Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1907 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

Michigan’s New Senator. William Alden Smith of Grand Rapids, who has been elected by the Michigan legislature to succeed General Russell A. Alger in the United States senate, has represented his state in congress for twelve years. He is a man of moderate means, is forty-eight years old and formerly was a page in the Michigan legislature, the body which has just honored him with the highest office in its gift. Mr. Smith’s congressional career has been of a character to raise him above the large majority in the house. While a good party man, he has not been

hidebound and has several times been an “insurgent,” as members are called who do not always obey the orders of the party leaders. The promotion of Mr. Smith to the senate has Impelled members of the house to repeat a story told several years ago by Mrs. Smith. She thought she heard burglars in the house and awakened her husband. “Get up, William Alden!” she said. “Get up. There are robbers In the house.” “No, no, my dear,” Representative Smith said sleepily. “There may be in the senate, but certainly there are none in the house.” An Embarrassment. The Princess de Montglyon of Paris, who has come to America to exhibit her famous collies at several kennel shows, said at a dinner in New York, apropos of an embarrassment: “That reminds me of a story they have been telling lately about Queen Alexandra of England. “The guard’s band was playing on the terrace at Windsor castle during luncheon, and the queen was so pleas ed with a lively march that she sent a maid of honor to inquire what it was. “The maid of honor blushed deeply as she answered on her return: “ ‘ “Come Where the Booze Is Cheaper,” your majesty.’ ” The Latest. They have a new salutation in the house committee rooms. It is “Dear Marla, how’s Bellamy?”—New York World. Champ Clark of Missouri. Champ Clark of Missouri, who rumor says is to succeed John Sharp Williams as minority leader of the house of representatives, is a noted wit and his bright sallies often create merriment In congress. He has had a varied and picturesque career, being at one time a farm hand and at another president of a college. He was born in Kentucky fifty-six years ago and was educated at Kentucky university and the Cincinnati Law school, lie has served as city attorney of Louisiana, Mo., and as prosecuting attorney of Pike county.

As editor of a country paper he was also successful. Mr. Clark was first elected to congress in 1893 and has missed only one term since. Ills home Is at Bowling Green, Mo. Here is one of the stories told of Mr. Clark: He was addressing the house of representatives on one occasion when a rash member interrupted him with some frivolous comment. Mr. Clark fairly shrivelol up the man who had “butted In,” winding up his scarification in this way: “Mr. Chairman, there was once a tenderfoot who struck the grizzly region looking for bear. He was all got up in the finest hunting garb, and his weapons were the newest that could be obtained. He had come to show the west how to kill grizzlies. He went forth one morning and never came back, and over his remains they raised a stone which bore this epitaph: ‘He whistled for the grizzly, and the grizzly came.* ”

WILLIAM ALDEN SMITH.

CHAMP CLARK.