Evening journal., 1912-10-08
CLARK-LEAD PENCIL CAMpAIGNER.

party, Mr. Clark is OF such winning personality
that the voter fails to regard him party
man. but rather regards him publicsprited
citizen in whose MIND the interests of the
transcend those of party In short he is the sort of
a whom other trust instinctvey and who,
if he become County Comptroller, will be a fitting
to the grand and good old Republican who
holds the ofice-Philemma G. Chandler. EN-
presslons OF opinion heard among Republicans. Pro-
gressive Republicans and Democrats would seem TO
indicate that in the November election Mr.. Clark will
make a phenomenal and that he will be elected
by handsome majority.
Mr. Clark is a Delawarean Of Delawareans, New
Castle countain Of New Castle countains and far
as the geographical circumstances surrounding his
birth would permit a Wilmingtonian of Whining
tonians He was 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 a good citizen generally. Young Clark,
who enjoys the distinction Of having been nominated
for County Comptroller educated the public
schools in New Castle hundred, and he completed his
education in the Hardness 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 in the many they operat-
ed here. Although young Clark always was an ardent
Republican, It not until 1900 that he sought or
held any political office In that year County Comp
troler Kelley appointed him chief clerk in his Office
He held that position until 1904 and during that time
obtained intimate knowledge of the details of the
Office which he now aspires to hold He sytenlatized
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 fnancier of Wilmington Lodge
No. 1. succeeding Charles Wood, who not only was
fnancier 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
Workmen, and every year has served to increase his
popularity with its members He is genial intelligent
pantakng, scrupuously honest in his dealings with
his felow-men and particularly careful in looking
after the material interests of those whom he
In a fduciary capacity. Those of the
qualities which he possesses which constrained the Re-
publican voters to nominate him this year for the
office of watchdog of the county treasury, exceed
ingy important Office
Mr.. Clark has been active in politics since he
Is years old and even before he could vote he had
shown that he could do effective work in electioneer-
ing His work OF n wholly unselhsh nature and
the first ever received for it, and that
small one the appointment OF clerk to the County
Comptroller Prior 30 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 Comptroership. He for the
nomination in 1904 There we're four candidates in
the field which was led by Phiemma c. Chandler.
who just had distinguished himself in the Levy
Court outspoken opponent of grating and ex-
ravagance. The other candidates for the nomination
were Joseph Wigglesworth and Mr. Parker of Middle
town. The fight hotly contested in all the hun
dreds and when the votes counted it dis
covered that although Mr. Chandler had won he only
had defeated Mr. Clark, his closest competitor, by
plurality of 220. Mr.. Chandler declared the
nominee and Mr. Clark and his friends supported him
heartily in the election which followed.
In 1905 when the term of Mr.. Chandler was expir-
ing Mr. Clark once more became candidate for the
nomination John H. King, of New Castle, also en-
tered the field Mr.. Chandler announced that he
would stand for denomination. That made trian-
gular fight which hotly 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 a 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 run for third term.
He had made such a good record Comptroller that
Mr. Clark and his friends realized that he would be
dangerous opponent on third term issue. They
laid their plans accordingly and the campaign was
prosecuted along unique lines but with uncomproms-
ing aggressiveness Mr.. Clark resorted to lead
pencil campaign He had his name and the fact that
he was a candidate printed thousands Of lead pen
ellis and they good 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 to advertise his candidacy with effective
ness which resulted in the undoing of Mr. Chandler.
When the primary vote finally cast and counted
it was discovered that the ead-pecil candidate had
defeated the old Republican warhorse of Brandy
wine hundred by 652 votes in contest which Mr..
| Chandler always was confident Of winning In fact
hrftr h, had
| been lass sanguine of success.
Having won the Republican primary lead-pencil
basis Clark purposes winning the general elec-
ton by the same although in enlarged form He
ordered many thousands of leadpencils OF vari-
Gus colors. and he and his lieutenants walking
distributing them among the voters regardless
Of party. There has been a great change however
in the color scheme Of the general campaign In the