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Show DEMOCRATIC LEADER DIES Champ Clark, Former House Speaker, Succumbs Suc-cumbs to Illness; Vet- eran Active to Last WASHINGTON, March 2. Champ Clark died today still the leader of his party in the house of representatives. Friends said the veteran died as he wanted with his political boots on. Until two weeks before his death he had been on the floor of the house daily, directing his party there. 7 : His death, coming within forty-eight forty-eight hours of the departure of Woodrow Wilson from the White House, marks with dramatic emphasis the rloso of a decade of Democratic party leadership in the nation. DEATH EXPECTED. Clark had been 111 for some time, suffering from pleurisy, complicated by stomach trouble. Death had been expected for several sev-eral days, his -physicians having given giv-en up hope of hia recovery. Clark would have been 71 years old next Monday. - Three days before hin birthday Clark would have retired from congress, where he served continuously con-tinuously since 18!5. - He was speaker of the house for , in 1910 Clark, as Democratic leader, played a part in the near overthrow of Speaker Joe Cannon, and his prominence In that fight made him a leading contender for the Democratic Demo-cratic nomination for president at Baltimore In 113. Me had a majority In the convention, conven-tion, but was beaten on the forty-sixth forty-sixth he'lot by Woodrow Wilson. Clark ws said to have felt bitter at his defeat for a few years, hut at his dra. ' he and Wilson had ro-gresaed ro-gresaed toward friendship. HAD MANY FRIENDS. The veteran congressman was known and loved by young and old members of the house. One of his friends was James Mann, long his opponent on the floor, where he led the Kepubllcane while Clark led the Democrats. Clark died at 2:10 p. m. At his bedside were his wife, his son, Bennett Clark, and daughter. Mr. James M. Thompson. New Orleans. Immediately after the death of Mr. I Clark was announced, the house released re-leased for thirty minutes. Representative Representa-tive Rucker. Iemocrat of Missouri, jwho made the announcement, said it was Mr. Clark's wish as expressed through his son. that there be no interruption in-terruption of congress in Its closing ! days. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but the body probably will be sent to the old home' in Bowling Green, Mo. Mr. -Clark presided over the house throughout the World war, relinquishing relinquish-ing the speakership after eiKht years, when the Republicans regained control con-trol last year. He was then chosen as Democratic leader In the house. During the present se-sion it was apparent that the former speaker's health was failing. He walked slowiy, with a dragging step. While he usually us-ually was on the floor and followed proceedings closely, he rarely engaged in debate. Close friends believe his death was hastened by the death a year ago of his only grandchild. Champ Clark ( fContlnud on ra ge DEMOCRATIC LEADER (Continued from Page 1.) rhomson, 1-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Thomson. SUFFERS DEFEAT. During the summer and fall, however, w regained rigor and took an active rt nl hie campaign for reelection In Missouri. Although he ran ahead of lie ticket, Mr. Clark was defeated bv ipprozimately 1000 votes. Judge T W. lukrlede of Warrenton, Mo, being fleeted. The former sneaker first waa sent o congress in ml and after serving in terra ha waa defeated for reelee-lon. reelee-lon. Two years later, howevr, he waa gain returned to congress and had - - -minvw in4 lime. I soon became a national figure and ras chosen speaker when the Demo-rats Demo-rats gained control of the house dur-ng dur-ng the last year of President Taft' dmlnist ration. Clark waa born In 116 In Anderson ounty, Kentucky, educated In the ommon school and at the University f Kentucky. Later he attended Cln. Innatl law school. At II he became president of Marshall college, feat Virginia, being the youngest col-'ge col-'ge president In the country. At va-ous va-ous time he was a farm hand, clerk i a country store and edited a eoun-y eoun-y newspaper. In 1ITI h moved to issouri and became city attorney of oulslana and Bowling Green. |