Evening journal., 1921-03-03
ALL Washington
MOURNS CLARK
Continued From First Page.)

members OF the House who recall
how he suppressed animosities be-
tween members that blazed forth on
the floor. Clark's method was to
stop proceedings. tell a few stories
and get the House to laughing. At
the end Of five minutes the warning
members themselves had forgotten
about il.
Much OF Clark's popularity was
due to his memory for men and
events. He talked about old friends
and by-gone events on his death
bed.
All flags at the capitol will be at
half-mast because OF Clark's death
while Senator Harding is taking the
oath tomorrow.
Mr.. Clark would have been II
years old had he lived until next
Monday. but his 26 years Of service
I'm the House would have ended Fri
day. for he was defeated for re-
election.
In the subdued talk on floor. OF
in cloak rooms while the House
paused In honor OF his memory,
friends Of years standing scorned
the suggestion that the stout heart
Of the Missourian had been shaken
by political defeat That he had
/ forseen long in advance. they said.
II was a more personal matter that
had broken his spirit, they insisted,
the death a year ago OF his idolized
| 3-year-old grandson and namesake,
| Champ Clark Thomson.
Since that blow, Il was said. Mr..
Clark's colleagues had noted a wan
ing OF his keen interest in public
affairs and a little droop to the mas
\ sive 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 har-
ness Of his life work. He had plan
ned retirement 70 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 its first
business when the memorial ad-
, journment was over.
DR.. Jesse Shoup. Mr.. Clark's ply
sician, had little hope from the day
his patient was taken down with a
cold. Pleurisy developed quickly
but behind that there was an accum
, ulation Of ailments due largely e
advanced age and the reckless
energy Mr.. Clark had thrown int
4 his work. To development Of thes'
the cold opened an easy door. i
was only a question OF a little time
. DR.. Shoup know, despite the cour
ageous fight his paient was makini
and the fact that Mrs. Clark. th'
former Speakers son, Bennett, ant
4 his daughter and her husband, Mr.
and Mrs. James NJ. Thomson, o
New Orleans. were at his bedside
through all his ,ast hours.
In the Senate word Of Mt. Clark
2 death was given by Senator Har
: rison, Of Mississippi He spoke feel
: ingly OF the services the vetera
n Democratic leader had rendered hi
= party and the nation. but M
Clark's wishes that no halt in IN
business Of Congress should b
made in his honor prevailed ana IN
g Senate kept on at its work.
In the Democratic National Con
vention at Baltimore in 1912 Cham
!, Clark led on 27 ballots for the nom
> nation as candidate for Presider
and had a clear majority on min
!, ballots prior to the final naming Z
u Woodrow Wilson. The two-third
- rule Of the convention alone pre-
vented Mr. Clark's nomination. tn
-, honor which his party thus pal
= him was the most notable Of h
/, public life. In American politics
history Martin Van Buren was N
:, only other man who failed OF III
! Democratic nomination for III
n Presidency after having received
4 majority Of the votes in the nationi
N convention. but he enjoyed n
l. unique distinction Of being electe
n subsequently.
m Tho failure OF his candidacy I
Baltimore never ceased TO be n
At disappointment Of Mr.. Clark's III
,e He refused nomination as Vic
e. President and told the House on n
" eve Of his defeat that he preferrs
to remain as Speaker.
His election to the Speakership
sd the House came in the Sixty-secoI
a. Congress, prior to the Baltimo
convention, and il was by a unit
q. Democracy in recognition OF Il
1n contest Mr.. Clark had made again
Speaker Joseph Cannon. Mr.. Clal
H. had SERVED in every Congress sin
w and including tho Fifty-third
ID 1893, except the Fifty-fourth. VIII
s' he was beaten.
ss' Although Champ Clark W
p known as a Missourian. he was bo
n in Anderson. Ky. on March z. 1Sl
He was christened James Bea
ng champ Clark, but early in life
ne reduced this to Champ Clark I
first work was a farm hand, clerk
U.s. general store and on a count
% newspaper.
W He was educated at Kentuc
ne University and Bethany College a
Use the Cincinnati Law School. For
zee short time he was president OF Mi
OF shall College and at %. held
eo record Of being the youngest cole
president in the United States.
1875 he moved to Missouri, WHIT
Oh he took up the study and pract
lu- Of law. He was first sent to
- national forum in 1893.
~ Mr.. Clark's sincerity, friendsl
~, for opponents and adherents ali
- his fairness as a presiding Off
''0 and his knowledge Of history,
- love Of clean anecdotes and hum