The Washington herald., 1914-04-01

The stiffness of death pervaded the
crowded House chamber as Champ
Clark, long proof sheets of. his speech in
hand, stalked to the well of the House
from the Speakers lobby. following the
announcement of Majority Leader I'm
derwood. from the Speakers table. that
he recognized the gentleman from Mis-
souri,, Mr.. Clark" at the request of
Representative Doremus.
Before the massive frame of the Mis-
sourian had squared itself to address the
House. however. about 500 members of
the House and Senate and employees had
started an ovation that began with hand
cIapping and climaXed in a prolonged
series of yells. The galleries took up the
ovation and it was fully a minute be-
fore order could be restored and the
Speaker could make himself heard. Near
ly every one on the floor of the House
was on his feet during the ovation.
At the outset, Mr.. Clark read slowly
and impressively, adhering reEgiously TO
his carefully prepared speech. Later on,
however, he wandered more afield, with
the result that in the time allotted him
he was unable to conclude with his print
ed remarks.
Il thank you for the cordiality of your
reception" the Speaker commenced. Mr..
Speaker. there is no personal issue be-
tween the President of the United States
and myself. There has not been at any
time. 1 trust there never will be. l
have at no time uttered one word of
criticism of the President. At no time.
so far as l am informed or believe. has
the President said one single word of
criticism of me. In the nature of things,
a man who is worthy to hold a high
public post in the service of his country
must believe that other public servants
are actuated by the same high, courage
Gus, and patriotic motives by which he
believes himself TO be moved.
Il have never for one moment enter
tained the opinion that President Wilson
is actuated by other than the highest
patriotic motives. / do not believe that
President Wilson has ever entertained
any other opinion as to the conduct of
those Of US who find it necessary to differ
with him on this measure. President
Wilson does not desire a breach in the
breach in the Democratic party. ana
there is no breach in the Democratic
party"
Opposed to Breach.
This statement was greeted with tumul-
tuous applause by the Democrats and
with jeers from the Republican side of
the chamber. Then the Speaker launched
into a vitriolic attack upon a newspaper
which has been severely criticizing his
tolls course. After reading excerpts from
one Of the stories printed in the New
York World. he continued:
Not satisfied with the foregoing SLAM
ders, it attributes the fact that l am
standing on the Baltimore platform to
the fact that l have not forgotten the
Baltimore convention. How can / forget
a performance which nobody else In
America seems able to forget, including
the New York World? 1t, along with
every editor in America who hopes to be
ambassador. minister plenipOtentiary,
consul general, or to hold some other fat
and juicy job. has been endeavoring to
place me in antagonism to the President
ever since the election.
These papers declare that / am op-
posing this surrender to Great Britain
as an opening gun in my campaign for
President in 1916 1t may surprise these
Obsequious courtiers to now that 1 never
hinted to any human being that l would |
be a Presidential candidate in 1916; and
that. am not a candidate. Consequently |
their slander has been a gratuitous men
tai degradation.
1T will, surprise these Iimber-backed |
incense sN myers still more to know what |
] have uniformly told those who have |
Euggested my candidacy in 1916, and il 1
is this. If President Wilson makes a |
success Of his administration he will
he renominated and reelected in 1916: but |
If he makes a failure, which God forbid,
the nomination will not be worth having.
Feels No III VIII.
Il never entertained the slightest ILL
will toward the President about the Balti-
more convention. I wish him well.
did all / could to elect him. far more
than some of those who so vociferously
and fulsomely praise him now and for
whom deep down in his heart he must
supreme contempt l have
steadfastly supported him until We are
called upon to bolt the platform. I abb
solutely refuse to do any such thing"
The Speakers implied criticisms of
he President and references to the
course Of the majority of his colleagues
throughout his speech were received by
he Republicans with enthusiastic ap-
'lause. and with almost stony silence
rom the Democratic side Of the cham