The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-03-27
AFTER CHAMP CLARK
Democrats in Congress Don't Want
Him as Leader

Washington, March 25.-Some OF
the most influential Democrats in
the country are interesting them
selves in the fight 70 prevent the
election of Champ Clark as minority
leader of the next House, and to
substitute a leader known to be in
sympathy with the President and IN
accord with his principles. Within
the hast week letters have been re-
cewed from dozen national COM
mitteemen bespeaking thorough ap-
proval of the insurgent program and
declaring the selection Of MIR. Clark
would bring party disaster and de-
feat.
Although the movement sprang
spontaneously from the progressive
Democrats in Congress, there is evi-
denee to indicate that several MEM
bers of President Wilson's cabinet
are likewise in complete sympathy
with it, and would welcome a new
leader in the House as contribu-
ton to party harmony.
Impetus yas given the cause by
REPRESENTATIVE Asbury F. Levers
statement. Mr.. Lever is one OF the
veterans of Congress, having repre-
sented hSouth Carolina for 10 years.
He withdrew from the senatorial
race last year at President Wilson's
request, in order to handle the Ad-
ninistration's food control and con-
servation program in the House. He
is perhaps best known as the spon-
sor of the several food bills enacted
by the War Congress, and the auth
or of the wheat-guarantee bill, keep
ing the price at s2.26 for the cur
rent year.
II will support no man who will
say that a conscript is synonymous
with a convict" Mr.. Lever said.
"I regard it as of the utmost i'm
portance to the future success OF
the Democratic party that the min
erity leadership in the next con-
xress shall be strong, aggressive and
in the fullest sympathy, not an en-
forced sympathy, with the plans and
purposes of the President of the
United States, who for six years
has been the elected spokesman and
leader of this party. The leadership
of the minority in the next congress
should have no axes to grind and no
personal ambitions to serve. 1t
should be such a leadership as can
freely and without hesitation confer
with the actual leader of the party
on matters of national and party
policies. Without such harmonious
relationship the situation for 1920
is impossible; with it, the future of
the party could not be more hopeful,
for it is my firm belief that the over
whelming majority of the people OF
the country are in line with the
President in his wonderful fight to
minimize to the very limit the pos
sibifity of wars in the future.
"The million, three hundred thou
sand soldiers who have gone through
the brutal murder Of this war, re-
turning to this country are as GER
tain to give their support to the idea
Of a League of Nations as it is Ger
tain that the sun will rise tomorrow
morning, and no man can be selected
to lead the Democrats in the next
House, who does not in full measure
believe in this doctrine. To select a
man for leader who does not believe
in it would be suicide and it is my
belief that when the Democrats OF
the country realize what the real
situation is, they will demand, in
terms which cannot be misunder-
stood, such leadership as will give
the President and his policies the
fullest support.
Democrats cannot allow personal
relationships or sympathy to stand
Ia the way Of party success, and
they are not going to do it"