The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-15
FIGHT ON SENATOR CLARK.
MARCUS DAILY PLANNING To PRE-
VENT THE SEATING OF HIS FOE.

In similar Caaea ReeaIied-No
Certainty That the Republicans
viii Allow . Contest to He Made.
Senator william A. Clark may have
little fight On his hands before being per-
miited TO take his seat in the United
States senate, according 10 recent reports.
The agents Of Marcus +. Daily. his an
Client and hard-fghting enemy. have been
| In Washington looking over the ground.
They are enaeavoring TO learn what sort
OF a reception they would get from the
Republican steering committee. Mr.. Clark
IS a Democrat, but he was elected by Re
publican votes. The gentlemen who were
in Washington say that the prices paid
for votes ran from s. 90 10 S37 800 each.
The effort 10 anseat Clark would not be
In the nature Of an ordinary contested
election case No one would be disputnx
bis seat. Representation would be made
that he had been guilty Of conduct unbe-
coming a United States senator and there
fore morally UNFIT 10 have seat in the
chamber
Alexander Caldwell's Case.
The history III the senate shows that In
only ore case was resolution adopted
declaring a senator's seat vacant on the
grounds that the election Was Illegal and
Void. hut this resolution never came 10
o vote for the reason that the senator
Alexander Caldwell OF Kansas-whcse
sifle 20 seat had been questioned. re-
signed
Caldwell was elected TO the United
States senate in 1871. The year following
report from a joint committee OF the
Kansas legislature was presented 10 the
senate charging that Caldwell had
cured his election by bribery and corrupt
means. The senate ordered an inyestga-
ton.
The committee on elections and privi-
leses later reported resolution declaring
the election of Caldwell null and void and
the seat vacant. An amendment was Of
fered to strike cut that part OF the reso-
luton declaring the seat vacant and in
sert: Hereby expelled from the senate"
Tho amendment, did no, prevail but
before the vote was taken Caldwell re-
signed
The first case on record where the charge
was made tina, a senator's election was
irregular was tina, OF Simon Cameron Of
Pennsylvania, in March. 1856. Protests
were tiied charging that Cameron had Sc
cured his election by corrupt means. They
could not be sustained.
Pomeroy Not Elected.
Kansas In 1857. faced similar charges IL
VAS proved that money was used to Sc
cure his election but the evidence did not
show that Pomeroy had personally used
money for such purpose. A majority Of
| the committee Gu elections and privileges
| reported resolution 10 the effect that the
| charges had net been sustained.
memorial was presented 10 the senate
| from the Kansas legislature when Sena-
ale ,eE far p.fIt
| II was charged that he securet his cleo
| ton by bribery and corrupt means. Evil
dauce eas produced 70 show that money
| had been used and certain legislators
| brihsd. but no; IN such numbers 10 deter
| mine the election in ingalls, favor
| The Missouri legislature March. 1878.
| charged taat Senator Rogy had procured
| his election by corruption The commit
| tee reported I'm faver 81 the senator
| The last ease Of this nature was the
| famous PAYNE investigation. Senator
| PAYNE of ohio waS charged with having
| purchased his election The charge ~as
| thoroughly investigated and tie report Of
| the committee eSonera'ed senator Payne,
/ There is no certainty thai the Repub,i-
| cans Of the senate viii he willing 70 take
/ ghe matter up, It refused 10 let the onto
| bribery charges in The Hanna case pass
| Beyond the consideration stage. although
| thas WAS a different case
senate Fails To Change Methods
| Two measures for modification in the
| manner Of eiecting United States soma
| tors diet with tao last Sessieg. ~ con-
| eress. orae vas the eAaage proposed in
! the constitution ny Congressman Coriigs
| Il contemplated the election Of senator's
| by ,iigssct vote 81 sac people. Is hA3 a
| favorable committee report ba{ was
| sqaeezet in the press of business IA ire
] closing DAYS II has eceu injorSel by
! several state legislatures
Mr. Cor}jzs realizes tina: Sc Is slcw work
80 change She constitution. - matter how
/ desirable. egi ne Ass confidence IN the
/ Popularity - his amendment. anA viii
press Il 70 vote 81 tha next congress.
Senator llsar gave notice s1at he wou, :
/ lvas4os> an amendment 20 tes, e1r~f!stiil, 2,
providing taat plurality vote elect
Iuit~f states acHeterS after q certain
/ namefe ~ attempts as3 heeu mage 20
ssssuce ia y'rzstsw hy majority votes TAls
wosid r4s a stop 70 teaI}oeks ana long
/ gantUNts