New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-03
A Real Senator.

/ He was a man of unusual force and indie
pendence of character. He valued has
own Judgment, and was not to be swerved
from It by executive intimidation or eau
Gus pressure.
lie never assented to the theory that the
Senate or the House of Representatives
ought to become mere machine for regis
tering the edicts of n party leader tenn
porarily installed in the White House. lie
thought that he was entitled to act on his
own initiative and to follow his own IDEAS
in supporting or opposing legislative pro
posals. 1t was not in him to receive IN
structions from the President before speak
ing or voting. SO during the last .hree
years of Presidential overlordship in Con-
gress he resolutely went his own way. lie
rose to real distinction as the one Demo-
crat in the Senate who always exercised
complete freedom Of thought and action
the one Democrat whom Mr.. Wilson really
feared.
Mr.. Clarke's singular political courage
manifested itself even before Presi-
dent Wilson came into office. He was
the only Southern Democrat to vote Tor
the Bristow amendment to the amend
ment to the Federal Constitution provld-
ing for the popular election OF United
States Senators. The other Southern
Senators were bitterly opposed to putting
the election of Senators entirely under
Federal control, fearing another Force
bill. But Mr.. Clarke thought that the
Bristow amendment was logical and
supported it. His vote turned the scales
in its favor, making tie in the Senate
and enabling the Vice-President to cast
the deciding ballot
In recent sessions the Arkansas Senator
led the Democratic revolt against the
vicious McAdoo- Wilson shipping bill. He
defeated it at the short session of 19l4-15,
when it still contained provisions for UNI
limited government ownership and opera
ton of freight carriers. At the last ses-
sion he also held it up until it was de-
natured into a mere shadow Of its former
self
He also had the courage to denounce the
hypocrisy of the mock performance by
which the so-called Gore resolution was
laid on the table last winter, for the pur-
pose of creating the impression that the
Presidents policy in regard TO warning
Americans not to travel on belligerent pas
senger steamers was being indicated. Hel
said truly that the Senate had discredited
its intelligence and dignity by so shallow
an exhibition of political hippodroming.
Again, on the Philippine question he
exposed the insincerity of the Administra-
ton by compelling the Democrats in the
Senate to take seriously the Democratic
party's promises to the Filipinos of
speedy independence. He rammed his own
"scuttle" measure through the Senate over
the Presidents opposition, and then COM
PEELED the President to indorse it in let
ter TO the House Democratic caucus. To
add to Mr.. Wilson's discontinue, the
House few days later rejected his advice
and killed the "scuttle" bill.
When the President surrendered six
weeks ago to the four railroad brother
hoods, Mr.. Clarke refused to become a
party to that betrayal of public interest
He voted against the peace-at-any-price
bargain with the brotherhood leaders.
After the bill had passed he declined TO
sign it as president pro tempore of the
Senate. Rather than do so he vacated the
chair and named another Senator as tenn
porary presiding officer.
This scant summary of the Arkansas
Senator's record suffice5 to show his eX-
ceptional capacity to think and act for
himself. He was his own master, uncon-
trolled, except for the duty he thought he
owed to the community which elected him.
More men like him are needed in the Sen
ate and in the House Of Representatives.
Courage, self-dependeHce, a determination
to preserve ones own individuality and
maintain ones own convictions have been
at great discount in the last two Con-
crosses. Mr.. Clarke's death is therefore
serious loss. If Congress is to regain
any large measure of popular respect, it
must speedily develop many more leaders
with Mr.. Clarke's courage, his combatve-
ness and his appreciation Of the impor-
lance of resisting a demoralizing dctation
from the White House