The Washington herald., 1914-04-01

I Der. Even those Democrats who later
voted with the Speaker refrafned, almost
to man. from expressing appreciation
or the campaign material the Speaker
was furnishing the men who would op-
pose them in November
As the Speaker progressed he became
more and more Incorporate in his criti-
cism of the Presidents course. After
paying his respects to Representatives
Henry. Sherley, and Hardwick, who are
supporting the President, and who have
| more or less directly attacked the
Speakers attitude. he continued:
Il have this to say: The fact that ]
am making this fight for our platform
pledges may end my public career. There
are many things worse than being de-
teated for Congress or defeated for the
Speakership or even worse than to be
defeated for the Presidency, and one of
them is to repUdiate the platform on
which you are elected.
Happy Without Presidency.
Il can be happy without the Presidency.
l can be happy without the Speakership
The happiest hours of my Congressional
life were cpent on the floor of the House,
engaging freely in the parliamentary
struggles, great and small, which rage
in this large and energetic body. If my
constituents who have stood by me with
unshaken fidelity should retire me to
private life, l can still be happy in the
love and affection of my wife and chill
dren, in the society of my books, and in
cultivating flowers and trees
"One thing dead sure, when I do go
out of public life. whether next year or
twenty years hence, il will be with my
mental integrity unimpaired and my
self-respect intact. l will not leave nv
children much property. but 1 will leave
them the rich legacy of a good name.
which King Solomon says is more
precious than rubies.
Why have the plutocratic World and
others of its kind made these false
statements, these base insinuations, these
rgly threats? To bully and browbeat
me into helping to do an un-American
thing-an utterly unjustifiabIe thing-a
thing which will excite the scorn and
derision Of the civilized world. 1t cannot
be done. l have sense enough to know
my duty, and courage enough to do il as
becomes a member of this House and the
Speaker thereof"
No Word of Criticism
Having thus charged his colleagues and
the President with the basest treacherv
to their common country and their cor
sciences. Mr.. Clark told them he didn.,
have no word of criticism for nv
Democratic friends who are going to vote
for the repeal We have worked To-
gether too long; We have fought shoulder
to shoulder. heart to heart, too often:
we have mourned together in defeat for
sixteen years, but never were disheart-
ened; We have rejoiced together in our
victories during the last four years, and
nope we VIII have cause to rejoice in
many more.
with deep affection
And recollection.
Il assume that every member will yote
honestly the way dictated by his intellect
and his conscience: but why should l he
denied the same privilege? No man here
should be 'rubber-stamp' Congressman
wild yells of derision from the RepublI-
cans). refuse absolutely to be a rub
ber-stamp' Speaker
But. although the members of Congress
are. in Mr.. Clark's oft-expressed opinion,
men of high intelligence, and although
he Is sure they are voting their convic-
tions, he felt convinced they were seek
ing to degrade the House by passing
the repeal bill.
Long Time to Decide.
Mr.. Clark explained that in his anxis,r, |
to stand with the President conscientious |
ly, he had taken so much time to make
up his mind that he had been unable to |
announce decision earlier than he did, |
that is, the day before the first test vote !
was taken. He said:
Truth to tell, 1 never spent as much
time thinking about what my duty was
as upon this. looked at it from every
angle to see IL there was any
justification for not keeping our plat
form pledge. for 1 desired to stand with
the President, knowing full well that my
motive would be misconstrued by every
office seeker in the land; but. to save INV
life. could conture no excuse for boltine
the platform. That is the reason wbv
was so slow In announcing INV conclu-
sion in the matter. Having had so much
trouble IN coming to determination my
self, 1 never asked a single rner,ba- e
vote as did. / am certain that the en-
tire membership Of the House will bear
me out in that statement"
After quoting from an early speech re-