Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-03
CHAMP CLARK
(continued from Page One

-
in the House Those scrrowing at his
bedside heard the old chieftain mutter
in his last delirium:
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 to know, the vital urgency
of time in the closing days OF q con-
gress. the former speaker made known
his will from what he knew was his
death bed. 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 q short half
hour in adjournment. Then marched
on with its crowded program.
In that pressing work Mr.. Clark took
active share up to little more than 10
days ago. counselling his party col
leagues as democratic leader. until q
cold struck him down to become VIC
tim to the infirmities Of his 10 years of
driving life that reckoned nothing OF
his own physical welfare. His death
threw a shadow over every face in the
chamber when Representative Rucker
of the Missouri delegaioten, arose to
announce it. voice choked with emo
ton 1t was hating, brief eulogy he
pronounced, but it draw from members
signs of sorrow more eloquent than
words to tell of the place the dead
leader held in their affection and re-
spect. The formal motion for a half
hour adjournment was made by Repre-
sentative Mofhell, Republican leader.
Mr.. Clark would have been Il years old
had he lived until next Monday, but
his &c years of service IN the House
would have ended Friday, for he was
defeated for reelection.
There was one thing upon which Mr..
Clark's colleagues all 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 year of her husband S
salary as its first business when the
memorial adjournment was over.
In the Senate word of Mr.. Clark s
death was given by Senator Harrison of
Mississippi He spoke feelingiy OF the
services the veteran Democratic lead
er had rendered his party and tn ma
ton, but Mr.. Clark's wishes that no
halt in the business of Congress should
be made in his honor prevailed and the
Senate kept on at its work.
Both houses of congress on Satur-
day, however, will pay respect to the
dead leader in a manner which has
been duplicated only a few times in
the history of the nations lawmak-
ing body.
Tentative arrangements for the flu
neral as announced tonight, provided
for funeral services at ten thirty o.
clock. Saturday morning in the
House chamber. Before the services
the body will lie in state in the halls
in which Mr.. Clark fought for the
right as he saw it. Not since 1914.
when services were held for the late
Serene e. Payne, for more than 80
years representative from New
York, has tn House chamber been
used for such a purpose.
Immediately after the funeral SER
vices, a special funeral train bearing
the body, the Clark family, the SER
geants-atarms of the House and SEN
ate, and the special House and SEN
ate committees named to attend the
final services, will start on it's way
to the home state of the former
speaker. Arriving in st. Louis about
4 P. NJ. Sunday, the body will be TAX
en- to place yet to be designated and
there lie in state. The next morn
ing the last lap of the long and final
journey to Bowling Green. Mo-, will
be made and in the midst of home
scenes and surroundings, Champ
Clark will be laid to rest.
Individual tributes to the memory
of Mr. Clark quickly followed an
nouncement of his death Republic
cans, as well as his own party, joined
IN paying respects to him and to-
night table at the hotel where he
lived, was covered with kilograms of
sympathy to his family.
From outside of congress came
tribute from Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, who declared 1.-The death q
Champ Clark is a loss to America
and to American citizenship"
''The labor movement" said Mr..
Gompers, will mourn the loss of a
sincere fighter for freedom and JUS
tice. Wherever the hearts of men
and women beat for better day and
happier lives there will be grief at
the death Of Champ Clark, splendid
Democrat and true American"
Colleagues of the former speaker
recalled tonight that his last appear
ance in the House chamber was Feb
ruary IA, the day. before he was TAX
en- Ill, and that his last extended adj
dress was late in January, in sup
port of the proposal to increase the
membership of the body in which he
had so long served.
The House tonight voted to set
aside an hour at eight o'clock to-
morrow night for eulogies Of their
late associate. At the same time it
adopted resolution inviting to at
tend the funeral the president and his
cabinet, the president ELECT and men,
bers-designate of his cabinet, the
e-president-elect, the chief justice
and associate justices of the Supreme
court, the diplomatic corps, the chief
of naval ODerationS and tho 0anar,r