Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-03-03
DEATH HAS CLOSED.
CAREER Of 6! ARK,
VETERAN Of HOUSE
WAS FIGURE IN NATIONAL POLL.
TICS FOR PERIOD or TWENTY
FIVE YEARS
STALNART PARTY LEADER
by Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. March 2.-Dcath
closed today the career of Champ Clark
of Missouri. for more than quarter
century u towering figure In national
politics. "a stalwart of sialwarts la the
democratic party.
lie died In the very shadow of the
hotel where he has lived many years
House and senate secthcd In the closing
hours ~ the congress Of which he was
Rn honored member and leader.
The stir Of legislative battle WIS
with him until the end. lie lived
again IN memory as his pulses Tagged.
days of the eight years he welded the
speakers gavcl In the house. Those
sorrowing AT his bedside heard the old
chleftain mutter IN his last dclrium:
"'rhe question IN ON adoption uf the
conference report"
By mandate more binding than any
written law. congress barely halted IN
reverence Ia mark the passing of the
aged member. Knowing the vital az.
gency of time In the closing days of
congress, the former speaker sent
word Ia both houses. from what he
knew was his death bed. that no halt
In public business should b. mndc at
his death.
In obedience. the house. pcoplcd with
his personal friends. halted "a short
half hour In adjournment. then march.
ed on with i,s crowded programme.
In that pressing work. Mr.. Clark
took active share up to little more
than ten days ago. cOunscling his party
colleagues as democratic leader. until
cold struck him down 20 become a
victim To infirmitics IL his seventy
years of driving life that recokncd moth.
INK Of his own physical welfare. His
death threw u shadow over every face
In the cahmber when Representative
Ruckcr ~ the Missouri delegation arose
10 announce II. voice chokcd with emo
tion. IL was halting. brief culogy he
pronounced. hut he drew from mem.
hers signs ~ sorrow more eloquent
than words To tell of the place the dead
leader held In their affection and ~.
spect. The motion for half hour ad.
Journment was made by Representative
Mondell. republican leader
Mrs. Clark would have been n years
had he lived until next Monday. Hut
his 90 years of service In the house
would have ended Friday. Tor he was
defeated for reelection.
In the subdued talk while the house
paused In honor of his memory. friends
II years standing scorncd the sugges.
tion that the stout heart of the Nils,
sourian had been shaken by political
defeat That. he had forcscen long In
advance. they said. II was ntory
personal matter that had broken his
spirit. they insisted. the death year
ago Of his idolizcd, the three year old
grandson and name sake. Champ Clark
Thomson.
Since the blow. II was said. MIR
Ciarks colleagues had noticed a waning
~ his keen interest In public affairs
and little droop To the massive
shoulders ~ familiar through years
IN the corridors of the capitol
There was one thing upon which all
were agreed. that MIR clark had died
as he wished to die. In the harncs,
of his life work. lie had planned rc,irc
ment Ia his home In Bowling Green
Missouri. after March I. hut the end
found him still serving his country
and state In the house. That mad,
II possible for the house to vote hi,
widow year II her husbands salary
Rs It's first business when the memorla
adjournment was over,
DR.. Shoup. Mr.. Clark's physician
had little hope from the day his patient
was taken down with cold plcurisl
developed quickly. hut behind tha
there was an accumulation u all
ments due largely Ia advanced age ant
the reckless energy Mr., Clark ha,
thrown into his work. To development
of these the cold opcncd nm easy door
II WIS only question NJ u little time
Dr. Shoup knew. despite the courage
Gus fight his patient was making an,
besides Mrs clark. the former speaker
son. Bennett. and his daughter an,
her husband. Mr. and Mrs James NJ
Thomson. Of New Orleans We're at hi
bedside through all his last hours
In the senate. word of Mr.. Clark
death was given by senator Harrison
~ Mississippi lie spoke fcelingly a
the services the veteran democrats
leader had rendered his party and tn
nation hut Mr.. Clarks wishes that NJ
hal, In the business of congress shoul'
,ur made In his honor prevailed am
the senate kept on at its work