San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-15

Sh0uSV, ahu hOt bSihS WI
other aspirants, / announced
that I would not be a candi-
date in 1912.
This opened the field to other can
didates, and a number entered the
lists. As a result of the Congressional
election in 1910, the Democrats game
control Of the House of Representa-
tives, and Champ Clark was elected
speaker.
Clark entered Congress in 1892.
from which time my acquaintance with
him began. As is the custom, he came
to Washington after his election and
before his term began in March OF
1893. l recall our first meeting at
that time. He said that he had used
me as an argument in his race for the
nomination. The Democratic member
OF Congress from his district was serv-
ing his first term when Clark an
nounced his candidacy.
POINTED TO BRYAN
His argument against the sitting
member was that be had not accom-
plished anything during his first term.
The member replied that it was not
customary for a new member to do
much during his first term; thst it
took time for man to secure promi-
nence and influence in Congress.
Clark told me that he used me as
proof that person could secure prom
inence during his first term, | having
been made q member of the Ways and
Means Committee during my first
term, and when l was only a little
past 30.
: From that time on | met Clark in
the Fifty-third Congress, and after
ward at Democratic national gather
ings. While l was not more intimate
with him than l was with a thousand
other Democrats scattered throughout
the union, j followed his record with
interest, and rejoiced at .his growing
influence.
FAVORED FOR CHOICE.
After his election to the speaker
ship in 1911 l regarded him as the log
ical candidate, and invited him to
speak at my birthday canquet on
March 10, 1911. My purpose in in
viting him was to let those who were
friendly to me know that / regarded
him as an available man for the nomi-
nation.
Governor Wilson was being talked
Of more and more, but / felt that Clark
was more in sympathy with the poll
cies of the party, and therefore bet
ter suited TO lead our forces in the
coming presidential campaign. Clark
came but / learned from him afterward
that it was with some reluctance. This
surprised me, and | was surprised still
more when, as the campaign proceed
ed, / found that his friends were tying
him up with the Harmon forces when
ever a combination was necessary to
defeat the Wilson forces.
TREND TO WILSON.
Wilson, on the other hand. was be-
coming more radical in his uttcranccs
and was gathering about him an in
creasing number of the progressive ele-
ment of the party. He was also excit-
ing the opposition Of the reactionary
element. As the campaign proceeded,
/ received many letters from different
parts of the country wDrning me that
Harmon men were getting on Clark
delegations.
Having learned from n friend who
was present at the meeting that Wall
street had picked out Governor Har-
mon as its Democratic candidate, | at
once brought the matter to the atten-
ton of the Democrats of the country.
j insisted he could not expect 10
be the candidate of progressive
Democratic party. was fond of
Harmon, personally, but ! was salts
fled that his business connections and
his bias made it impossible for him
to be the exponent of the masses in
their struggle for reforms. l had
confidence in Clark, personally, AMI.
knowing that a man cannot refuse the
support of those who for different
reasons may favor him, continued to
count Clark and Wilson as equally
acceptable TO the progressive element
of the party.
OPPOSE HARMON.
In the Nebraska primary / an
nounced myself as candidate for
delega te- large. saying that / would
willingly support either Clark or VIII
son according TO instructions, but that
I would resign as delegate in case
the state instructed for Harmon, Civ
ing MS a reason that was not will
ing TO aid in turning the party over
to Wall Street. / ran about 5000
ahead of the ticket. and considered my
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