The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-03-03
DEATH ENDS LONG
AND ACTIVE LIFE
OF CHAMP CLARK
Picturesque Figure Of
Democratic Party Sue
cumbs After Years
of Service
CONGRESS PAUSES
Colleagues Pay Brief
But Lasting Tribute
to Associate

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Death
closed today the career of Champ
Clark OF Missouri, for more than q
quarter century towering figure
in national politics, stalwart Of stal.
warts in the Democratic party.
He died in the shadow of the
capitol. Just over the way from the
hotel where he has lived many years,
house and senate seethed in the clos
ing hours Of the congress of which he
was an honored member and leader
The stir of legislative battle was with
him to the end. He lived again in
memory, as his pluses tagged, days
OF the eight years he welded the
speakers gavel In the house. Those
s0rrowing at his bedside heard the
old chieftain mutter in his last de-
lirium:
"The question Is on adoption Of the
conference report"
BY mandate more binding than any
written law, congress barely halted in
reverence to mark his passing. Know
ing as the years had taught him the
vital urgency, Of time in a closing
congress, the former speakers wish
that no halt in public business should
be made at his death was carried
to both houses.
In obedience, the house, peopled
with his personal friends, halted a
half hour in adjournment, then
marched on with its business.
In that pressing work, Mr.. Clark
took active share up to little more
than ten days ago, as Democratic
leader, until cold struck him down
to become a victim to the indrmities
of his seventy FEARS of driving life.
His death threw shadow over every
face In the chamber when Represen-
tative Rucker Of Missouri arose to
announce 1t, voice choked with emo
tien. 1t was q. hating. brief eulogy
he pronounced, but he drew from
members signs of sorrow more elo-
Quent than words to tell of the place
the dead leader held in their affec-
tion and respect. The formal mo-
tion for . half hour adjournment was
made by Representative Mondell,
Republican leader.
Mr.. Clark would have been
seventy-one years old had he lived un-
til Monday, but his twenty-six years
in the house would have ended Fri
day, for he was defeated for re-
election.
In the subdued talk while the
house paused, friends scorned the
suggestion that the stout heart Of the
Missourian had been shaken by po.
litical defeat. That he had foreseen
they said. 1t was more personal
matter that had broken his spirit
they insisted, the death year age
of his idolized three-year-old grand
son and namesake, Champ. Clarl
Thompson.
Since that blow, it was said, Mr.
Clark's colleagues had noted wan.
ing OF his keen interest in public af-
fairs and little droop to the massive
shoulders.
There was one thing upon which
all were agreed, that Mr.. Clark died
as he wished, in harness. He planned
visit to Bowling Green, Mo-, after
March 4, but the end found him still
serving his country. That made 1t
possible for the house to vote his
widow year Of her husbands salary
as its first business when the adjourn
ment ended.
., DR.. Jesse Shoup, Mr.. Clark's physi-
clan, had little hope from the day his
patient was taken down with cold.
'Pleurisy developed, but behind that
there was an accumulation Of ailments
due largely to advanced age. 1t was
only question OF a little time, DR..
Shoup knew, despite the courageous
fight his, patient was making, and be-
sides Mrs. Clark, the former speakers
son, Bennett, and his daughter and
her husband, Mr.. and Mrs. James M.
Thompson of New Orleans, were at
his bedside.--Salt Lake Tribune.
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