The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-23
CHAMP CLARK'S SON REAL CHIP
 OF OLD BLOCK
Expert ParIiamentarIan An h. valuable Aide to Father
 During Tariff Debate

CBy Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner.o
 Washington, May 23-During the closing hours of the debate on the Underwood tariff bill, with the leaders
 ofs the various political parties and factions struggling, for every tactical advantage, parliame entary questions came fast and furiousIy for the Speak CT to Settle. He settled them all as they came without. a moments hesi- tation and with that c1ear-headed Judgment for which he is famous.
 That the Speakers decisions were dawless was due in large part to the presence at his elbow of a limb ed, keen-eyed. manly appearing young fellow, who managed the volumes of
 "Precedents'' and always had the vol
 tune open at the proper citation to support the ruling of the moment. And sometimes, when the Speakers attention was distracted and par1ia- mentary points arose for decision. the young men would explain the situa- ton in a hasty word or two, and the Speaker would make his decision on
 that advice
 The Speakers adviser was his own son, Bennett Champ Clark, the apple
 of his dads eye, and the new parlia- mentarian of the House. Bennett Clark is. just 23 years old-the young
 ever had. When Charles R. Crisp, parliamentarian of the last House,
 was elected to Congress last fall Bennett Clark applied for his position
 and landed it. He was then a senior
 in the University of Missouri. But
 he dug into his studies, did the final years work in six months, took the
 examina tions and received his A. B.
 degree in March, and in April was on hand for the beginning of the extra session,
 Bennett Clark is a living example to 0hi11fU n families Almost his whole life has been spent in Washington, and during almost all his leisure time he has sat as a spec tator in the House. Every two years he went to Missouri to be with his father in the Congressional campaigns. At the age of three he delighted the Clark family one day by standing on a chair and Hsping a political speech in baby talk. As soon as he grew
 old enough he accompanied his father
 on his speech-making campaigns, And thus he grew up in an atmosphere saturated with politics and parlia-
 mentary procedure. He learned the rules of procedure as naturally as he learned to talk.
 Bennett went through the Washing ton public schools. In High school he discovered a new soNrce of enjoy nent-the debating societies. He had a. natural love of debating. To help his debating he made a close study  ished High school he was a better par ] Iamentarian than most public men ever get to be. Time and again he
 was chosen on High school debating teams. He never once was on los ing side.
 At the age of IS Bennett Clark got
 out on the stump in Missouri as an active speaker for his father. He was so effective with his audiences
 that Speaker Clark encouraged him in it. Two years ago Bennett as
 usual was at home in Missouri, dur ing the campaign. Judge Reuben F. Roy was the Speakers Republican op- ponent One day Bennett Clark or ganized a merry party of boys and drove over to the Whiteside annual niHnir in Lincoln county. The trip was meant to be purely lark, but on his arrival at the picnic Bennett was surprised to learn that Judge Roy in- tended to make a speech. Presently on the picnic grounds the judge sp1ed
 Bennett.