The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-10

tinuous service, less three days, yes
terday.
These were years full of service to
the nation: during them the school
teacher editor lawyer rose to be
speaker, and came near indeed to the
presidency. They We're years in which
the hissourian's words came to be
listened to as coming from one in
authority. 1t was 1910 when the grow
ing dissatisfaction with Mr.. Taft's
easy going way gave the democratic
party a majority in the house; Champ
Clark was elected speaker. His rec
ord in the two years preceding 1912
was such that he became a strong
contender for the democratic presi-
Dental nomination.
The organization backing him was
strong, his personality was pleasing to
the extreme, and until the rising tide
of the then governor of New Jersey
Wilson by name, threw a scare into
the Clark camp, it seemed that the
victory was won for him. In the var
ious preferential primaries the issue
was Clark and Wilson. Mr.. Clark was
unfortunate in some of his friends; the
support of Murphy, Tammany Hall,
Roger sullivan and Tom Taggart sue
element of the progressive democrats.
At Baltimore, for a time, the result
was in grave doubt. At first Mr..
Clark led; there was no clear ma
jority. AS the favorite sons withdrew,
Clark's strength grew, until for eight
ballots he had a majority of the total
vote. The two-thirds rule, however,
prevented his gaining the honor until
he gained two-thirds of the votes; this
he never did. The Wilson strength
grew and grew. Mr.. Bryan's famous
denunciation of Boss Murphy, Boss
Ryan, and the others, hurt Mr.. Clark's
chances. With the Wilson votes
standing like stone walls against all
the demonstrations, the Clark strength
began slowly but surely to crumble.
The speaker of the house hurried to
Baltimore to see what he could do
about the matter. He wanted to adj
dress the convention, hoping for a
stampede, but was restrained by the
advice of his friends. A few hours
later he realized that all was over,
and went back to Washington a sad
. dened and defeated man.
The quality of Mr.. Clarks states
manship was not impaired by his de-
feat, however. In the campaign he
ing loyalty for the election of his vic
torious rival. He refused a senator
ship, preferring to remain at the
helm of the house. and filed that post
with capacity and ability uEtil the
1918 election wrested the power from
democratic hands.
For the past two years Champ Clark
has held the title of democratic floor
leader. He has not been actively lead
ing, but the respect all had for him
secured him this honor. The death of
| his grandson in New Orleans last year
saddened his last year, and perhaps
fastened his death.
The passing of Champ Clark marks
the beginning Of the end of the old
guard. Uncle Joe Cannon is still left, |
it is true, but he does not smoke his
upturned cigar with the vigor once
characteristic of that autocrat of the
house The death of the Missouri
statesman will leave a gap in the heart
of his party, for while its acceptance
of his ideas has changed, it's reverence
for his sincere, loveable personality
has never wavered.
It is said to have been his desire to
die in the harness of public service, |
and his death preceded the end of his
term by less than 48 hours. His last
coherent remark was concerning pro-
ceedings in the house where he had
served with such distinction for &c |
years. The country is poorer for the |
passing of Champ Clark. His was
rare spirit and his personality one of
varied accomplishments.