The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-03
Despite Every Importantly
He Says He Prefers
House to Senate
HE EXPRESSES HIS
CONTEMPT FOR BRYAN
Saws He Lost the Nomination by
Malicious ISLANDERS of Nebraskan.
VIII Support Ticket--Too Old
Democrat to Change

Baltimore. July -(Special)-The eff
fort to prevail upon Speaker clark TO
accept the nomination for the vice-pres-
idency after his defeat for the first place
ON the ticket. occupied the time of many
of the democratic leaders from the time
- of the adjournment of the convention
this afternoon, till late in the night,
Mr.. Clark refused over and over again,
and every time opportunities more press
ing than before were addressed to him.
The negotiations began as soon as MI
Wilson'S nomination was announced. In
response to urgent requests the speaker
motored over from washington to Bal
s4imore to permit more conference than
could be held over the telephone At the
Maryland club he told the men OF the
conve,>S2n he couldn't permit the use
4of his name. He then left for Washing-
ton. But he had scarcely reached that
city when the negotiations were re-
sumed over the telephone.
Refuse to Take mo"
The delegates refused to take mo
for an answer Mr. Bryan. said that II
Mr. Clark would accept the Nebraskan
would present the speakers name to the
convention lie was told that he could
have the nomination by reclamation.
Representative Palmer, tie Wilson foor
leader of the convention, added his plea
and the general understanding was that
in this as in other meetings he repre-
scented the newly chosen presidential can
didate.
In the face OF all these entreaties, ex-
Governor Dockery, one OF the bls four
of the Missouri delegation told the con-
vention that Mr.. Clark was firm in his
determination not 10 take second place
under any circumstances. hufriedly then
the Missouri delegation was called into
consultation with Mr. Palmer.
HE must take it," said the Wilson
manager. "If he won't we must tende'
II anyway. If we go that far ] an
sure he will not refuse, but IL he does
the national committee can fill the va
cancy."
Send Emissary
The Missourians were not willing to
leave 1t there. They sent DR.. Johnson
of their state to the telephone for another
conference NO. came the speaker
word back through the forty miles OF
telephone wire that reached the nationa
capitol. He declared again that he pre-
ferred the office of speaker to that OF
vice-president. Il will not accept ano
] most certainly will refuse to serve II
nominated he added.
Even after this positive declinatior
the delegates and Mr. Palmer argued the
case for half an hour. the latter insist
jn-, and many of the members or the
delegation agreeing with him that Mr.
Clark should be given an opportunity to
exercise cooler judgment than he coulo
lie expected to possess the night after
his defeat for the first place. He de-
hclared that nothing could so so far as
Mr. Ciark's nomination for second place
to convince the country of the absolute
unity existing in the democratic party
Some of the Missourians thought thai
his name on the ticket would help to as
sure success at the polls In that state
in the November election. Others OF th'
delegation agreed with ar. Clark tha'
he should retain his present place.
Clark Is Satisfied
washington, July 2--Defeated after a
hard battle. but declaring himself salts
fled with the results of war, Speaker
Clark returned to the capitol from the
convention city tonight and retired TO ms
office to thunder his denuncation OF the
vice presidency over the telephone as
often as it was suggested to him.
The speaker motored back from l'aiti-
more where he spent the day with his
son Bennett. He took dinner with his
family and later issued a statement pledg-
ing his support to Governor Wilson, and
.yoicing his contempt for tactics OF VIII
liam j. Bryan. who he credits with his
defeat. The speaker seemed the least
affected of his family over the defeat
!. This was not near as hard iight as
had to get my first nomination to Con-
sgress," said the speaker, in commenting
on the result.
He had no complaint to make of the
final break, but said that victory could
have been his had the Underwood forces
helped him on the tenth ballot and there
after. He said Senator Bankhead merely
precipitated the inevitable, He seemed re-
lieved that the strain was over, and that
he could retire from political activity fol-
q few weeks
In most emphatic terms. the speaker
ssdisclaimed any desire to be vice presi'
dent He referred to the nomination OF
: Thomas A. Hendricks for that office, -anc
said 1t took the democratic party week
TO prevail on him to accept it.
Declines Vice Presidency
Speaker Clark said he would not rur
under any circumstances Il am MOI
made" he said, but the vice presidency
does not fit me. / am a rough and tum
BILE debater. / am at home in the House
] would rather be a member of that body
than tied down in chamber in which
am powerless to participate"
An effort was made by the leaders II
Baltimore to convince Mr.. Clark that hi
should accept the vice presidential nomi
nation and it was to escape the Emporium
ing of his friends that he returned Il
Washington. Word was conveyed to hin
that Mr. Bryan desired to nominate him
and that the nomination would be mad,
by reclamation. To all couriers. Mr.
Clark gave the same reply, and when h,
heard that the nomination was being con
sidered In spite of his refusal, he dis
PLAYED some temper.
TELL those people over there l vii
not take that nomination." he instructed
the Associated Press, when told of thu
PERSISTENCE of the convention. what viii
you do IL they nominate you and ad
journ?" he was asked.
Refuse it, tell you. ] don't want il
and will not have it, replied Mr.. Clark
Clark's Statement
on his return to Washington from Bal
tinlore tonight Speaker Clark issued thu
following statement.
mo set OF men ever made a better o
Drawer fight for any man in this worl,
than my friends all over the country mad
for me. They have my heartfelt thanks
We never had money enough even to pa
for an adequate supply OF postage stamp
and literature. ! was tied down here b.