Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-04-11
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D. c.
The Case of Champ Clark.

Less than two years ago the Demo
craus of the country assembled in their
primaries, and overwhelmingly ex
pressed their choice Of Champ Clark as
the standard bearer of their party.
Then came the Baltimore convention,
in which Mr.. Clark received many ma
icrity votes, to be eventually defeated
under the rule calling tor two-thirds
majority. Up to that time Gil was
"a most wonderful man. in the esti-
nation of his people. The Speaker has
gone on, and "nis days work" has
always been well done. He has support
ed the Administration Of President vii
son, and has shared in peace dinners
with Secretary Bryan. When if came
to the matter of canal tolls Mr.. Clark
differed from the President. ana made
what is regarded as mastery argu
msnt in support of his views.
The point which 1T is desired to bring
out is that somehow. IN some myster-
ious way, the whole country have been
saying under their breath's and have
come to belve It--that CLARK is
good old fellow, but he isn't big enough
to be President. And then the explain
alton proceeds in a comparison of Will
son and Clark. leaving one to conclude
that possibly it is becoming difficult
for the men in Congress to tolerate
their Speaker Why. this sort of thing
is talked every day right in Washing
ton, yet when Mr.. Clark made his fight
on the Panama Canal tolls matter he
fairly took the roof off the Capitol.
and he gave more real information con-
corning the question than has come
from any other source.
Incidentally Speaker Clark related
why he could not be a Presidential
possibility for eight years and that
spells fms on his career, as he is grow
ing old. Most people appear to have
gone off one side or the other on the
Panama matter and the result is that
in their selfsatisfaction there is a woe
full lack of understanding of the issues
involved. And those who think this
One-sided matter should get out their
books and do some studying before go
ing to he'd again. If such people Will
take the trouble to follow the debate
which is to come before the Senate
hey will find reason why such an
important problem should have been
treated with more consideration and
deIiberation in the House.
Coming back to Speaker Clark:
Would it not be fair to inquire into the
reason why this illustrious man has
been so rudely pulled off his pedestal.
He is today, as he has been for many
years, the most honored. trusted. and
respected Democrat IN the House of
Representatives. ana there "a not
man in that body but who believes alb.
solutely in the integrity and honesty
OF the Speaker. Likewise, those same
members, Democrats, Republicans and
Progressives, assert that Champ Clark
has one of the greatest minds. and is
one of the ablest statesmen living to.
day.
The writer holds no brief for Clark
nor for any other pohticisn, Clark
needs no help because his Compression.
al district seems willing to care about
all the ambitions he will ever have.
But it is well for honest and fair-mind.
ed Americans to look the ground over.
and to study the causes that lsve led
to personal assaults on our great men:
and attempts to cloud their names and
belittle their achievements. In this
Clark holds no lone hand. as ba IL
simply the latest OF victims. Colonel
Roosevelt, ex-President Taft and a
number of ez-Governors are in the
same list.