Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-02-08

Read the words Of Speaker Stiff, OF
the lower house, just before casting
his vote on that memorable Satur-
day. Ii he had been stating Il false
hood, would not II half-dOZen Of
Clark's henchmen have arisen in their
seats and challenged him to produce
the proof. Here is what Speaker
Stiff said in part:
IL know members here voting for
w. A. Clark, aud they know that |
know they have received the mon
etary consideration for casting their
votes for him. rhequestion has heen
asked on this floor and elsewhere in
this city: How do you know that
bribery has been resUrted to in this
election in the contest of W.A.Clark?'
| say that / know this much, and |
know it so far rs ! am individually
and personally concerned, that the
only reason that | myself am not cast
ing my vote under a bride was be-
cause | refused to accept it. There
ARE individuals in this city today Of
whom, by reason Of my association
with them In the past, | had a right
10 expect a different course Of con
duct than by offering brides, both br-
fore and since the converting of this
legislature. They have approached
and told me | could receive - muI.-
etary consideration ii | would east
my vote for w. A. Clark, more money
than | ever expect to hAve. Because,
to use IA plain and common expires
sion, because of my poverty which
they took advantage Of, that | would
accept II bride. But | am proud. gen
tlcmen of this joint assembly, that
upon this occasion | can stand before
you, before the people, befuremy God
and say that | resented IL, and all the
millions that w. \. Clark possesses
could not induce me To vote for him.
| can go home, my fcllo w-citizens; |
can face my constituency; | can face
the wife Of my bosom and my chill
drcn and say that corruption never
touched me. | am prOuder Of that,
gentleman of this Joint assembly,
than OF anything that ever trans
pired in my whole career; | wish to
God that some of the other members
on this floor could do as | can do
when they return to Missoulacounty,
face their constituents and know and
state what | have stated"
With such a declaration, coming
from a Democrat, "a any honest
Democrat in Fergus county ''rejoice
with exceeding great joy" over
Clark's election?
Owing largely to the feeling grow
ing out Of the capital contest there
was a sentiment here in favor of Mr..
Clark as against the DAILY faction,
and had he pursued honorable meth
DDS in securing his election he would
have still retained much of that ap-
probation. But the open defiance of
all decency and the barter in mems
regulations, regardless of party, has,
or should, make his name a stencil
with all men who have any regard
for clean politics and personal integ-
rity. During the campaign last fall
Mr.. Hobsou frequently said that per-
sonally he would prefer To see w. g..
Conrad elected United States senator.
He was well acquainted with MIR.
Conrad; he was IA prUtectionist and
a good man; his election would
amount To a recognition of thestock-
growing interests, etc. But Mr.. Hob
son and his ten associates, all from
stock counties, we believe, did not
find time to give even IA vote of conf
dence to Mr.. Conrad. While they had
no excuse, or sanction from their
lpiIhlitutllbS " NpNIIS luI a. ltSll-
ocrat, had they voted for Mr.. Conrad
they could have offered much better
reasons for So doingand might have,
in a measure, been justified. He
stands for all that W. A. Clark does
and more. too, for he is regarded as
an honorable man. lie did not have
IA record us IA bribe-giver. OF course,
MI. Hobson makes the plea that he
attempted To swing the Republicans
to Mr.. Conrad at one time, but that
was only n rusr.
The deal to deliver Mr.. Clark ten or
eleven Republican votes at the proper
time was made early in the game and
little ~by-plays cut no figure in the
contest. This is the reason the OBJ
stinate eleven could sit like wooden
men in their seats and give no re-
spouse to the appeals to their per-
sonal honor and loyalty to party.
IMPORTANT lining DECISION.