The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-03-03

President Before Baltimore Con-
yention IN 1912.
A Washington dispatch dated yes
terday says that Champ Clark died
there that day in his list year, and
within two days Of his retirement
from the House of Representatives,
after a service Of rs years.
Death was due to an attack of
pleurisy and a complication Of dis
eases incident to his advanced age.
Up to 10 days ago, however, when
he developed severe cold, Mr. Clark
had shared actively in proceedings
Of the House as Democratic leader.
Death came at 2:1O D. m.
Attendants said that before the
former speaker fell into a coma his
mind WAS wandering in delirium
among memories Of his long service
ID the House and Of Legislative bait
ties of the past. They had made out,
they said, the words: 'The question
in On agreeing to the conference re-
port with which the speaker brings
to It's final conclusion in the House
the fight on any BILL
Ia the Democratic national conven-
ton at Baltimore in 1912, Champ
Clark lead on N ballots for the
nomination ais candidate for presi-
dent. and had clear majority on
nine BALLOTS, prior to the final nam
ING Of Woodrow Wilson. The two
thirds rule of the convention alone
prevented Mr. Clark's nomination.
The honor which his party thus paid
him was the most notable Of his
public life. In American political
history Martin Van Buren, was the
only other man who failed of the
Democratic nomination for the presi-
dency after having received ma
iority of the votes in the national
convention, but he enjoyed the
unique distinction Of being elected
subsequently.
William J Bryan's sensational att
tack on Mr. Clark at Baltimore.
charging him with being affiliated
with leaders representing "the i'm
terests, Z held the convention in dead
lock for more than week, when it
ended in the nomination Of Wilson,
Bryan's speech, declaring that Thos.
e. Ryan, August Belmont and Chas.
~ Murphy were supporting Clark,
was a bolt from the blue which made
the Clark ranks waver. Clark sup
porters declared afterward that none
Of the three leaders mentioned were
for Clark as first choice. but that
the INIT rule carried the New York
delegation to the Clark forces.
The breach between Bryan and
Clark never healed, although they
met at a luncheon arranged by mu-
tual friends b few months later. and
exchanged perfunctory speeches.
Goodness between Clark and Wilson
wore off after the president entered
the White House, and on legislative
policies they worked in harmony ex-
cept ID one notable instance, the re-
peal Of the Panama tolls exemption,
which speaker Clark opposed un sue
cessfully.
The failure Of his candidacy at
Baltimore never ceased to be the
disappointment Of Mr.. Clark's life,
He refused nomination as vice-presi-
dent, and told the House on thu eve
Of his defeat that he preferred to re-
main us speaker.
His election to the speakership of
the House came In the 62nd congress,
prior to the Baltimore convention,
and it was BY united Democracy in
recognition Of the contest Mr.. Clark
had made against the rule Of
Speaker Joseph Cannon. Mr.. Clark
had served In every congress since
and including the 53rd in 1898, ex-
cept the 54th, when he was beaten.
Although Champ Clark was known
as a Missourian, he was born in
Anderson, KY, March 2, 1859. He
was christened James Beauchamp
Clark, but early in life he reduced
tbis to Champ Clark His first work
was as a farm hand, clerk in gem
eral store and ons country news
paper.
He was educated at Kentucky
University and Bethany College ana
the Cincinnati Law School. For
short time he was president of
Marshall College, and, at ~, held
the record Of being the youngest
college president in the United
States. In 1875 he moved to Mis-
souri,, where he took up the study
and practice at law. and became
prosecuting attorney in Pike county.
His next step was into the Missouri
legislature, where he framed the
Missouri primary law, and anti-trust
statute, and an Australian ballot law.
tie was permanent chairman Of the
Democratic national convention at
NJ Louis in 1904, and headed the conn
mittee that notified Alton B. Parker
Of his presidential nomination.
He was first sent to the national
forum IN 1893. Although then re-
garded as t'green," his strength in
the House developed rapidly. When
JoM Sharp Williams left the House
for the Senate, Representative Clark
was made minority leader by virtue
Of his seniority on the ways and
means committee, which drafted the
Payne-Aldrseh tariff act. His SER
vice on that committee ii trying TO
keep duties down won him the re-
gard Of the Democrats. and his
speech Of five hours against the bill
CONTINUED on Page Ten.)