The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-03-15

death was announced 10 the mouse Oh
representatives. Representative Ruck-
er, OF Missouri, himself veteran in
service and conhdant and friend OF the
departed minority leader and former
speaker, attempted to make the formal
announcement. His feelings overcame
him, his voice falfered-and then he
cried
On the republican, side Representa-
tive James r. Mann, OF Illinois, who
had served quarter OF a century with
Mr. Clark, gave way to his emotions.
Representative Madden wept and
Charles r. Crisp, OF Georgia, one time
parliamentary clerk under Speaker
Clark, and now a member of the house,
made no effort to conceal his grief.
Then all about the house floor men
were seen, with handkerchief to their
feyes Some OF them were youngsters
in legislative service whom Champ
Clark had advised. Others were men
who came to congress with him and
had labored through all the years in
personal friendship regardless Of the
aisle that divides the parties. Flags
on the capital building, dropping to
half mast, told the story to the sight
seerS and tourists outside.
Announcements OF the death of a
member are always occasions OF sad
mess in the house, but old-timers could
not recall when that body SO openly
and generally manifested its grief. In
the hustle Of the closing days OF the
session a Commute recess was taken
| in honor OF the memory OF Mr.. Clark.
| Adjournment was not ordered because
among his dying requests was one that
Legislation be not halted to pay him
| tribute.
Passing Most Pathetic.
There is unusual pathos in the pass
ing of Champ Clark For years he was
national figure At the Baltimore
convention in 1912 the presidential
nomination was almost within his
grasp for twenty-nine ballots. For
eight ballots he had a clear majority
in the convention, but the two-thirds
rule and coup of his adversaries took
victory from him Only once before,
if memory is right, had the democratic
party failed to nominate the man re-
ceiving a majority-and then a great
domestic issue was at stake and the
comparison is not entirely pertinent.
Nomination at that time was viz
tually equivalent to election because
of the split in the opposition. Ollie
James, chairman of the convention.
who had preceded Mr.. Clark into the
beyond, 50 told the convention and
his words were prophetic.
Champ Clark never recovered fully
from the shock of that defeat. For sew
cral years he showed the traces of
supreme disappointment, not unmiXed
with a certain resentment toward the
man he held primarily responsible
Time healed up, but did not obliterate,
the scars of the wound received at
Baltimore.
When his convention lines were fall
tering Champ Clark came to Balti-
more at night to make dramatic APP
pearance before the convention. His
friends dissuaded him. Had he appear
ed there might have been a different
result, with another man now yielding
the scepter of power to Warren G..
Harding, and with another man hav-
ing shaped the stirring events of the
nation and the world during its re-
cent years OF travail.
Died Broken Hearted.
But that is water over the wheel,
as Mr. Clark would sometimes say in
talking OF things that had gone by.
Champ Clark, Chastened, disappoint-
ed, the victim of political circunstan-
ces and with his day dreams failing
to come true, went back into the rel
ative ranks OF the only party to which
he had ever given allegiance and there
he served, with all that was in him,
until bis final roll was called.
Yet no one who knew him, as the
writer has known him, can say that
he spent his last days III Contentment.
He died more or less a broken-hearted
man.
Last November Mr.. Clark went
down in the republican landslide and
his district voted to retire him after
nearly twenty-siN years of patriotic
service. This hurt him. too. He show
ed it in his walk, in his mannerisms,
and i'll converse with intimate friends, |
Philosopher that he was, appreciative
OF the viciSsitudes OF American poll
tics-which he knew as a participant
and historian-Champ Clark weaken
ed noticeaby after that defeat. Only
once i'll his long service had he been
defeated for reelection, but that was
a score of years ago. Clark was young
er then and possessed greater powers
Of political recuperation and was more
adaptable to a sense of resignation.
Age was upon him in this last de |
feat-age and the memories OF Balti- |
more and lies ambition gone, with |
perhaps feeling that after all repub-
lies and constituencies are ungrateful. |
Any way, the tragedy OF the later
years began to tell upon, him recently. |
Just a day or so before his death a
friend summed it all up when he said
Il am afraid he. will not get we'll |
His power OF resistance seems to have !
gone. He doesn't seem to care any
more
Nobler Traits Stood Out
Such realization as this doubtless
brought the moisture to the. eyes OF |
many OF his colleagues when it was
that Champ Clark had died |
as the end OF his public service drew |
near. He was leaving office and leav-
ing that service at the same time.
Necessarily the death OF such man
put a saddening imprint upon the
inaugural ceremonies. He
was known to the president-elect and
10 every man in CONGRESS- All of them