The Washington herald., 1912-02-24
D. c. DEMOCRATS
RALLY FOR CLARK
Doomed as Only Logical Man
to Occupy White
House.
PLENTY OF HURRAHING

Amid boIsterous shouting, hand-clap-
ping, foot-stamping, and hurrahing,
Speaker Champ Clark was heralded by
800 men as the next Democratic Presi-
Dental nominee. last night in the old
Masonic Temple, when the Champ Clark
Club of the District was formally or
ganized. The Jeffersonian Congressman
and a number OF Democratic warhorses
of the District boosted the present
Speaker of the House as the only logical
man TO occupy the White House during
the next Presidential term-
While 800 men full OF enthusiasm yelled
themselves hoarse, the congressman ad-
vocated the revocation OF President Tafts
gag rule with respect to government
employees, and declared themselves in
favor Of suffrage in the National Capital
some Passing shots.
Roosevelt was referred to as the lion
killer of Africa" and president Taft was
called the fiat man of the White House"
Passing shots were taken at Woodrow
Wilson and other much talked OF possl-
bilities.
The press Of the city had been notified
almost hourly for the preceding ten days
by a live committee of ten Democrats
that the nfeting was to be held. The
public had been notified OF the meeting,
and II turned out in force. The old hall
was crowded to the doors.
The cheering was led by wheezy-
breathed young man seated on the plat
form. He manipulated an unlghted cigar
in the corner of his mouth, listening at
tentively to the addresses. Then sudden
ly he would remove the weed from his
lips, and with uplitted hands shout,
'.Hoorah. Champ Clark
Fulton r. Gordon presided in the ca
pacity of temporary chairman. In an
opening address, he told Of the object Of
the club. and paid high tribute TO
Speaker Clark. John B. Colpoys, secre-
tary of the Central Labor Union, deliv-
cred a short speech, in which he ex-
pressed the opinion that organized labor
of the District as a whole would support
the Missourian. After the shouting and
hurrahing had subsided TO some extent.
the following officers were elected:
Gordon Named President.
Fulton r. Gordon, president: Cotter
Bride, ID. A. Edwards, L. G. warfield,
Thomas Jamison, William r. Riley. and
Joe Y Reeves, vice presidents; II. Wyatt,
secretary; John Allocate. assistant Sec
"
Resolutions pledging the support Of
Champ Clark as the next Democratic
Presidential nomine were then adopted
amid wild demonstrations.
Representative Joseph Taggart Of
Kansas was the first of the Congress
sional orators He said that, once upon
a time, Champ Clark spoke in his coun-
ty, and that as a result of that powerful
Jeffersonian speech he was elected TO
T0nOrazG-a Tlnmglal Thing for
Kansas Democrat.
I'm in favor OF the people Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia exercising their right
to ballot" said Representative Taggart,
directing his words toward local ISSUES.
Taxation without representation is un-
Just. We fought for that principle. and
yet to-day in the Capital OF the nation
those who pay taxes are being deprived
Of representation. It is absolutely I'M
democratic. The Democratic party stands
for home rule. Under Democratic ad-
mlnistration, friends, the people Of the
District will get suffrage"
Opposes Gag Rule"
I'm also opposed to that vicious law
which prevents government employees
from forwarding a petition to a Con-
gresham" continued the Representa-
tive. That order of President Taft.
known as the gag rule, is in direct Oppo-
sition to the constitutional right OF all
free-born citizens to the privilege of petit
tion. II is absolutely un-American and
infamous. / want that law wiped on the
statute books, and there is a bill now
pending in Congress which will accom-
plish this end. A man should not be
compelled to sacrifice his rights because
he is serving the government"
That's true" shouted the tipsy young
man seated on the platform
The speaker continued by stating that
the American people have been taxed
excessively to benefit a few men and
the tariff.
Representatives Scott Ferris, Of Okla
home, delivered the second Congress
sional address. referring to the Speaker
as dear old Champ Clark" He paid
tribute to the speaker as L clear-headed.
generous and true Democrat
Let People Elect.
We don't want any more Lorimers!"
legislature-elected Senators. Let the peo-
pie elect their Senator's"
The last Congressional address was de-
Iivered by Representative Joseph Russell,
Of Missouri He said that no one but
Champ Clark would be able to satisfy
the people. and predicted a sweeping VIC
tory for the Speaker.
A short address was delivered by
George Killeen, an old Democratic war
horse of the District. Killeen is said TO
be the oldest living Jeffersonian in the
National Capital. He told the history Of
his life in detail, and said that William
Jennings Bryan was a great man.
It was announced that twenty-one sim
liar clubs would be organized in the city
within the next few weeks. The organI-
zation effected last night is considered