The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-24
LEGISLATIVE TALK,
What is Being Said and Done and the
General Trend of Events
at Helena.
Clark's Chances Grow Smaller as the
End of the Legislature Draws
Near-Only Ten Days Left.


TRIBUNE. The week has been devoid of
any sensations in the joint assembly on
United States senator, such as charac-
terized the close Of the previous week.
But it has not been without incident.
In the first place came the address of the
democrats who have been voting for
Congressman Dixon, to those who have
been voting for w. A. Clark. There could
be no installing the tone of that docu-
ment, in any expression that it contains.
"We believe that the time has now come
when all good and true democrats should
disregard their personal preferences and
unite upon some honest and capable
democrat outside of any of the candi-
dates who have been heretofore promin-
ent, and elect him senator" says one
part; and another part says: ave will
not, under any circumstances, vote for
Mr.. w. A. Clark for senator"
Nothing could be palmer than this. 1t
means that the ten men who signed the
address will never vote for W. A. Clark:
that and nothing more. And without
them he can never be elected. There
was Il time, and that but recently, when
Mr.. Clark's election could have been ex-
pected on a second ballot by the aid of
republican votes. That time has gone
by now, and the election of a democrat
to the United States senate must be ac-
complished by democratic votes. The
offer of Congressman Dixon to Withdraw
in case Mr.. Clark did the same, and the
selection of an entirely new candidate,
WAS the first proposition looking to a
compromise that has been made since
the struggle began. 1t has set the Clark
people to thinking, Some of the more
radical wanted to malze no answer. but
to stand on the proposition that their
ran was the caucus nominee CT two
thirds OF the democrats in the legisla-
tu.c. which would leave no alternative
but for the Dixon men to come to them,
or to allow the senatorship TO go by de-
fault. That was the task at the several
conferences that have been held, and it
was even proposed to draw up and sign
an ironclad agreement not to vote for
anybody but Clark, even if that course
resulted in no choice for senator. But
when they came to applying the CLARK or
nobody" proposition they ran up against a
good sized stump that nearly wrecked
their combine. There were and still are
men who are voting for Mr.. Clark who
are doing SO because they went into IA
caucus where that gentleman had the
most votes and was declared the nominee.
They would have done the same had
John Smith or anyone else received the
nomination in that caucus. But when
it came down to the flat proposition to tie
themselves down to an agreement not to
leave Mr.. Clark under any circumstances,
they refused.
There is no longer any use of mincing
matters about the senatorial situation.
Only ten Gays of actual session remain
in which to elect Il United States sena-
tor. lir. Clark is an impossibility. lie
was nearer to the United States senate
on Saturday, February II, than he ever
was before or ever will he again, for this
session at least. That was when he got
the votes Of five republicans and lacked
but three of a majority. Within the
next seven or eight days, unless he can
secure such an agreement among his
forces as he wishes-anl il does not look
tc ttlobs,h lo N'biA IL bl'th- y IL
must come. 1t will be unsafe to put il
off longer, for two or three days are none
too long to allow for getting together.
The next senator from Montana must
and will be Il democrat.
Though nobody disputes the i%r. ;hp,
w. y. Clark is "a democrat. 2 foil Htu Wa
biased investigation forces the cnnclue.,Y
that he cannot aud will no. D. H'',..i
ocrat.
Little has been hch;u l"'.iy q .u, IKE
extra session to CONSIDER t.g C.,ics,
What little is heard is 10 the effect that
if the governor decides to call one he
will not have it until next winter. There
is some idea that the governors object in
putting it of to that time is partially a
hope that the Legislature may not elect a
United States senator, but may give
him the chance to appoint; and partly "A
fear that If it happens that way the
members may take it into their heads TO
utilize an extra session TO elect some
body. 1t has been held that if an extra
session is called to consider the codes it
cannot do anything else but that. Such
is the way it would look at first glance.
But the eleventh section of article seven
of the constitution says, speaking Of the
duties and powers of the governor:
He nay on extraordinary occasions
convene the legislative assembly by
proclamation, stating the purposes for
which it is convened; but when so con-
vened it shall have no power to legislate
on any subjects other than those speci-
fed in the proclamation, or which may
be recommended by the governor etc.
Thus it will be seen that the limitation on
what may be done at an extra session ex-
tends merely to the matter of legislation.
The election of United States senator is
not strictly legislation, and a vacancy in
that o.llce, it would seem, might be filed
by the legislature whenever it gets to-
gether. However people who construe
the state constitution may interpret this
clause of it, one thing may be depended
on; if the legislature at its regular ses-
sion fails to elect a United States sena-
tor, Governor Richards will not call any
extra session, either right now or next
winter. He will appoint and take
chances. 1t has been stated that it was
the scheme for him to resign and let
Lieut.. Gov. Botkin assume the duties of
nnvarnnr. that thu pam rnynrpnr uvp,,ll