Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-24
Speaker, at Close of Con-
grsss, Recounts Demo-
cratic Acts
IN FACE OF HANDICAPS
Returns Thanks to Those Re-
pubIiCanS Who Aided in
Tariff Battles.


Champ Clark today. delivering the val
edictory OF the democratic house of
the SIND congress, asserted that his
torians would declare with absolute
truth that the house democrats OF the
6lst and 62nd congresses did great
things" and have made a sweeping
democratic victory approximately GER
tain, a victory that will give US tho
house. the senate and the president" :"
Dramatically addressing his col
leagues while the clock across the
house chamber was slowly moving
toward the final adjournment time, the
speaker in a tribute TO leaders Of both
parties, declared that no majority was
ever more successfully led than by
Representative Underwood nor any
minority ever led more ably than by
Representative Mann.
MANN LIVES UP TO NAME
Leader Mann" said he, has con-
tested with Leader Underwood every
step OF the long and wearisome road
we have travelled with the stubborn
courage OF the English squires at
Waterloo. ! have not always agreed
with Brother Mann-God forbid-but
he lives up fully TO his name. He is
in very truth a man. Were IL not for
him | would feel decidedly lonesome
In the speakers chair"
AS speaker. "as dean OF the faculty,
so TO speak" Mr.. Clark said he felt
very proud OF the membership OF the
house and he declared his -beliaf- -tlat
democrats should sit in the seats CT
the mighty, hold every coigne OF van
tage and every place OF power.
Speaker Clark said that for years
the democrats had been sneered az "as
a party OF negation. green hands In
formulating and conducting public tuE-
mess. ridiculed as a mob, a rabble,
without conference or discipline as
militia fighting regulars, and even the
exact date on which we would dis
solve into warning factions and go 20
pieces was set down in type"
FIGHT LIKE VETERANS.
But" he added. the democrats
have fought aud won like veterans and
constitute as thoroughly a disciplined
force as ever appeared in the house
or any other parliamentary body since
parliamentary bodies were instituted
among men, mustered our full strength
on every important proposition ard
passed two great tariff bills over tho
presidents veto. the brst instance Cf
the kind In the history OF the repub-
lie. They had fought a good fight
and kept the faith" he said.
Mr.. Clark said that so long as
the earth spins upon its axis or slides
down the ecliptic" public men wao
would escape the peoples wrath
would take TO heart the simple aud
instructive story OF the astounding
change in the political situation since
that melancholy day in November,
1903, when we were so completely
nattened out" The lesson. in brief, he
said. was that the republicans In c.
der 70 get IN promised 10 revise the
tarin down, but, being in, they pro-
ceeded TO revise II up.
THANKS REPUBLICANS.
The speaker expressed thanks, and
the gratitude OF the country, TO "the
brave. wise and patriotic republicans
who cooperated with Us. in passing
good bills. The secret Of our marvel
Gus success" he said, lis simple unity
OF thought purpose and action. fire.
quent counsel together. q spirit OF NUT
ual conciliation. strict adherence TO
principle. with utmost latitude in non
essentials. subordination OF individ-
ual desire, to the general party good,
sacrifices OF personal ambitions in
the earnest, honest, patriotic endeav-
or 10 serve the whole people with
whatever OF capacity God has blessed
us
We have won many victories" he
said. but what is better. we have
formed the habit OF victory" He sug-
eested that Roscoe Conkling's declar-
alton that General Grants fame was
earned not alone by things written.
out by the arduous 60 tness Of things
done. 'hts our case like a glove"
What the democratic house accom-
plished, So far as il could for the
Hmeiioration Of conditions" said he.
th"arted as IL has been by a repubIi-
can president, is only a criterion Of
what Nc will do when we come into
full possession OF the three branches
OF government President Taft veto
cd most OF our bills OF a remedial
character. prerogative unwisely ex-
ercised, He made his record: we
made ours. On these records we ap-
peal TO the country with absolute
confidence that when the polls close