The Washington times., 1921-03-03

drew nsar. II, ,wss leaving lfsSsad
leaving that service at TIA san'>
time. ~. (.
Necessarily TIE death OF sssn. q
man has put ssddentnS -hnprtnt
upon the Harding inaugural cere-
monies He ws4 known to the Presi-
Sress. All of them respected ana
admired him; most OF them loved
him. ------ --C', ~
Though sometimes b man Of moods.
Champ Clarke had q wsy about him
that brought ipto relisf his nobler
traits. his wholSsemsness. hts ruggsd
sincerity, hts doed hsAst-And that
drew 10 the shkdows ~ rho back-
ground all human frslltiss assA sWhAt-
ever tneensistenkiss he had : 80 - ! Z
.whsn In REMINISCENT mood a Mr.
Clark vas . dsiightful stevy-eslIsr.
His knowledge of ,hi1ta<y and con-
temporsneous Affairs VS. oompre-
sivs. The younger generation loses
much because he postponed too long
the publication OF q book of memoirs.
Whether on the moor Of Congress- or
the lecture platform he drew from
had an attentive audience.
In debate Mr.. Clark did not attempt
oratorical flights nor studied phrase
making and rounded periods. Rather
was his delivery forcsful. direct,
Straightforward, with epigrams and
homely philosophy that made q DO
liticai enemy vince and an audience
laugh At his flashes OF wit and satire.
Commanding In physique. handsome
In face and figure. resourceful while
In the heat Of verbal battle, he was
an effective orator and a debster
worthy Of any adversary. He struck
above the belt, always, holding the
respect OF his auditors regardless OF
their political creeds.
AIDED YOUNG MEMBERS.
His aphorisms would make . volume.
The common-ssnse advice he has given
throughout his long career would nll
library. The aid he has given the
young and "cub" legislator has been
invaluable. His fairness as . presid-
ing officer is one OF the heritages OF
4 he House. The friendships he has
made and held are monuments to his
personality, hts bigness, and his per-
sonincation OF mans humanity to
man.
whatever may have been his trials
toward tho end his life throughout
was sventfuL That he did not reach
tho Presidency was simply one of the
tragedies Of politics and fateful un-
realisation Of personal ambitions. He
began a. . farm hand. Later he was
the youngest college president in
America. Once he edited . country
Newspaper. and then worked in
country store. He studied law and
Eventually moved from Kentucky.
whore he was born, to Missouri. whore
he was signally honored hrst as .
prosecuting attorney and then a q
Representative In Congress. - -
COMMANDED HOUSE.
with the exception Of one term, fol-
lowing . defeat, he vas . strong fig
urs in the House since the Fffty-third
Congress. World stirring events
made their permanent impressions
during his years at Washington. He
against Spain. As Speaker Of the
House he signed the resolution declar-
ing . state Of war against Germany.
One OF the notable speeches In years
"a speech In which he rosa to real
eloquence in a body surcharged with
tension and packed on floor and in
galleriee-vas the speech Of Champ
Clark on the Panama canal tolls issue
that shook the country in the early
days OF the Wilson Administration.
As Speaker or party leader he par
ticipatsd in historic tariff debates
with men whose names are linked in
separately to the statute books Of
the country. He was early 4 convert
to woman suffrage and while he
served he Av woman suffrage, the
direct election Of Senators and ma
tional prohibition written into the
law of the land.
CAREER WORTH WHILE
Truly . career worth while was his
and yet as he came to the twilight
Of his day his heart was heavy and,
little doubt, the spirit was broken.
None but his intimates knew with
what sorrow he approached the break
ing UP OF his associations here, nor
how bitter was the cup whose dregs
he drained in Baltimore. eight years
ago. None better than his intimates
knew with what fortitude eventually
he accepted his lot and turned to such
tasks for party and for country As
were left to him to do.
He died within two days OF the
end of his term. He was still a Con-
gresham Of the State he loved and
still the floor Iader Of the party that
had honored him-and yet withheld
It's highest honor-but to which, to
the end, he gave ''the last full meas
ure Of devotion" while serving mean
III