The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-03
Special Dispatch to the Standard.


met in joint assembly this afternoon to
listen to an additional report from the
bribery investigating committee. On
motion of Day. seconded by Toole, the
report was received and the committee
discharged, all the testimony to be
placed in the hands of the president of
the senate and by him delivered to the
secretary of state for safe keeping.
Below will be found the main portions
of the testimony presented in the re-
port. The sensational testimony ex-
pected in regard to Representative
Parker of Granite county did not
materialiZe. The landlady at the
boarding house where Mr. Parker
lodges has told various reputable par
ties in private conversation that one
morning recently while changing the
bedding in Mr.. Parker's room she found
a package of money in large bills,
amounting to several thousand dollars.
which she gave back to Mr.. Parker
When called before the committee and
put under oath she denied that she had
ever made any such statements to any
body. The testimony follows:
Toole on the Stand.
John r. Toole being first duly sworn,
deposed and says as follows:
Question. Mr.. Toole, you may state
your name, age, residence and occupa-
ton.
Answer My name is John r. Toole;
my age is 48; my residence is Anaconda
Mont, and my occupation is miner.
Q. What official position, if any. do
you hold in the state of Montana?
A. I am a member of the house of
representatives of the Sixth legislative
assembly.
@. Mr.. Toole, you may state what
you know, if anything, connected with
any matters of bribery or the giving
or offering of brides, or the acceptance
of same by members of the legislature
in so far as such matters may have
come to your personal knowledge, if
you know anything about such matters?
A. Shortly after election it was ru-
mored around the country where T live
that W. A. Clark of Butte City was
ready to spend an unlimited amount
of money for the purpose and for the
buying of a seat in the United States
senate. think it was perhaps 10 days
before I came to the city of Helena to
attend the session of the legislature. I
met Mr.. Fred Whiteside in the city of
Anaconda. To the best of my memory
] had met him three or four times be-
fore that, l was not much acquainted
with him; knew but little about him.
He brought up the matter that was
common talk at that time of the buying
of the legislature in the interest of Mr..
Clark's candidacy for the senate. He
said to me that he felt the buying and
bribing of the legislature for that pur-
pose was a crime and that he believed
1T was possible to get evidence that
would convict those people of bribery,
and that he thought, in the interest of
good government, some one should take
hold of the matter and see if the peo-
pie who attempted to bride the legisla-
ture could not be brought to justice
Knowing but little of Mr.. Whiteside
at that time and thinking, perhaps, he
was somewhat sensational, ! paid but
little attention to what he said. I agreed
with him and assented to what he said
and said 1T would be good thing for
the state, for the homes and families
and for all right-minded people, if this
bribery in politics could be stopped and
those who attempted it punished. After
coming to Helena I met Mr.. Whiteside
and he brought the subject up again.
He said he was certain that lots of
money was being used by the Clark
people and it looked as though they
would win. I said to him that We had
no money to use for that purpose; that
. I thought those who were attempting
to bride members of the legislature in
the interest Of any candidate would he
punished If discovered. After that I
met him at different times, and perhaps
two or three days after that first meet
ing he said ITO me that he was in fair
way to get evidence to prove the cor
rupt efforts to purchase votes for Mr..
Clark. AS the matter progressed he
stated more fully the details of what
he was doing, and l think it was a day
or SO before the appointment of this
committee that he asked my help and
cooperation in securing the appoint
ment of committee of investigation. l
also talked with Mr.. A. j. Campbell
about the condition of affairs, and he
said he was willing ITO lend his sup
port to bring the guilty parties to JUS
ttce in connection with any one who
would undertake it here. One evening
Mr.. Campbell said to me that he be-
lieved Mr.. w. A. Clark of Madison
county, who was a man of sterling in
tegrity and honesty, would co-ooperate
with Mr. Whiteside or any one else in
exposing this bribery business. Mr..
Campbell told me, later on the same
date, that he had seen Mr.. w. A. Clark
of Madison county and that he had
agreed, in the interest of good govern
ment and honest politics in this state.
to do what he could to assist Mr.. White
side; that the agents of w. A. Clark
of Butte seemed to think that they
could buy his vote and that he proposed
to show them the fallacy of such an
attempt and bring them to justice. if
possible. l met Mr.. w. A. Clark of
Madison county at that time. As | re-
member now, I had never met or be-
came acquainted with him before. Mr.
Clark told me that he heartily agreed
with Mr.. Whitesides desire to expose
the bribery that was going on in the
interest of the senatorial candidates and
that he would cooperate with Mr.
Whiteside in securing evidence for the
conviction of those who were attempt
ing it. The rest of my knowledge OF
this matter is fully set forth in the evil
dence of Mr., w. A. Clark of Madison
county and of MI. Whiteside.
Absolutely None.
@. Mr. Toole, you are well acquaint
ed with Mr. Marcus Daily and have
been associated with him some il
years past in business. as well as IL
politics. Has Mr.. Daily, with you
knowledge. or did you ever in behal
of Mr.. DAILY, expend any money Il
hrshe or rnrr1,nt tho man, barS nf tbi,