Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-03
CHAMP CLARK PAYS
DEBT OF NATURE
Congress VIII Pay Respects
Saturday in Manner
Seldom Duplicated
COLLEAGUES MOVED
Death Hastened End
Served 26 Years in Congress
Had Spectacular Rise

closed yesterday the career Of Champ
Clark, of Missouri, fer mere than 4
quarter century a towering figure in
national politics, a s.alwart of stall
warts in the Democratic Party.
He die, in the very shadow Of the
Capitol. Just over the way frCm the
MOTEL where he had lived many years.
House and Senate seeihed in the clos
ing hours CT the Congress Of wAich nj
vas an honored member and leader.
l&e str of legislative battle was W.T..
I'm to the end. He lived again in me-
nlory, as his pulse tagged, days OF
he eight Tears he welded the Speak
er's gavcl in the House Those sor-
rowing al his bedside heard the o.,
:h;eftain muttcr in his las; del:r:um:
"Tke question is on adoption of the
conference report"
BY mandate more binding than any
written law, Congress barely hal:e:i il
reverence 10 mark the passing of the
aged member, Knowing, as the year:
:lad taught him to knew, the vital u-@
ency of time in the closing days Of :.
Congress. the former Speaker madc
known h1s will from what he knew
vas his deathhed. HIS wish was car
,iea To- both houses that ne halt in
pubic business should oe made al his
death.
In obedience to that behesS, the
House, peopied witt, his pa.sona.
friends CT whatever party, halted a
shcrt half-hour in Adjournment, thet
marched on with its crowded pro
grammc.
In tha. pressing work Mr.. C!art
look active share up to little more
than ten days ago, ccunsal.ng hi
party colleagues as Democratic lead
=. until a cold struck him down &c
become a victim to the inf:rna.ies OF
lis 20 years of driving life that !eck
med nothing Of his own physical wei.
are. HIS death threw a shadow over
every face in the chamber when Rep
-esentative Rucker, of the M;ssour
delegation, arose to announce it, voice
.hoked with emotion II was a haltinG
aul0gy he pronounced, but it drew
from men1oers signs Of sorrow more
eloquent than words to tell Of the
place the dead leader held in their al.
fec.ion and respect. The formal mo-
icn fo- half hour adjournment was
made by Representative Monde!!. Re
publican leader.
Mr.. Clark would have been Il years
cid had he lived until next Monday
out his % years CT service in tn,
House wculd have ended Friday, fo'
le was defeated for reelection.
In the subiued tax on the f.oer. o.:
n coaGrcoms while the House paused
IN honor Gf his memcry friends of
years standing sccrned the Suggestion
hat TIE stout heart cf the MissculiaE
lad been shaken by political defea;
rha;: ha had foreseen long in advance
hey said. 1t was a mere personal
natter that had 1rcken his spirit, they
INSISTED, the death year ago OF n $
:doi:zed three-year-c,d grandson. ans
namesake, Champ Clark Thompson.
Since that blow. it was said. Mr.
Clark's colleagues had noted waning
# his keen interest IN pubic affairs
md little drop to the massive shoul
lers 50 familiar through the years
n the ccridcrs Of the Capitol.
There was one thing upon which
:hey were all agreed. that Mr.. Clark
lad died as he wished to die. in the
narntss Of his life work. He had plan
ned retirement 10 his home in Bowl
ing Green. Mo-. after March !. but
The end found him still serving his
country and his state in the House,
Representative for twenty-six years
If the Ninth district of Missouri an-'
Speaker Of the House for eight years
Champ. had career Of near
grest-os: that I'll but carried him into
he Presidency during one Of the most
crucial periods N his country's history
Meme of the prominent politicians
lad a mere spectacular rise toward