The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-19
CHAMP CLARK AND
SECRETARY BRYAN
BURY THE HATCHET
Meet at Luncheon and Put
Personalities of Baltimore
Convention With the
BygOnes

Washington, April Is. - Speaker
Champ Clark and Secretary William
Jennings Bryan met at private lunch
con here today, shook hands and is
sued public statements declaring they
had buried the hatchet and put the per-
scnalities of the Baltimore convention
with the bygones.- The luncheon was
arragned by Theodore A. Bell OF Cali
ifornia, temporary chairman OF the
Denver convention in 1908. and chair
rlan of the California delegation sup
porting Speaker Clark at Baltimore,
and was given by Ire T.. Bennett, editor
of the Washington Post.
Intense interest was aroused in po-
litical circles over the reconciliation
Of the two antagonists, whose differ
onces became acute as result of
events at the Baltimore convention.
Secretary Bryan's prepared statement
Issued tonight is as follows;
Clear Up Misunderstanding
MY meeting with Mr.. Clark has
served to clear up a MISUNDERSTANDING
as to my exact position toward him
at the Baltimore convention. 1 have
that I have always regarded and do
now regard him as a good, clean, pro-
gressive democrat If my language at
Baltimore created any impression that
was charging Mr.. Clark with being in
sympathy with any of the reactionary
forces j am glad of the opportunity
to correct any such misconstruction OF
my words or acts, for L did not in
lend to reflect upon either the personal
ol political integrity of the speaker
1t is my earnest wish that there may
be cordial co-operation between the
state department and the speaker in
carrying out the policies of the adj
m.nistration.'
Clark Makes Statement
Here is Speaker Clarks statement:
TT is beyond the power of Colonel
Bryan or any one else to correct the
injustice that was done to me at Bal
timore The loss of the presidential
nomination was a small thing as COM
pared to the injury done to my repu-
tation in the eyes of the world. But
row that Colonel Bryan, in his public
statement, has done what he can to
remove the injurious impression that
were created by his Baltimore speeches,
| feel that we can all the better CO.
operate for the good of the admnis-
tration. can only repeat what have
publicly declared time and time again.
that all personal or selfish consider
ations must give way to the duty that
all democrats owe to our party and
to our country"
Those who sat at the table with the
others already mentioned and saw tho
Disappearance of what many political
sages thought the most embarrassing
situation confronting President VIII
scn's administration We're
Vice President Marshall, Secretary
Lane, Senators Kern and O'Gormah.
Representatives Crisp, Secretary Tu-
multv. Assistant Secretaries Osborne
and Malone of the state department,
Thomas f. Logan and L. L. James.
General Good Time
Those in charge of the affair said
Speaker Clark and Secretary Bryan
exchanged jokes and had good time.
The statements We're given out through
Mr. Bennett
So far as is known it was the first
time the two had met since before the
Baltimore convention. Speaker Clark s
friends always have said Mr. Bryan
nrevented his nomination and that 1t
was through Mr.. Bryan's activity and
Influence that the convention, contrary
10 custom, refused to give the speaker
the necessary two-thirds vote after II
several times had given to him ma
iority. Strong statements by sonle-
what personal nature were also issued
bv Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Clark at the
time.
The reconciliation was looked upon in
political circles as the most significant
/ olitical development of the admins
tration so far.