The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-11-14
NOVEMBER IA, 1899.
BRIBERY WAS PRACTICED.

him being tried by the supreme court at
Helena, ia all in. 1t is of the most
damaging character and, to an I'M
prejudiced person, proves beyond a
doubt that he is guilty, as oharRed-of
hribing members Of the last legislature
TO O for ", A. Clark for United
States senator. The testimony for the
defense was begun yesterday afternoon
ana the line of 1t will be, according to
the newspaper reports, that the Clark
people will endeavor to prove that the
$50, 900 turned over 10 the Legislature
was Marcus Days money, and that the
DAILY crowd entered into a conspiracy
to defeat CLARK. But whether this con.
tention il established or not, there can
be no doubt about Welcome having
used money in Clark's interest to cor
rupt members of the legislature.
There ia plenty Of testimony to prove
It. aside from that given by Fred
Whiteside, the acouser, and tn" people
of Montana will never b. made to be-
lieve anything else than that Welcome
should be sent to the %penitentiary.
The present action against him is
only a civil proceeding, the punish
ment for which is disbarment from
praoticing law in Montana, but IL it is
not followed up by u criminal prosecu-
ton, then justice is blind in this state
and the laws against bribery might as
well be stricken from the statute books.
And besides the testimony against
Welcome, plenty of il has been intro
duoed to prove that A. j. STEELE, j. S.
M, Naill, W, M. Bickford, Charles W.
CLARK and II or two others used job
lots of money with which to bribe legis-
lators; they handled it in punches of
from $40. 900 to $50, 900, and were SO
bold and shame.faced about it that JUS
tioe Ia outraged in Montana unless they
are called to account for their crime.
II Ia also established to the satisfaction
of the public that Senator W. A. Clark
of Butte, although he wal probably not
acquainted with all the details, knew
that bribery was being practioed. and
there Ia no doubt IN the world but that
he vas putting up the money that was
used to purchase members of the lsgis-
latuIa,
All this Ia proven to a layman, al.
though, from a legal standpoint. con-
viotions under the testimony might not
be secured In a court Of justice. The
court ruled that testimony was only ad-
missable showing the specific acts Of
Welcome as to bribery, but evidence
under oath was given establishing,
from u common.sense view, that the
other persons named in this article are
just as guilty as Welcome. The su.
preme court may decide that this testi-
mony cannot be admitted in this par
tieular case, which point has not been
ruled on at this writing, but tho same
testimony can be secured in criminal
prosecutions aud, II they are not
brought against the guilty parties,
bribery IN Montana can DO practiced
with IMMUNITY in the future and the
sanctity of the ballot and free institu-
tions in this commonwealth will be.
come nothing more nor less than a
farce,
This newspaper has no interest in the
matter other than to aid in exposing
oorruptness in politics and proving to
the people Of Montana that the demo.
cratic party OF this state is not to be
trusted. 1t is the belif of The Gazette
that the DAILY faction is also corrupt,
that 1t would not hesitate to resort to
tho same methods employed by the
CLARK crowd to accomplish its ends,
and We would just as vigorously de-
mand the prosecution of one side as the
other, Before the Welcome case is end.
ed, testimony fully as damaging may
be- addueed against the DAILY faction.
and II such proves to be the case, this
newspaper will play no favorites, Let
no guilty MAI escape, should be the
watchwoId Of every honest newspaper
and every honest nun, with reference
to the disgrace heared upon this state
by the democrats last winter.
INTERNATIONAL TIMER.
Rid Lodge Picket; A few weeks