New-York tribune., 1921-03-03
Former Speaker, at II,
Had Two More Days to
Complete 20 Years of
Service in the House
Lives Career Over
On His Deathbed
Colleagues Vote d Years
Salary to Wife;To Hold
Services on Saturday

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Champ
Clark, Of Missouri for more than a
quarter century a towering figure in
national politics, stalwart of stall
warts in the Democratic party, died to-
day.
In the very shadow of the Capitol he
passed away. Just over the way from
the hotel where he has lived many
years, House and Senate secthed in the
closing hours of the Congress of which
he was an honored member and leader.
The stir Of legislative battle was with
him to the end. He lived again in
memory, as his pulses tagged, days
of the eight years he welded the
Speakers gavcl in the House. Those
sorrowing 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 him to know, the vital
urgency of time in the closing days of
a Congress, the former Speaker made
known his will from what he knew was
his death bed His wish was carried to
both houses that no hating IN public
business should be made at his DEATH
House Stops Work Half an Hour
In obedience to that behest the
House, peopled with his personal
friends Of whatever party, halted a
short half hour in adjournment, then
marched on with its crowded program
In that pressing work Mr. Clark took
an active share up to little more than
ten days ago, counseling his party as
minority leader until cold struck him
down, to become a victim of the in
frmities of his seventy years of driv-
ing life that reckoned nothing of his
own physical welfare. His death threw
shadow over every face in the cham
Der when Representative Rucker. of the
Missouri delega ton, arose to announce
1t, his voice choked with emotion. It
was halting, brief eulogy he pro-
nounced, but it drew 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 half
hour adjournment was made by Repre-
sentative Mondell, Republican leader.
Mr.. Clark would have been seventy
one years old had he lived until next
Monday. but his twenty-six years of
service In the House would have ende d
Friday, for he was defeated for re-
election.
Grandson's Death Broke Spirit
In the subdued talk on the floor or in
cloak rooms while the House paused in
honor of his memory friends of wears
standing scorned the suggestion that
the stout heart of the Missourian had
been shaken by political defeat. That
he had foreseen long in advance, they
Sald- 1t was more personal matter
tliat had broken his spirit, they insist
9-'he death year ago Of his idolized
thrce-year-old grandson and namcsake,
Champ Clark Thomson.
Since that blow, it was said. Mr..
Clark's colleagues had noted waning
OF his keen interest in public affairs
and little droop to the massive
years in the corridors of the Capitol.
There was one thing upon which
they were 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 a year of her hus-
bands salary as its first business when
the memorial adjournment was over.
DR.. Jesse Shoup, Mr.. Clark's ply
scian, had little hope from the day
his patient was taken down with a
cold. Pleurisy developed quickly, but
behind that there was an accumulation
of ailments due largely to advanced
age and the reckless energy MIR. Clark
had thrown into his work. To develop
ment of these the cold opened an easy
door. 1t was only a question of little
time, DR.. Shoup knew, despite the
courageous fight his patient was max
ing, and besides Mrs. Clark, the former
Speakers son, Bennett, and his daugh-
ter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs
James Thomson, of New Orleans, were
at his bedside through all his last
hours.
In the Senate word of Mr.. Clark S
death was given by Senator Harrison
Of Mississippi. He spoke feclngly of
the services the veteran Democratic
leader had rendered his party and the
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