Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-29
CLARK'S SPEECH
DISAPPOINTSFOES
Ex- Speakers Support of
League of Nations Upsets
Their Calculations
IMPROVES HIS CHANCES
Friends Believe His Choice as
Democratic Floor Leader in
House Assured
BIZ q Sknn Corrnarondert


Washington, March 29-When Champ
Clark came out In support of the league
of nations in his speech at Worcester,
Mass, n few days ago he deeply disap-
pointed the group OF Democratic Dol
sheviM' Congressman who had been
waging newspaper campaign against
his election as Democratic floor leader
in. the next House
II the former Speaker had come out IN
opposition 10 the league of nations, as
many had expected he would, It is
probable he would have been dethroned
as the leader of his party in the House
The strong supporters OF the President
were prepared to seize upon his oppo-
s''lon 10 tho league as evidence OF his
antagonism 70 the administration and
unfitness for House Leader. But Mr.
Clark's unqualified support of the league
upset the calculations of his opponents.
The motive Of the attack on Champ
Clark, which remained for weeks an ap-
parent mystery, now seems to bo to dis
credit entirely the Missourian and kill
MIN off as a presidential possibility in
1920. The breach between Wilson and
Clark, growing out of the defeat of the
Iatter FOR the Democratic nomination
for President In 1912 at the Baltimore
convention by tho Wilson forces has
never healed
The Wilson forces have no particular
complaint to make against Clark, but
realize that in order to nominate their
choice, who may be William G; McAdoo,
Colonel L. NJ. House or some one else
to succeed President Wilson, they must
eliminate Clark who, next 70 the Presi-
dent, Is the strongest Democrat IN public
life today.
The anti-Clark men. who have only
shown their teeth since Congress ad-
journed on March 4, believed they had
the Speaker in the hole on the league
of nations issue, and had announced so
in the press But they were entirely
out-maneuvered By the Missourian, who
took his own time to declare his position
on the question. and then came out for
the league after they had asserted that
he had declared his opposition to it.
rather striking fact about the op-
position to Clark Is that it did not de-
velop until some of his friends began to
mention him az a possible candidate for
President in 1920.
Clark Disproyes Charge
Congressman James H. Mays. OF Utah
one of the leadeps in the group opposed
to Clarll's being House leader. issued
statement two weeks ago declaring that
Clark was opposed to the league of ma
tions and had stated in his presence:
wilson's league Of nations has as much
chance Of being ratified as you have of
being Pope Of Rome"
Mays asserted that the Democrats
could not support for House leader
man antagonistic to the President and
the league of nations.
Clark let the statement go unRn-
swered for a week. and then Geclar d In
Atlanta that anybody who said he made
such Il statement was malicious liar"
because he had studiously refrained from
discussing the league.
Ten days more went by and then in Z
speech at Worcester, Mass, last Weunes-
day night Clark said: II take II that
every sane man or woman on earth Is in
favor of universal and everlasting peace.
"I have no doubt that the finished prod
uct as regards the league will be salts
factory to all reasonable people"
This statement, ClarkS friends assert.
leaves Mays almost high and dry. will
bring support of many who syInpathize
with a man untustly attacked, and in
sure the defeat of the plan to Oust him
as Democratic floor leader, politicians
in Washington believe.