Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-07
Not Only Clark But the Party.


Champ Clark's performance in regard
to the canal tolls seems to have led to
some talk, among those who do not like
the continuous exhibition of a sore toe,
of another Speaker In the next Congress.
Probably it will not come to anything,
but the matter has led a distinguished
Massachusetts Republican member of the
House." according to the Washington
correspondent of the Boston Advertiser,
TO declare that if Clark ever needed Re-
publican votes he could get them in
droves," because of having shown him
SELF a fine parliamentarian and proved
a Speaker SO fair that fairer speaner
than he cannot be imagined" In view
of that statement it can scarcely be
doubted that Mr.. Clark has made an
admirable presiding officer, and it may
be ehalked up to his credit But Repub-
Ivan votes. even in dToVes, would
hardly do him any good in the improb-
able event of his being defeated by some
other candidate in the Democratic eau
Gus before the organization of the next
House, assuming that il will be Demo-
cratic. For the votes OF the Democrats
as a body would be thus assured TO the
other candidate under caucus rule. The
simple face in regard to Mr.. Clarks ex-
hibition as poor loser is that not only
has he now made himself impossible as
a presidential nominee-a role IN Which
he would have been weak at best-but
even grotesque. His crouch has been too
apparent for success in his EFFORT TO
charge it up to misrepresentatlon; put
his speech on the tolls question was at
least more dgniied than might have
been feared-Springfield Republican
Our Massachusetts, contemporary,
usually so logical, falls down miser-
ably because it bases its argument
on false premise to uphold the Presi-
dent. Assuming that Democracy con-
trolls the next House of Representa-
tives of course it would be easy for
those catering to the powers of pa
tronage to organize the overthrow of
Champ Clark as Speaker. But that
assumption is wrong from several in
escapable angles. First, Speaker
Clark is obeying the voice of the Am
erican people, and the President is
defying it in the interests of British
friendship" and North American rail-
ways which have fought the canal
from the start Second, Mr.. Clark
stands by the pledges made by the
Democratic party in national conven-
NA0AP PiNhStS OLt-lGpCetltd anu ltuQtQ
by the Presidential candidate and 9TH
er speakers in the campaign, and the
President and his toadies are repudiat-
ing those public promises. Third,
Champ Clark knows that it is not only
he that is passing" because of the
canal tolls demonstration of Democ-
racys honor 60 but the party itself.
Champ Clark has warned his party
that it is not only the Speaker of the
House that is to pay for party du-
plicity, but those who accuse him of
exhibiting sore toe" as we'll. He
knows that the job started with free
trade, and carried on by ill-advised
currency legislation is to be completed
by canal tolls. Champ Clark knows
that the Democratic party never could
stand prosperity and, with ever so
good a start, it always pumps its
foot into it," In canal tolls exemption
repeal it will perfect that climax
Up to Thursday, according to Wash
ington papers, Speaker Champ Clark
had received nearly 1000 letters and
kilograms commenting on his position
against the repeal of the tolls exemp-
tion provision of the Panama canal
act. The Washingto Post says
"Out of nearly thousand letters
already sorted by the Speakers secre-
taries only two have been found that
contain words Of criticism. To these
the Speaker dictated replies. Later
acknowledgements will be sent to all
those who have written