Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-23
CHAMP CLARK SO
LIQUOR.FUDDLED
SPEECH STOPPED
Detroit Audience Is Disguised
With Incoherent Address
Money is Refunded

The New York World reprints TIT
following from the Detroit Free Press
OF December 8:
In the middle OF a lecture by Speak
er Champ lark of the National House
CT Representatives. after the speaker
had shown evidences in his actions
and words Of being under the inilu
ence Of liquor, the board Of directors
Of the Detroit board OF commerce
Wednesday night suddenly terminated
the address by turning out the lights
MIR. Clark had been invited to leave
the lecture platform by Secretary
Byres Fl. Gitchell Of the board. but re-
fused to listen to him. The lights then
were turned OF and relighted, but the
speaker continued in his rambling
talk. Finally the lights were again
turned of and Mr.. Clark was led from
the platform.
Many Women Leave.
One-third of the audience of more
than 1000 had left their seats abruptly
and walked from the hall before any
attempt was made to silence the
speaker. Most of these who left were
women.
From the first it was apparent
Speaker Clark was not natural in his
demeanor. His gestures were I'm,
steady and hating. The greater Dor
ton of the time his hand dropped
palm inward and his chin was sunk
low on his chest. His voice, too,
broke ncticeably after the first Is min
utes and became hoarse growl. The
longer he spoke the less coherent his
speech and thought became.
After Speaker Clark had been taken
from the building Mr. Gitehell apollo
gized to those Of the audience who
remained and stated that any who
had purchased special tickets for the
lecture could have their dollars re-
funded at the door.
Half Hour Late. =.
Speaker Clark came to the Board
.of Commerce building from his hotel
half an hour after he was scheduled
to begin his address. The delay vas
due to. Mr.. Clark's evident condition.
and the committee of Democrats
which had been attending him during
the day worked to get him into shape
When he came to the building MIR.
Clark was accompanied by Congress-
man Frank E. Doremus and Postmas9
ter William J. Nagel His condition
was apparent to those members of tile
board who had charge of the lecture,
but after a conference it was decided
to follow the program. Slss
After II had been decided that Dir.
Clark was unable to go on to the rOs-
trum he was taken upstairs in charge
of Mr.. Gitchell, Mr.. Higginson, Con.
gresham Doremus and Postmaster
Nagel. Mr.. Higginspn assisted him to
mount the platform, where as he
walked to. his seat he was greeted
with hearty applause. He bowed
very slightly in response. ..
Walks unsteadiIy. ......-.-
As Mr.. Higginson finished his intro
duction Speaker Clark rose slowly
and walked unsteadily to the front, of
the platform, Mr.. Higginson taking
his arm in an intimate sort OF way.
Standing with his left hand on the
speakers table and his right fumbling
bis watch chain, Mr.. Clark launched
deliberately into his speech.
Congressman Doremus was the sab.
ject Of the speakers first remarks. In
q fairly even voice he paid the De-
troit congressman hearty compli.
ment. But as he ATTEMPTED
to recite examples of repaftee he he'd
heard on the floor Of the national
house his thoughts appeared to wayer
and the point of the first example
dwindled away into a meaningless, in.
complete sentence.
Ignores Suggestion. ... ?.
Hastily Mr.. Gitehell and other mem.
bers of the men in charge held corl
Terence and IL was decided 20 ask
Speaker Clark to stop. Before this
could be done fully third OF the audi.
ence had left the auditorium When
Mr.. Gitchell approaches the speaker
the later turned his head to listen,
pausing In the midst of sentence.
but immediately turned again to the
audience and launched upon another
sentence
From the switchboard in a dressing
room at the side Of the platform the
stage lights were first turned or and
then the lights Of the auditorium. A
moment later they were turned Oh,
but still the speaker proceeded. A
second darkening of the house sent
the speaker of the platform to the
ldressing room at the right, where he
was met and escorted from the
awNN