Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-05
CLARkE'S SPEECH
WAS MASTERPIECE
Strength of Kirby in Sena-
torship Race Is Vaporizing
as the Senator Tours.
SMELLING THE WOODS.
Is Man Far Above the Ordinary In
Oratory as Well rs In
Ability.
SMELLING THE WOODS.
(By A. Nv. PARKED

(By A. wv. PARKE)
Little Rock, Ark, Feb 4.-The ice
broken by his first campaign speech
delivered Saturday at Morrilton,
Senator James p. Clarke is this week
touring Benton, Washington, Madison
and Carroll counties in the interest
Of his candidacy for reelection, and
before him the strength accumulated
by his opponent is vaporizing-and
like hot vapor, as it isis rising and
disappearing in the clouds.
Such an argument, presented in
such forceful manner as is done by
Senator Clarke, with the documents
to prove his every assertion, can only
win for him the admiration and con-
fidence of the voting population. The
charges of the opposition, being prov
en- without foundation, adds to the
strength of Senator Clarke, and it
will be impossible to sway these vot-
ers from him again.
No one could watch the audience
which greeted Senator Clarke in the
Conway county court house at Morrill,
ton Saturday afternoon, and doubt
for an instant that this great states
man and orator would receive the al
most unanimous support of the peo-
pie in the Mach primaries.
The Morrilton audience was COM
posed of about 80 percent farmers.
1t seemed before the hour OF speak
ing, that few farmers were in the
town, but they seemed to come in all
directions, and when Senator Clarke
arose, the hall was filled. None left
until he was through but they con-
tinued to come until the isle was fill
ed and farmers stood three deep
about the rear wall.
The speech delivered by Senator
Clarke was not that of demagogue.
1t was masterpiece of a statesman.
the mastery defense of a clean
record which had been assailed. The
audience received it as such. and so
great was the interest. and SO COM
pletely were the listeners in the
hands of the orator, that the ap-
plause was stiffened before it was we'll
started, and convincing grunts from
grizzly headed sons of toll told time
after time when the thrust went
home.
There was lacking that boistorous
shouting. tossing of hats and stamp
ing of feet. The audience was not
packed" and it showed as such
from the start. Packed" audiences
are easily distinguished. for in them
are few leaders who start all APP
lause, and who lead in the yelling
The audience was too interested to
make any great demonstration, for to
do so would mean the loss of some
pointed truth being uttered by the
speaker.
To an experience campaigner, and
one who has attended hundreds OF
political speaking in different parts
| of the state, it would appear as
though Senator Clarke left with every
man who heard him Clarke voter
The Handwriting and words of COM
pliment at his close would certainly
indicate such.
Another point, which clearly indi-
Gates the changing characteristic OF
the Arkansas political audience. was
in the nature of the applause. Se1a-
tor Clarke W as most literally ap.
plauded when he spoke of the ac'
icomplishments of the Democratic
party under the leadership of Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson, and particu'
larily when he told of the part hi
had taken in It. He was applaudet
when he spoke of reforms he hoped
TO assist in making. He was ap
plauded when he spoke Of reforms
he hoped to assist in making. He wa'
applauded when he turned thu
lasrersions cast upon him by his op
ponent, into accomplishments o
| which a statesman would be proud
and OF which his constituents evel
more $50. At all times the Applause
WIS spontaneous, evidently cominl
from all parts of the house at tn
same time. There were not leaders
none are reuired when the enthusi
asm 81 the audience is genuine
eskstor 0hfhe begsn to beal