Champ Clark letter to Bennett Champ Clark - January 8, 1918
Transcript
January 8, 1918. Dear Bennett: 28 years ago today your eyes first opened on this world. I was down in Franklin County on the first trip I ever made in search of a seat in Congress. The weather there was then what the weather is here – Cold, snow, sleety. I have thanked God every day since that he gave me such a fine son. You have been a perpetual joy to me. You could not have been better. Judge White, Chief Attorney for Missouri Pacific at St. Louis [Missouri] told me yesterday that a friend who palled Some time at fort Sill [Oklahoma] during holidays told him that you were the most popular man there – which pleased your father immensely. Of course you know by this time the President’s Peace terms. He stated them clearly and forcibly. It will take time to work them out. In House we had double header yesterday. We had set 12:30 to recess for Serbian mission. Arrangements made accordingly; but at 11:30 White House phoned that President defined speech at 12:30. That was the first we heard of it! We had to hustle to get ready; had to sidetrack the poor Serbs for half an hour. All turned out well. Serbs best looking of all missionaries. One young Officer with right hand missing has been wounded 43 times and is still handsome.
Transcript
Edgar Smith, one of my stenographers, has resigned to fill place of stenographer in American Legation in Berne, Switzerland. I mised Toula but she declines. So I got one of Bob Sutton’s boys who arrived yesterday. Suffrage Thursday. I am going to give Billy Sunday a lunch that day. He seems to be starting well. His bete now is the Devil, the Kaiser being Close second. Weather bad, cold, sleety, stuck under foot. 3 Senators, Knute Nelson, Owan and Achurt fell down and hurt themselves, while Judge Suis dislocated shoulder. Pity – as he had just Come into his Kingdom with great doings ahead in his committee. Your Ma is very busy toting Miss L.H Chick around. R.R’s all in favor of “the Old Flag and an Appropriation” – which means Government control – which of Course means Govt. ownership eventually. With much love and wishing you many happy returns. Pater.
Details
Title | Champ Clark letter to Bennett Champ Clark - January 8, 1918 |
Creator | Clark, Champ |
Source | Clark, Champ. Letter to Bennett Champ Clark. 08 January 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 January 8, 1918 letter to his son Bennett, Champ Clark wished Bennett a happy birthday and discussed President Woodrow Wilson's Peace Terms. 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 Lieutenant Colonel in the 140th Regiment, 35th Division and as Assistant Chief of Staff for the 88th Division during World War I, and was Missouri State Senator from 1933 to 1945. |
Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; United States. Army. Camp Doniphan (Okla.); Clark, Bennett Champ, 1890-1954; Fort Sill (Okla.); United States. Army. Division, 35th |
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 | January 8, 1918 |
Language | English |