Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-01-11
DARING POLITICAL PLOT.

a dispatch from Helena, Mont, says:
According 10 his friends and the re-
ports received, Hon. W. A. Clark, Of
Butte, is the victim of one of the most
daring political jobs ever coucocted in
the history of a senatorial contest. As
was noted in the dispatches yester-
day, rumors of bribery in regard to the
Clark and Daily contest for election to
the United States Senate became SO
rife that yesterday committee of three
Senators and three members of the
House was appointed to investigate
these charges.
This committee began work last
night and upon the assembling OF the
legislature in joint session yesterday
morning, before balloting for Senator
began, 1t made one of the most sensa.
tioral reports ever recorded. Senator
Whiteside, of Flathead county, was
the principal witness betore the com
mittee. His testimony was in sub
stance that he had been approached by
Clark's managers, who paiu him $780,
coo cash to purchase certain votes.
The money was placed iu sealed
packet Hs also stated that one OF
Ciark's supporters threatened TO kill
anyone who "squealed." Yesterday
morning the money was exhibited on
tie speakers desk, and consisted OF
thirty 81, 900 bills. On motion Of the
chairman of the committee the money
was paid to the State treasurer, and IN
sny event the State is $50, 900 ahead.
Whteside two years ago made the
famous minority capitol building in
vestigation report and published it in
a newspaper over his sigDature, dis
closing alleged thievsry. He was sued
for libel by one OF the commissioners,
but was able to uphold his report be-
fore jury and new commission was
al pointed.
great prestige. 1t has since developed,
however, that he had just finished
large contract for Marcus Daily, In
Butte, and the Clark men claim that
DAILY aud W. G.. Conrad, the Great
Falls banker, also candidate for Sen
ator, each furnished half of the money
to defeat Clark in this way, he having
had an undisputed lead in the contest.
At any rate the effect was the desir-
ed one, and Clark made g miserable
showing in the vote yesterday after
noon, after the disclosures. Daly's
candidate was not even nominated in
either branch, nor did he receive Sin
of vote, the Daily strength being thrown
to Conrad. Clark and DAILY have been
L: e.. hn
fight between there for control of the
Montana democracy has known no
bounds.
The articles appearing in the Butte
Miner and Anaconda Standard, the re.
spec.ive Clark and Daily organs, have
contained from day to day the most
sensational charges OF bribery snd cor.
ruptiou ever known in the west, and
Daily has carried matters so far as to
run special newspaper train to Helena
daily that he might present his views
first to the legislature.
The fight between them is DOW one
to the death and the end cannot be
forecasted reliably further than that
neither Clark nor Daly's candidate can
be elected. Former Governor Toole,
who is thought we'll of, is the strongest
candidate outside the two combines.
The two houses took the first vote
for Senator yesterday. Vote in the
senate: VIC. Conrad, z; W. a. Clark,
/; j. II. Toole, 5; ]. M. Fox, 2; Mar
shall (rep), 5. Vote in the House:
Clark, 3: Conrad, 80; Toole, 20; Hart
man, 4; G. A. Hoffman, l; II. t. Frank,
2; Lee Mantle, l; Marshall, 10.