South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-09
Clark and Mann,
Rivals, Yet Friends
BY John Temple Graves.

y WASHINGTON.-Not during the
entire session Of congress was there
let loose SO much OF political gossip
and speculation as during the mid
FONT carnival OF dinners at which
statesmen remaining in washington
have been in exceptional demand.
Congressman on vacation are relax
ed and laxative In the elbow touch
at dinner. or after in the smoking
room, the reserve OF active session
melts In the genial glow of social in
tercOurse, and every congressman viii
tell you what he everything
from praise or criticism Of the presi-
dent to keen, frank speculation as 70
his successor-'bu not TO be quoted
from him"
All congressman and senators are
apt 20 think that the only successful
president must be taken from the
daily grapple and experience OF con-
gressiOnal life. James Il. Mann and
Champ Clark arc at this time easily
leading the congressional poll OF
presidential possibilities
THE minority leader OF the house
Is leading his party race on the first
quarter Of the track His fighting
qualities his disciplined knowledge Of
the weak spots in the democratic
legislative record, make him the best
equipped OF all republicans for an ag-
gressiveI. fight upon the issues" So
said a western senator today who has
himself been mentioned for the re-
publican nomination.
And the same senator continued:
cot course. Champ Clark is the favor
-:c candidate Of democratic congress
men. He is more popular than when
he entered the campaign Of 1912. He
is by the record the greatest vote
winner OF his party. and his loyalty
during the Wilson administration has
greatly increased his popularity. He
is the only congressional democrat
that could compete with James X.
Mann in a campaign upon the issues
If these two men. James r. Mann
and Champ Clark, should by the for
tunes of politics be pitted against
each other, the situation would be
unique IN party politics. The two men
are bosom friends. They are as
\ Damon and Pythias TO each other.
FFighting each other all day long for
the last seven years upon party issues
on opposite sides OF the house, they
have cemented a mutual respect and
confidence which have developed into
a steadfast friendship.
James r. Mann declared last Sat
urday at Champ CIaTks birthday
celebration: while i am q stalwart
republican in faith and lighting prac-
tice, am in all my sympathies
Champ Clark democrat"
The speaker has many times de-
cLared that the American congress
has no truer. Drawer and more honest
man than the republican leader
In a political campaign, with party
supremacy and the presidency as the
stake, II is perfectly certain that
neither the democratic speaker nor
the republican leader could be In
duced to say one word against the
other. 1t would ne a battle royal pure
and simple upon the issues OF the
day. And whichever won the other
would be. the first sincerely to con-
graduate the other.
If Sen. Weeks Of Massachusetts, had
been in congress a little longer. or if
he were by reason of long service a
little better known. he would be
better known, ne would be worthy Of
any foemans steel for the nOmina-
ton AS ii is. he will undoubtedly be
an influential force in the national
convention. He predicts that the re-
publican states will each pledge their
votes to some favOrite son, and that
the next republican convention Will
not know or even prcphesy its nOmi-
nee until its session is two days old.
Sen. Burton Of Ohio must be reck-
oned with in 1916. OF course, Borah
and Whitman and Johnson and Her
rick are still powerful figures In the
great presidential derby OF next year
The democratic party. in Difference
TO it's president. is not projecting any
candidates for the white house But
the woods are full Of dark horses that
are ready and eager TO enter the race
il Wilson were only out of the field
But as long as he IS a candidate no
democrat viii enter the lists against
him, as the party must stand on his
record.