The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-03
The State Press
Republican Deserters.


Helena Herald (rep.): After care.
full consideration of the action Of the
eleven republican members Of the leg.
islature in voting for a democrat fol
United States senator, the Herald can
fluid no warrant for such action. This
paper would stultify itself by now
even pretending to approve an act
which it has heretofore advised against
and condemned. This paper has
failed, up to date, to hear a single
reasonable excuse or justification for
such a vote. It's columns are open to
any and all Of these eleven members to
show any justification for their acts.
We know of nj
Anaconda Standard (dem.): The
delivery of paid republicans to Clark
was no surprise, yesterday, to those who
have had a close view Of the contest,
except that the purchase was a couple
of votes larger than had been antici-
pated. Even before the exposure Of
the bribery game, many democrats
were prepared TO believesthat the Clark
heelers were right when they declared
that he had already bought four, or
five, republicans. These had been
itching for CLARK gold; they became
candidates for the legislature for the
bribery money there was in it. They
sold out early.
Helena Independent (dem.): The
action of the eleven republicans, who
yesterday voted for Hon. w. A. Clark
will meet with general commentator
from their constituents. Everywhere
throughout the state, with but few ex-
captions, republicans have joined with
democrats III a desire to end the sena-
torial contest by the election Of Mr.
Clark.
Butte Miner (dem.): Republicans
in the legislature saw and understood
the situation. They came to the res
cue-not to settle a difference in the
ranks of democracy, but to down this
un-American combine which began
its work in personal spite against one
man and sought to end in personal con
troll Of a great state.
X
Yellowstone Journal (rep.): So far
as our own delegation is concerned,
while we have one on the roll Of
honor, we, who are familiar with local
conditions, can readily understand that
circumstances may have arisen that
compelled one Of our representatives to
do as the other did, no matter how
false the impression conveyed by such
action might be, and this being true
of Custer county. it would hardly do to
say that it was not true of other o n
stituencies. It was almost too much to
expect that the entire body of republic
can in the legislature would remain Of
one mind to the end. 1t would have
been a glorious record, if maintained,
but where constituencies were divided,
as has been shown to BIZ the case in this
contest, it was hardly to be expected
would forever remain of the same
mind. Influences that were powerful
were brought to bear through legiti.
mate channels, and it was hard for the
member thus influenced to decide
whether this or that faction of his
party was right in their ideas of ulti.
mate benefit to the party. Thus fal
there appears to be no suggestion Of
money influence in the republican vote
that went to Clark on Saturday and sc
far as the vote of the two represent
atives of Custer county is concerned we
believe their action can be nationally
accounted for on existing local condi
tions.
Fort Benton Press (rep.): The mos
prominent feature of the proceeding
connected with the election is the as
sistance given to Mr., Clark by rs pc
cent of the republican membership O
the state legislature. When 1epubli
cans desert to the standard of the pc
~litical enemy they assume a RESPONSE
bility for which they must answer Il
their constituency and party associates
In this particular case the defeated an,
crestfallen faction Of the Montan'
democracy makes the vicious allegation
that the republicans who decided tn
senatorial contest in favor Of the victim
Of their antipathy, were paid liberall.
for their help. They charge that thes
republicans were bribed to cast thei
votes as recorded. There is no positiv
proof to sustain this accusation. am
on the principle that every man shoul
be regarded as innocent until provel