New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
Champ Clark, 20, Declines
To Be .SheIued' u. Politics
Mere Age and Youngsters, He Asserts, Cannot Rele-
gate Him, but if He We're Wealthy He Would
Publish Real U: S. History and Dictionary

From The Tribxns's Wash;mcton Bureas
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Lookinp
backward at seventy upon a life de-
voted largely to public service, Champ
Clark. OF Missouri, declined to-day to
admit either that he was growing old
or that the politicians of a younger
generation might count him out Of mol
itics.
The Old Lion of Democracy" as he
is affectionately called by his friends,
does not make birthday announce
ment that he is a candidate for the
Presidency-an Office that slipped away
from him about seven years ago at Bal
tlmore, when, after leading the con-
vention on nine ballots, he finally lost
the Democratic nomination because of
the two-thirds rule.
But former Speaker. Clark does saw
that mere age and youngsters who at
tompt President-making are not enti-
tied to relegate him just because he is
seventy years old March z, 1920.
With characteristic frankness Mr..
Clark calls the roll of some Of the
elder statesmen who recently have
made world history-and he is the
youngest of the lot.
These aspiring statesmen who are
trying to make it appear that should
not run for President because I am
seventy years old had better rub up
their thinkers" is the "show me" way
Champ Clark has Of proving he is still
full Of fight and political youth.
Young Enough for President
Ut is only few days since a man
quit the post of honor in France who
was seventy-nine years old-Clemen-
ceau. Gladstone was Prime Minister
of England when he was eighty-three
and Palmerston was Prime Minister
when he was above eighty. Speaker
Cannon-I still call him 'Speaker'-is
eightythree and is one of the spryest
men N the House.
General Sherwood, also in the
as ramrod. There are a multitude Of
men older than I who have held high
positions-very high.">
Champ Clark may or may not get
into Presidential politics-he is de-
batting the thing now. The ex-Speaker
one moment is tempted to contest for
the Democratic nomination; the next
moment he thinks of entering the Sem
atorial race in Missouri, and then again
he is tempted to do neither. Whatever
his ultimate decision may be, his words
quoted above put Mr.. Clark in the race
so TAR as age is concerned. He says
ident if he wants to, and Mr.. Clark
ought to know.
IL am seventy years young to-mor-
row." said the stalwart Missourian this
afternoon. "There is an old saying
that woman is as old as she looks and
a man is as old as he feels. + feel as
young and as strong and as springy
as I did the first day I ever set foot
In Washington, which was in 1898.
II have spent a very busy life. l
have great many pleasant memories
and some that are not so pleasant. I
have held public office good deal and
pleasant and unpleasant"
At this point the former Speaker
said by Democrats and Republicans
alike to have one Of the ablest and
fairest presiding officers the House
ever had-dropped the hint about the
Presidency, Clemenceau, Gladstone and
SO on.
"Hired Hand" at Nine
Champ Clark was asked to talk a
bit about how it feels to be seventy, to
let his memory run back awhile over
his stirring career, and to discuss any
thing that q man Of seventy may.
This he overwhelmingly breezily,
happily. His "reminiscences range from
the time he was "hired hand" on a
farm at nine, and school teacher at
fifteen, to the eight years he presided
over the House Of Representatives. He
discussed also the high cost Of living,
as reflected by the price he once re-
ceived for coon skin to the price ex-
acted for similar skin to-day.
Switching to history, about which he
probably knows more than any man in
the House, Champ Clark said:
About one-half of the so-called his
tories written in the United States
ought to be burned by the public hang
man."
Mr.. Clark also wants a dictionary
that will show folks how really to pro-
nounce American words in an American
way.
Champ Clark is one Of the pictur-
esque figures Of American politics. He
is a sledge;h hammer debater, with a
humor that has drawn moro laughs in
At seventy he Is full Of democracy.
"pep," confidence In the future and
mellowed memories Of a busy and
fruitful life. His one great disappoint-
ment, politically, was at Baltimore. and.
naturally. he may never get over that,
but there is no bitterness in his haart
to-day.
Showing the human side Of his
nature, Mr.. Clark turned from politics
and pathetically said that zone Of
the hardest jolts ever had" was when