The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-03-08

CHAMP CLARK, DEMOCRATIC
| LEADER IN CONGRESS,
1 is DEAD
/ WASHINGTON, March 4.-Death
fclosed Wednesday the career of
Champ Clark, of Missouri, for more
than quarter century a towering
figure in National politics, q stalwart
OF stalwarts in the Democratic party.
He died in the very shadow of the
Capitol, just over the way from the
I 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 lead
er.
The stir Of legislative battle was
with him to the end. He lived again
in memory as his pulses tagged DAYS
of the eight years he welded the
Speakers gavel in the House. Those
sorrowing 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 the passing of
the aged member. Knowing, as the
years had taught him to know, the
vital urgency of time in. the closing
days of a Congress, the former
Speaker made known his will from
what he knew was his deathbed. His
wish was carried to both Houses that
no halt in public business should be
made at his death.
In obedience to that behest, the
House, peopled with his personal
friends of whatever party, halted a
short half hour in adjournment, then
marched on with it's crowded pro-
gram.
In that pressing work Mr.. Clark
took active share up to a little more
| than ten days ago, cOunciling his
party colleagues as Democratic lead
er until a cold struck him down to
his seventy years of driving life that
reckoned nothing of his own physical
welfare.
His death threw shadow over
every face in the chamber. When
Representative Rucker of the Mis-
souri, delegation arose to announce it,
his voice choked with emotion. 1t
was hating, brief eulogy he pro-
nounced, but it drew from members
signs of sorrow more eloquent than
words to tell of the place the dead
leader held in their affection and
respect. The formal motion for a
half hour adjournment was made by
Representative Mondell, Republican
leader.
Mr.. Clark would have been II
years old had he lived until next
Monday, but his twenty-six years of
service in the House would have end
ed on Friday, for he was defeated
for reelection.
In the subdued talk on floor or in
cloakrooms, while theHouse paused in
honor of his memory, friends of
years standing scorned the sugges-
ton that the stout heart of the Mis-
sourian had been shaken by political
defeat. That he had forseen long
in advance, they said. The death a
year ago of his idolized three-year-old
grandson and namesake, Champ
Clark Thompson.
Since that blow it was said Mr..
Clark's colleagues had noted a wan
ing of his keen interest in public af-
fairs and little droop to the massive
shoulders so familiar through the
years in the corridors of the Capitol.
! There was one thing upon which all
were agreed-that Mr.. Clark had died
as he wished to die, in the harness of.
his life work.
He had planned retirement to his
home in Bowling Green, Mo-, after
March 4, but the end found him still
serving his country and his State in
the House. That made it possible for
the House to vote his widow a year
of her husbands salary as it's first
business when the memorial adjourn
ment was over.
DR.. Jesse Shoup, Mr.. Clark's physi-
clan had little hope from the day his
patient was taken down with a cold.
Pleurisy developed quickly, but be-
hind that there was an accumulation
of ailments, due largely to advanced
age and the reckless energy Mr..
Clark had thrown into his work. To
development of these the cold opened
an easy door. 1t was only a ques-
ton of little time, DR.. Shoup knew,
despite the courageous fight his pa
tient was making, and besides Mrs.
Clark, the former Speakers son, Ben
nett, and his daughter and her hus-
band, Mr.. and Mrs. James M. Thorn
son, of New Orleans, were at his bed
side through all his last hours.
In the Senate word of Mr.. Clark's
death was given by Senator Harrison
of Mississippi. He spoke feelingly
of the service the veteran Democratic
leader had rendered his party and the
nation, but Mr.. Clark's wishes that
no halt in the business of Congress
should be made in his honor pre-
vailed, and the Senate kept on at it's
work.
In the Democratic National Con-
Ivention at Baltimore in 1912, Champ
Clark led on twenty-seven ballots for
the nomination as candidate for
President, and had a 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.