Champ Clark letter to Bennett Champ Clark - October 2, 1918
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Speaker’s Rooms, Washington, D.C. , U.S.A., [October] 2, 1918 Lieutenant – Colonel Bennett C. Clark Headquarters 88th Divisions American Expeditionary Forces in France via New York. Dear Bennett: “The day is done and the darkness Falls [ms illegible: 1 wd] from the wings of night as a feathers is wafted downward From an eagle in his flight.” I enclose you President’s speech to senate demanding that they pass Woman Suffrage amendment as “War measure” – Under Wood’s answer – and newspaper Clip showing result. It is the talk of the town and puts 30 – odd Conscript Fathers who have (most of them.) hertofore been obedient in to “Enemy” Class. To think of such patriots as John Sharp Williams who have bowed to low the knee now being arrayed against the President is simply awful. - It looks like we are here till the Election! So believing, I sent out some 200 letters of inquiry. The answers are coming in and as a rule are good So far as I am concerned – but nearly all report defections as to Governor F. Of course here and there there are some P.O. Sore heads in my case. - The only fear expressed as to the stay at [ms illegible: 1 wd] but as both Prohibition and Single Tax
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[page 2] amendments are to be voted on, there will probably be a fairly good turn out. I enclose two or 3 sample letters. - Monday in Caucus room of Senate office Bldg., was held drawing for news Dpt. The Prest., V.P., Pres Pro Tem Saulsberry, Myself, Josephine, Gen. March, Gen. Crowder et al. drew the first numbers. I asked both Gens. March & Crowder of your new assignment is a promotion and they said “yes” with much enthusiasms. So I guess you will have to grin and bear it. They both said that it shows you stand high with the powers that be over there. I was just finishing a letter to you when I received your cable last Wednesday and directed it to your new address. Next day, I sent you Cable. By the way Gov. Shelleubarger’s son holds similar position in 44th Division, La Grippe is Epidemic here and all over East. I was laid up 2 days with it but am out again getting all right. Bob has a light touch of it but is improving. Claude Kitchen has bad case but getting better. Fool news papers had flaring headlines, “Speaker Clark & Leader Kitchen seriously Ill” a great Exaggeration. - I enclose copy of fine
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[page 3] letter written by utter strangers about my autobiography. Your Ma had a similar tell about it from Senator Depew. - Fred Talbot said to be dying from general senile debility – With Kitchen [ms illegible: 1 wd] both in bed at once and Mann still absent, House somewhat orphanized. His sickness increases my work. – Sutton quits me to-morrow to work for government. - Wally shows signs of meditating sickness. Clarences pawing up ground & sniffing battle from afar. - By the way my opponent, Hon Dyer, is of Dft. age being only 43. Be something awful if he should be drafted before he is elected to Congress! – We are running on one leg in the House. So to speak. Monday dug up barley a quorum – to-day fell short of one by 28 votes. - Tuesday I was over in Senate & J.S.W. full as a goat, was mouthing about historical inaccuracies in Chapter Rules fight – intimated that he did it, though he was member of neither House nor Senate at the time & vowed that Shaed had nothing to do with it. Truth is W. was not in favor of it. By the by Shack is still in Missouri. Russell in bad way worrying about his hotel which is costing more than he expected and losing him money – Worry [ms illegible: 1 wd] also
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[page 4] about his Election, concerning which he was so certain until he got sick. Tom hauls him over in Your Ma’s buggy when he wants to vote. – Paul and Immy are here, Paul trying to get a Commission. – Somebody got adcock & Beaver fired out of swell places Stone, Reed & I got for them under George Moore. Roher forced George to fire him by reason of report of worthlessness made by inspector Yates. So Senator Reed & I interrogated Roper to-day – result they are reinstated until farther investigation! I bet Harris, Bill & Ed. J. are at the bottom of it. - I appointed son of Dr. Smith of Troy to West Point & son of Senators Jess Duncan of Silex to Annopolis. - Jim Gallin an back [ms illegible: 1 wd] pig with half a dozen tales on account of beating Jim Curley. _ On recount poor Peter Tague was defeated by only 50._ Repubs. cheered up because fewer Dem. Sens. voted for than against female sufferage & because more Repubs. voted for than against. - Much bitterness among Southerners. - Champy is chipper as you please and the other day cried after his “Paw” as he calls me. - He is very fond of Tom and is getting fond of Neal. - all Elevators now conducted in Hotels by colored ladies. Your Loving Father. Champ Clark.
Details
Title | Champ Clark letter to Bennett Champ Clark - October 2, 1918 |
Creator | Clark, Champ |
Source | Clark, Champ. Letter to Bennett Champ Clark. 02 October 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 October 2, 1918 letter to his son Bennett, Champ Clark discussed women's suffrage, conscription, and politics. 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; Clark, Bennett Champ, 1890-1954; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924; World War, 1914-1918 |
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 | October 2, 1918 |
Language | English |