New Britain herald., 1916-10-02
SEN, CLARKE DIES;
 SICK FOUR DAYS
ArkaDSan Noted in Public Life for
 His Independence

l Little Rock, Ark, Oct. 2-United l States Senator James P. Clarke died l at his home here yesterday afternoon. | He was taken ill suddenly with acute | indigestion in his office Wednesday l afternoon and Saturday was stricken l with paralysis, since when he had
 been unconscious. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Joseph w. House, Jr., and Mrs. Robert Will | Hams, and one son. James P. Clarke | Associate Justice w. F. Kirby who 1 opposed him in the primaries two years ago, will likely be appointed to succeed him, as the associate justice and Governor Hays are close political | friends.
 A meeting of the democratic state central committee will be called at l once to name a candidate as his per manent successor, who must be elect l ed in November. The nomination l must be made at once as, under the l law, the date for certifying all nom | nations in this state expires on Sat- | urday next.
 Senator Clarke's action when the ! eight-hour railroad bill was passed l brought him into great prominence. | He was in the chair. and was one of 1 the two demo cratic senators to re- l fuse to sign it. When it was pre- sented to him for his signature, he l appointed Senator Hughes of New Jersey as acting president pro tenn pore, and Senator Hughes signed 1t | as the presiding officer of the senate. Senator Clarke's stand against the eight-hour bill was typical of an in- | dependence that characterized his at- | titude during all the thirteen years | of his senatorial career. Many times he was the leader in opposition to l measures proposed by his party. The climax of his independence was reached when he led the democratic objectors against the Ship Purchase bill. His action gave new life to the republican fi1ibuster, and made the passage of the bill impossible. During the last session, when the bill was reintroduced, with the gover1a ament ownership and operation features to which he objected revised and modi- fled, he gave to it his support
 Again during the last session. Sen ator Clarke surprised his colleagues when he proposed the amendm lent to the Philippine bill which would have given absolute independence to the islands at the end of four yeaTs. The administration indorsed his almend- ment and it was adopted by the sen ate, the house, however, refu#ing to accept it.
 A Native of Mississippi
 Senator Clarke's second abpoint- ment as president pro temI|ore of the senate last December, can4e after a contest in the tdem ocratic icaucus. ,Ieafu c9r tttaa oy9sf05stSs<5a4 *oo kf1n was | based on his refusal to conform to the 1 policy of the administration during the the previous session. His oppon-
 ents objected to him personally, de-
 claring he was arbitrary ano dicta-
 toria1, and another element If the opposition said he was elevated to
 that place in the last congress for the
 purpose of aiding him in his race for
 e-election to the senate. His action l on the Ship Purchase bill vas also | held against him. However, on Dec. 3, 1915. the final ballot showed 28
 votes for Senator Clarke anC 23 for | Senator Pomerene of Ohio.
 He was born in Yazoo, Mss, and
 was a son of the late Waite. Clarke
 and Mrs. Ellen White Clarks. After
 receiving his early educatioh in the native state, Senator Clarke attended
 the University of Virginia, from which
 he was graduated in 1878. with. the
 degree of Bachelor of Laws. During 1 the same year he was admitted to
 the bar and went to Arkansas, where
 he started practice in Helena.
 l Immediately plunging into politics,