The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-03-03

Washington, March 2. Champ
Clark died here Wednesday at 2:1O p.
m, in his seyenty-first year and with
in two days of his retirement from
the House of Representatives after a
service of twenty-six years.
Death was due to an attack Of
pleurisy and a complication of dis
eases incident to his advanced age.
Up to ten days ago, however, when he
developed severe cold, Mr.. Clark had
shared actively in proceedings of the
House as Democratic leader.
To his last conscious moments, the
former speakers mind was engrossed
with memories Of his long legislative
career, Just before he lapsed into final
Inconsistencies early today those at
his bedside heard him whisper: "The
question is on the adoption of the con-
ference report"
At Mr.. Clark's bedside when the end
came were Mrs. Clark, their son, Ben
nett Clark, and their daughter, Mrs.
James NJ. Thomson, Of New Orleans.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed, but the body probably
will be sent to the old home in Bowl
ing Green, Mo-, where the former
speaker had expected to retire after
the end of his congressional service.
Mr. Clark presided over the House
throughout the world war, relinquish-
ing the spcakership after eight years
when the Republicans regained con-
troll last year as a result of their VIC
tories in the 1918 congressional cleo
tions. He was then chosen as Demo-
cratic leader in the House.
Close friends believe his death was
hastened by the death year ago of
his only grandchild Champ Clark
Thomson, three-year-old son Of Mr.
and Mrs. James NJ. Thomson. He was
passionately found of his grandson
and associates say that after the
child's death they noticed a percepti-
BILE change in his condition.
Although he ran ahead of his ticket
Mr.. Clark was defeated last November
by approximately 5000 votes.
The former speaker first was sent C
Congress in 1892, and after serving
one term. he was defeated for reeloc.
tion. Two years later, however, he
was again returned to Congress aat
had served continuously since that
time. He soon became a national fig.
ure and was chosen speaker when the
Democrats gained control of the
House during the last year of Presi.
dent Taft's administration.
Immediately after the death of Mr.
Clark was announced the House re-
cessed for thirty minutes.
Although Champ Clark was known
as a Missourian, he was born in An
derson county, Ky, on March 7, 1859
He was christened James BeauchamI
Clark, but early in life reduced this tC
Champ Clark. His first work was as Q
farm hand, clerk in a general store
and on a country newspaper.
He was educated at Kentucky Uni
vcrsity, (now Transylvania), ant
Bethany College, and the Cincinnati
| Law School. For a short time he was
president of Marshall College, and, al
%, held the record of being the young
est college president in the United
States. In 1875 he moved to Missouri
where he took up the study and prac
tice of law, and became prosecuting
attorney in Pike county. His next steI
was into the Missouri legislature
where he framed the Missouri Primary
Law, an antitrust statute, and an Aus.
tralian ballot law. He was permanent
chairman of the Democratic national
convention at st. Louis in 1904 and
headed the committee that notified
Alton B. Parker of his Presidential
nomination