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some other mother to ask whether her sons would be at the dance that night. Somehow they felt their daughters would be safer and better-attended if the Clark boys were present.³

Two years after his removal to Montpelier, Bishop Clark ran against Christine Wallentine, Democrat, for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives and won, 484 to 347.⁴

"Prior to his departure to the State Capitol in Boise, while we were choring, he would practice on all the farm animals by addressing them 'The Honorable Mr. xxx from Fremont County' or 'The Gentleman from Ada County' or 'Mister xxx from Bannock County.'  Thus did he learn the names of all his co-workers and where they were from before he even met them."¹

Senator Henry Clay's high regard for “honest compromise" as being the "cement that held the Union together" points out how compromise is the very business of politics, although hopefully not at the expense of one's principles.⁵  W. W. Clark is fondly remembered as a mediator and an executor of compromises:

"One of his strongest traits was his ability to keep quiet until others had expressed their opinions. Then, when the proper moment arrived, he would summarize and substitute in a way that everybody present would recognize as being the wisest opinion or course of action."¹

"The House was deadlocked on the decision of appointing a U. S. Congressman, and had been struggling for weeks without an appointment. Finally, Wilford proposed that it would be better to send a man from the opposing party than not send one from Idaho at all.  A Democrat was named to represent the state, and the idea was commended for its diplomacy by people from in and out of the state."⁶

"While I was visiting Wilford in Boise, an important matter arose in both houses, and they decided to have a joint session to settle the problem. Soon after their conjoined meeting began, and to the surprise of all, the officials declared that Senator Clark proposed a plan to solve their problems."⁶