Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-31

not believe that the fact that I led on
twenty mine ballots at Baltimore. receiv-
ing clear majority on nine, and that
got majority of over 100000 over the
and 1 competed, precludes me from dis
charging my duty or exercising my rights
as representative In Congress and as
Speaker Of the House to stand up for
America against Great Britain.
Finally, the New York World says
that am to be defeated for Speaker as
punished for "bolting the President
So be it. The World tried to beat me
for reelection to the speakershfp; but
nevertheless received every vote in the
be older than Methuselah before it will
defeat me.
"The New York Sun practically nomi-
mates the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr
Sherley) for Speaker. Here is its exact
language: Reports have it that already
the little leaders,
Now, 1 resent for my distinguished
friends the title of little leaders; they
are big-bore leaders; but the Sun says:
Reports have it that already the
sentative Carter Glass of Virginia would
be good man for floor leader. and that
Representative Swagar Sherley of Ken
lucky would make an ideal Speaker
An Affront to Henry.
''The strange part of that paragraph is
that it makes no mention of my voluble
vehement and vociferous friend from
Texas (Mr. Henry for the speakership
for the Sun must know that he has had
his eagle eye on the speakership for, 10!
these many years. 1t seems to me that
the Sun has dealt him the most unkind-
est cut of all by emitting him from the
lists.
Kentucky has furnished many Speak
ers-among them the greatest of them
all, Henry Clay. Harry of the West the
Millboy Of the Slashes,' who through his
long career of mingled victory and de-
feat was followed by a great multitude
Of Americans who loved him with the
intensity and enthusiasm of the Old
Guard for Napoleon.
ut has been often wondered why this
marvellous man was elected Speaker on
his first day of service in the House.
Some months ago l searched it out. For
years the British had been committing
gross outrages upon our ships and sea-
men, and the American people rose in
protest against it The administration
was not disposed to force redress. So in
1911 Henry Clay, in the prime of his
splendid powers, came over the mountains
loudly demanding that the wrongs and
outrages on our shipping and orr sailors
be redressed. The people were with him,
the House was with him and he was
triumphantly elected. He is one Of the
immortals.
Il have this to say: The fact that
am making this fight for our platform
pledges may end my public career. There
are many things worse than being defeat
ed for Congress or defeated for the
Speakership or even worse than to be
defeated for the presidency, and one of
them is to repudiate the platform on
which you are elected.
Not Necessary to Happiness.
II can be happy without the presidency.
1 can be happy without the speakership.
The happiest hours of my congressional
life were spent on the floor of the House
engaging freely in the pariiamentary ry
struggles, great and small which rage in
this large and energetic body. If my con-
stituents who have stood by me with
unshaken fidelity should retire me to pri-
vate life. can still be happy in the love
and affection of my wife and children, in
the society of my books and in cultivating
flowers and trees.
"One thing dead sure, when do go out
of public life, whether next year or twen-
ty years hence, it will be with my IN
tegrity unimpaired and my Self-respect
intact. / will not leave my children much
property, but I will leave them the rich
legacy of good name. which King Solo
mon says is more precious than rubies.
why have the plutocratic World and
CONTINUED on Thirteenth Page.)