Bennett Champ Clark letter to Champ Clark - February 24, 1918
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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS [February] 24, 1918 Dear Daddy: I received your two letters and enjoyed them very much. I also enjoyed Tom Bodine’s article immensely. I think that expresses the situation admirably. Bully for Tom, you ought to write him a nice letter if you have not already done so. I also received the Fire Control Rule for which I thank you very much. It is a wonderful little instrument when you learn how to work it and can do everything except talk. I enclose the blanks for the glasses for which I will be devoutly thankful.
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I want you to talk over with Little Hon and Charley Lewis that colonelcy proposition you talked to me about. My own inclination is to stay with my own outfit and for several reasons. I assume that the friend who suggested it was our friend R. H. and I appreciate the suggestion on his part very much. Of course I would be delighted to serve under him and it would be much more pleasant to have a Division Commander who was my personal friend, But I am not ready yet to assume the responsibilities of a regimental commander. I lack
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experience. I am not sure but from what I hear I think I have the best rating for efficiency of any Lt. Col. in our Division but I know myself what a lot of things I don’t know that a regimental commander ought to know before he takes the lives of 3600 men into his hands. At that I think I am making a lot better grades here that 9/10 of the full colonels. Moreover, I believe it would have a bad effect for me to leave Missouri troops and go to serve with a colored outfit just for the sake of a step in rank. The public at large would not understand the personal reasons that made me anxious to serve under Gen. H. - , and
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would think that I had abandoned my own boys on the eve of their departure for Europe just in order to get a promotion for myself, when the public is no doubt inclined to think that I am too young to be a lt. col. much less a full colonel. And besides that I am proud of my regiment and would hate to leave it even if I were offered command of a regiment in the same division. I helped to make this outfit. My Colonel is my friend. And the boys are Missourians. So outside of the pleasure and advantage which it would be to serve under a division commander like Gen. H - , it seems to me that the balance is entirely
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in favor of me staying where I am. But you talk it over with Mother and Charley and see what conclusion you arrive at and let me know. Read them this letter and then study the situation. The present dope is that our division will move early in April. I don’t know whether we will go by a Gulf port or an Atlantic port but as soon as I can find out I will let you know so that if it is possible I can see you all before I go. But when I find out of course you must keep it very quiet. We will finish up here about April 1, and will probably get back to our regiment just before it starts
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moving for the seacoast. If we go by New York it is possible that I can get leave for a day to run down to Washington. I see where Hoover has wounded the noble Mc Adoo. There may be some good in this fellow Hoover after all. Mc Adoo seems to be squirming a good deal about it. I guess he has cut off too big a chew this time. Don’t pay any attention to Bell, White and Co. They don’t amount to anything. Tom Bodine sized the situation up exactly. These few sore heads around the county seat towns won’t amount to a hill of beans. Dave Harris has no notion of running and if he is big enough fool to tackle it he will get such a trimming that he will be permanently attended to. I am feeling fine. Wish I could see you all. Take good care of yourselves and keep in good shape. The war is on its last legs and we will soon be together again. With lots of love your devoted son, Bennett [written in left margin] I left the name of the officer selling the glasses vacant so that you can fill that in when you get them. [written in right margin] I filled out my Federal and State income tax returns Query: What right has the State of [Missouri] to tax the salary of a U.S. army officer?
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P.S. Sometime soon (in the next couple of weeks) I want you to write General [John] Pershing a letter. Tell him that your only son is a Lt. Col in the 35th Division and will doubtless be in France sometime this spring, and that while you don’t suppose he will ever happen to run across me, if he should happen to you appreciate any personal kindness he might show me. Tell him that of course you are not asking any official, military favors as you are confident that I can stand on my own feet as I always have been able to do. Also tell him that I was Parliamentarian of the House for 5 yrs. It may be that I will have occasion some time to see him and I want him to know who I am. It might be better for you to see Senator Warren and get him to write Pershing. If you write him yourself be sure to mark the letter “Personal” Also write ambassador Sharpe. I knew him very well when he was in the House but I want you to write him anyhow, BCC
Details
| Title | Bennett Champ Clark letter to Champ Clark - February 24, 1918 |
| Creator | Clark, Bennett Champ |
| Source | Clark, Bennett Champ. Letter to Champ Clark. 24 February 1918. Clark, Champ (1850-1921) and Bennett Champ (1890-1954), Papers, 1853-1973. C0666. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this February 24, 1918 letter to his father Champ Clark, Bennett Clark told how he had turned down a colonelcy in an African American regiment. Champ Clark, a long-time resident of Bowling Green, Missouri, was a politician in the Democratic Party. He served as a representative of Missouri from 1893 to 1895 and from 1897 to 1921. From 1911 to 1919 he served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Bennett Clark served as a Colonel during World War I and was Missouri State Senator from 1933 to 1945. |
| Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; World War, 1914-1918--Political aspects--United States; Clark, Bennett Champ, 1890-1954; Missouri. National Guard |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C0666 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | February 24, 1918 |
| Language | English |