Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-03
SHADOW CAST OVER HOUSE
Continued from Paae Onal

jority on nine ballots, prior to the final
naming OF Woodrow, Wilson. The two
thirds rule of the convention alone pre-
vented Mr.. Clarks nomination. TIE hon.
or which his party thus paid him was the
most notable Of his public life. In Amer
lean political history Martin Van Buren,
was the only other man who failed of
the democratic nomination for the presi-
dency after having received a majority of
the votes in the national convention, but
he enjoyed the unique distiction of be-
ig elected subsequently.
William ]. Bryan's sensational attack
on Mr.. Clark at Baltimore. charging him
with being affiliated with leaders repre-
senting "the interests" held the conven-
ton in deadlock for more than a week
when it ended in nomination of Wilson
Bryan's speech, declaring that Thomas F.
Ryan, August Belmont and Charles F.
Murphy were supporting Clark, was
bolt from the blue which made the Clark
ranks waver. Clark supporters declared
afterward that none of the three leaders
mentioned were for Clark as first choice
but that the unit rule carried the New
York delegation to the Clark forces.
The breach between Bryan and Clark
never healed, although they met at
luncheon arranged by mutual friends a
tory speeches. Goodness between Clark
and Wilson wore off after the president
entered the White House and on legisla-
tive policies they worked in harmony. ex-
cept in one notable instance, the repeal
Of the Panama tolls exemption, which
Speaker Clark opposed unsuccessfully.
The failure of his candidacy at Balti-
more never ceased to be the disappoint-
ment Of Mr.. Clark's life. He refused NOM
ination as vice president and told the
house on the eve of his defeat that he
preferred to remain rs speaker.
His election to the speakership Of the
house came in the SIND congress, prior
to the Baltimore convention, and it was
by a 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 1893, except the
54th, when he was beaten.
| Although Champ Clark was known as
a Missourian he was born in Anderson,
KY, on March Z, 1859. He was christen-
ed James Beauchamp CLARK, but early in
life he reduced this to Champ Clark. His
first work was as farm hand, clerk in
general store, and on a country news
paper.
| He was educated at Kentucky univer-
sity and Bethany college, and the Cincin-
natl 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 10 Missouri, where he
took up the study and practice of law,
and became prosecuting attorney in Pike
county His next step was into the Mis-
souri, legislature, where he framed the
Missouri primary law, an antitrust STAT
ute, and an Australian ballot law. He
was permanent chairman of the demo-
cratic national convention at st. Louis in
1904 and headed the committee that no.
| titled Alton B. Parker of his presidential
nomination.
He was first sent to the national To-
rum in 1893. Although then regarded
as green" his strength in the house de-
veloped rapidly. When John Sharp Will
Hams left the house for the senate, Rep.
resentative Clark was made minority
leader by virtue of his seniority on the
| ways and means committee which draft
ed the Payne-Afdrich tariff act. His ser
vice on that committee in trying to keeE
duties down won him the regard of the
democrats and his speech of five hours
against the bill was one of the notable
addresses of that congress.
Mr.. Clark's sincerity, friendship for op
ponents and adherents alike, his fairnes,
u
of history, his love of clean anecdotes anC
humorous stories, and his marvelously re
tentive memory ranked with his attrib
utes of leadership. He folded the minor
ity into a virtual democratic unit when h
was minority leader, and after the GUST
ing of Cannon. which robbed the speaker
ship Of many Of its powers, he divided
with Majority Leader Underwood, tn
control of the democrats in the house and
they formed a great working team.
| Physically he was a giant of man
standing over six feet two inches il
height and weighing tribe more THAI
1900 pounds.
Speaker Clark and Mrs. Champ Clark
a familiar figure in the speakers bencl
in the gallery. entertained not only a
an annual New Years house and at othe
weekly luncheons at the capital to whicl
members and others were invited. Gene
We've Clark, whose engagement to Jane
NJ. Thompson, a New Orleans newspape
editor, was announced in the wanin
days Of the 63rd congress, and Bennett
Clark, parliamentarian of the house a
the speakers appointment, whom tn
speaker hoped 10 have succeed to hi
seat in congress. comprised the rest o
the immediate family.