The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-01-21

patton .! their rirhl to rule.
For Representative Government.
Attacking this veto in three strong
ana powerful speeches, Champ Clark
has heM up the theory OF real repre-
sentative government, and in a mill
tant Democracy becomes the central
figure standing for hat great question
II may be said simply and without
further emphasis that no man has
ever asked for the presidency in this
stneration 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 II CUn"pivuOus advantage in
another fact The followers of Judson
Harmon are constantly under the ne
Cesslly 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 ultraradiCal 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
lustrous office
Champ Clark'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 flaw in the
public career of the Democratic speak
er Of the house. and not an objection
,hat can be urged against him, either
upon the hustngs or in personal con
versation. He has flawless record of
- 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
f1r
service in the chief executives Of
fee.
To pass after his long experience,
from the speakership of the house of
representatives tC 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.
far In advance OF the recent speeches
of President Taft, the high and sensi-
BILE position that the Democratic party
had rs much interest in prosperity In
this country rs any other party, and
that 1t 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 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-
lariy for the presidency. His long car
eer In congress, and his intimate
knowledge OF the ways OF congress
and OF the motives that move
t:e t"o' 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
wranging conflicts with the house Of
representatives, and he left the White
House with his party broken and dis
organized simply because he did not
know how to handle the American con.
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-
minislration 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.