JAMES B. "CHAMP" CLARK - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 02/27/1916 - HFSID 291652

CHAMP CLARK
As House Speaker, he pleads ignorance regarding a committee vote resented by a Treasury Department official, but promises to look into the matter.
Typed Letter signed: "Champ Clark" as Speaker of the House, 1 page, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1916 February 27. On Speaker's letterhead to Charles E. Vrooman, Treasury Building, Washington, D.C. In full: "I read your letter with a great deal of interest. I never heard of the matter before of which you write. I will examine it in the morning. I am reasonably certain that the members of the Appropriation Committee had nothing against you and that the proposed change is not a blow at you individually. I suppose they are trying to save some money. I sympathize with you in your distress and will do what I can to help you. Your friend". James Beauchamp "Champ" Clark (1850-1921) was a Democratic Member of Congress from Missouri (1893-1895, 1897-1921). He was Speaker of the House from 1911 to 1919. Clark was the front runner for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1912, and led in delegates on the first ballot, but couldn't obtain the two-thirds then necessary for nomination and ultimately lost to Woodrow Wilson. Although he played a key role in steering early Wilson legislation through the House, he opposed the Federal Reserve Act (despite the placement of two Federal Reserve Banks in Missouri) and broke with Wilson entirely on the issue of entry into World War I. He was defeated in the Republican landslide of 1920. His son, Joel Bennett Clark, was a US Senator from Missouri (1932-1945). Toned and creased. Multiple mailing folds. Torn near center. Corners worn and creased.