Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-03

gust Belmont and Charles +. Murphy
were supporting Clark. was bolt from
the blue which made the Clark ranks
waiver. Clark supporters declared aft
erward that none of the three leaders
choice, but that the unit rule carried
the New York delegation to the Clark
forces.
The breach between Bryan and Clark
never healed, although they met at
luncheon arranged by mutual friends
few months later and exchanged per-
functory speeches. Goodness between
Clark and Wilson wore off after the
president entered the White House and
on legislative policies they worked in
harmony except in one notable in
stance. the repeal Of the Panama tolls
exemption, which Speaker Clark OPP
posed unsuccessfully.
The failure of his candidacy at Bal
timore never ceased to be the disap-
pointment of Mr.. Clark's life. He re-
fused nomination as vice pres ident and
told the House on the eve Of his defeat
er.
His election to the Speakership of
the House came in the 62nd Congress.
prior to the Baltimore convention. and
1t was by a united Democracy in rec
ognition Of the contest Mr.. Clark had
made against the rule of Speaker JOS
eph Cannon. Mr.. Clark had served in
every Congress since and including the
53rd in 1913 except the Saith, when he
was beaten.
Although Champ Clark was known
as a Missourian he was born in An
derson, KY. on March 8, 1859. He
was christened James Beauchamp
Clark. but early in life he reduced this
to Champ Clark. His first work was as
farm hand. clerk in general store,
and on country newspaper.
He was educated at Kentucky Uni
versity and Bethany college, and the
, Cincinnati Law school For a short
time he was president of Marshall COL
iege. and, at @, held the record of be-
ing the youngest college president in
the United States. In 1875 he moved to
Missouri where he took up the study
and practice of law, and became prose-
cutting attorney in Pike county. His
next step was into the Missouri legis-
lature where he framed the Missouri
= Primary law, and antitrust statute,
and an Australian 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 Presi-
Dental nomination.
He was first sent to the national
forum in 1893. Although-then regarded
as green" his strength in the House
developed rapidly. When John Sharp
Williams left the House for the Senate.
Representative Clark was made minor
ity leader by virtue of his seniority on
the Ways and Means committee which
drafted the Payne-Aldrich tariff act.
His service on that committee In trying
to keep duties down won him the re-
gard OF the Democrats and his speech
of five hours against the bill was one
of the notable addresses of that Con-
gress.
Mr.. Clark's sincerity. friendship for
opponents and adherents alike, his fair
ness as presiding officer and his
knowledge of history. his love of clean
anecdotes and humorous stories, and
his marvelously retentive memory
ranked with his attributes of leader
ship. He welded the minority into a
virtual Democratic unit when he was
minority leader, and after the outsing
of Cannon, which robbed the speaker
ship of many of its powers. he divided
with majority leader Underwood the
control of the Democrats in the House
and they formed great working team.
Physically he was a giant of a man,
standing over six feet. two inches in
height and weighing a trffie more than
200 pounds.
Speaker Clark and Mrs. Champ Clark.
familiar figure in the speakers bench
in the gallery entertained not only at
an annual New Years house and at
other functions but gave informal week
ly lunches at the capital to which mem
bers ando theirs were invited. Gene
We've Clark. whose engagement to
James NJ Thompson. New Orleans
newspaper editor, was announced in the
waning days of the 63rd Congress, and
Bennett Clark. pariamentarian of the
House at the Speakers appointment,
whom the SPEAKER hoped to have sue
coed to his seat in Congress, comprised
the rest of the Immediate ramily.