The New York herald., 1921-02-13
CLARK SEES NEED
OF REDUCING COST
OF GOVERNMENT
Veteran Missouri Represen-
tative for Disarmament
Agreement.
FOR SKELETON ARMY
Would Abolish General
Staff and Recognize State
National Guards.
FAyORS DIRECT PRIMARY
Sees National Convention and
Platforms as Needless to
Political System.
FAyORs DIRECT PRIMARY
By DONALD MAcGREGoR.

BY DONALD MACGREGoR.
gpecial Despatch 10 THE NEW YORK IiEaALp.
New York Herald Bureau. 4
Washington, ID. c.. Feb. T. 4
Champ Clark of Missouri is round
ing out his twenty-si2th year in Con-
gress.
Such span OF service is seldom
equalled. In the House membership
Of 435 It is exceeded only by the
rrizxled 'Uncle Joe" Cannon OF I'LL
nois and Speaker Frederick IL. Gillett
OF Massachusetts. The record stands
as a silent tribute to the character OF
such statesmen who year after year
are charged with writing into law the
vital policies of the Government. Oc-
casionally there comes. a great pollu-
cal avalanche, sweeping everything be-
fore it. such as that which sent the
Republicans into office in the last
elections. Then some of the veterans
are sacrificed. Just as "Uncle Joe"
met defeat eight years ago il, the
Democratic victory. Champ Clark lost
his race for reelection on November z,
and his present term of service Will
expire on March 4. Even the Repub-
1icans will miss the sage advice OF this
Democratic leader who for eight
wears presided as Speaker OF the
House.
Serves Thirteen Terms.
Thirteen terms in Congress have given
Mr.. Clark an intimate knowledge OF the
Government. Consistent always In his
school of political thought, he has gath
cred a broad vision of what Is and what
is not for the public good. Particularly
in the days when he occupied the Speak
ers rostrum and afterward as minority
leader he obtained an insight into the
motives that guided the men who con-
Quoted the Federal business.
Mr.. Clark's early work in the lower
branch of Congtess--he preferred TO be
there, having declined appointment to
be United states Senator from Mis-
souri---attracted such attention that he
came into the foreground as O. Presiden-
tlal possibility. He led In the Demo-
cratic National Convention in Baltimore
in 1912 on twenty-nine ballots. in eight
of which he had clear majority, a
record never achieved before by a can
didate who did not finally, under the
two thirds rule. win the nomination.
Wilson went to the White House instead
Of Clark.
one look at Mr.. Clark and it is evident
that he is a commanding figure Tall.
oad-shouldered and solid, he is just as
active at 20 as he was score OF years
ago. He is of the type. born in Ken
lucky and schooled In the hardships Of
early Missouri. who would slide natural
" into the leadership OF men.
some Governmental Needs.
Mr.. Clark is not reformer, yet his
experience has been such that 1t is
natural he should see many things about
the Government which should be I'm
proved When in his office at the Capt.
tol l suggested that he talk about them
he hesitated. but when II was explained
that at this time the country needed the
advice of men such as he, he consented
Ono OF the vital needs now," Mr..
Clark began, "is to reduce the cost of
Government. This is one OF the great
problems now being considered So far
as the executive system is concerned. n
Congressional commission has been ap-
pointed to study the requirements and
see IL some OF the various expensive
agencies can be consolidated or disposed
or and useless Government employees
dropped.
steps ought 70 be taken TO reduce the
expense for armament. II seems rea-
sonable enough that we could enter into
an agreement with the other nations OF
the world to limit the various armies
and navies.
Just now heated discussion Is Going
fq, bat 1or he H.,t
airship is superior as fighting force
on the sea. I am inclined to think that
the airship is superior. but II is possible
10 demonstrate this theory. and I think
II should be done. Then we would have
working basis 1t would, at least
save Us the expenditure for fghtine
craft which would not be needed in time
OF war.
A skeleton Army Only.
MY idea would be 70 reduce the army
TO minimum. I would have II no larger
than necessary for home defence II
should, OF course, be skeleton army
capable OF rapid expansion in time OF
need. The time has come whers IL Is
folly for tho people OF the United States
20 go around with a soldier on their
backs Weighing them down with the high
cost or maintenance. Especially at this
tiine the country ig filled with men who
have been trained TO fight. II would be
possible to get these men together In a
very short time II II were necessary ir
a national emergency. why In It, there
fore. that a tremendous army must be
maintained?
THE Federal Government. feel. doe,
not properly recognize the Nstiona
Guard. When / speak OF the Fedora
Government In this regard mean the
War Department authorities as typi
fed by the General Staff OF the army
which dominates War Department az
fairs. II had my way tho Genera
stan world be abolished. for I feel thai
the system IN entirely wrong. ! hav,
hopes that the incoming Administrator
viii designate Gen. Pershing 10 be Chic
OF staff. and then much OF the difficulty
will be removed.
National Guard Development.
MY idea is that the National Guart
Of the various States should be fos
tered to the fullest extent by the ma
tional Government. At present Il !.
not and as a result the Guard organi
zations are having difficulties. II they
hod tho hat thou rpottid la