
Having won the Republican primary lead-penc
basis Mr. Clark now purposes winning the general eec
ton by the same means although enlarged form He
has ordered many thousands of ead-pencls Of var
GUS colors, and he and his lieutenants are walking
about distributing them among the voters regardless
OF party There has been great change. however
in the color scheme Of the general campaign. In tn,