Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-10-06
SENATOR CLARKE
Of ARKANSAS DIES
ATTACK OF INDIGESTION FOL-
LOWED BY PARALYSIS. CAUSE
OF SUDDEN DEATH.
STRICKEN WHILE IN OFFICE
Brilliant Career of Former Mississippi
Native Cut Short BY Sudden
Death-Presldent Pro Tenn.
at Last Session Of Senate.

Little Rock, Ark.-United States
Senator James p. Clarke, aged sixty
two, died at his home in this city Sun
day. He was taken i'll suddenly with
acute indigestion in his office We'd
nesday afternoon and early Saturday
was stricken with paralysis, causing
death in a few hours.
Associate Justice w. +. Kirby, who
opposed him in tho primaries two
years ago, viii very likely be appoint.
ed to succeed him, as the associate JUS
tice and Gov. Hays are close political
friends.
A meeting Of the Democratic state
central committee will be called at
once to name a nominee for his per
manent successor, who must be elect
ed in the November election. The
nomination must be made at once, as,
under the law, the date for certifying
all nominations in this state expires
Saturday next.
Native Of Mississippi.
Senator James p. Clarke, president
pro TEN. OF the United States senate,
was born in Yazoo City, Miss. Aug.
IS. 1864.
He came to this state from Missis-
sippi shortly after his graduation
from the University Of Virginia, locat-
ing at Helena, Phillips county, and
engaged in the practice Of law. He
at once entered politics.
In 1886 he was elected to the lower
house Of the Arkansas Legislature,
where, although practically unknown
to the politicians Of the state, he be-
came in less than a month its recog-
nized leader. His efforts were devot-
ed almost exclusively to fighting the
all-powerful lobby and corruption In
every form.
In 1883 he was elected to the state
senate, where he at once became the
most prominent figure in it, being
elected its presiding officer in 1891.
First Lawyer IN Senate.
In 1896 he declared himself a can
didate for United States senator
against Senator Jones, but the
machine alliance, which at that time
controlled all the federal offices In the
state, was too strong, and he al de-
feated.
Without any official position, with
no prospects to yer reward his
friends, his personality and extraor-
binary ability enabled him to obtain
almost absolute control Of the masses
of his party. When in 1900 the Demo-
cratic state convention met to select
delegates to the Kansas City conven-
ton he had fully two-thirds of the del
egation for anything he wanted.
In 1902 he again opposed Senator
James X. Jones in the first general
state primary ever held in Arkansas
and was successful. Senator Jones at
the time was chairman of the Demo.
cratic national committee and was
supported by William ]. Bryan and
other Democratic leaders OF national
fame. Senator Clarke had no opposi
ton for a second term, but when he
entered the contest for a third election
he had strong opposition in Associate
Justice w. F. Kirby Of the Arkansas
supreme court. who will very likely be
appointed until the November election
Senator Clarke was universally re
garded as the foremost lawyer in the
United States senate. He frequently
voted independently of his party die
tates on important measures. The
most notable exceptions were the Pan
m canal. eight-hour labor measure
and tho Panama canal bills, the las
two being recent Democratic admin
istration measures.