The Anaconda standard., 1899-01-30

neld FrlQay nlSnt, Dy large HidJoii's
of those present it was decided to be
good politics to vote for Clark and
effect his election, in the belief that it
would hopelcssly disrupt the demo-
cratic organization of the state"
However it is idle to thresh old straw,
and not entertaining for newspaper
readers. The fact is that this republic
can election of w. A. Clark is some
thing of which, manifestly, the decent
republicans throughout Montana are
heartily ashamed. AS for the republic
can leaders, they are accusing one an
other-each one anxious to make it ap-
to Clark. 1t is their funeral; let these
republicans fight it out among them
selves. The one satisfying and highly
gratifying feature OF the situation, the
one certain thing, is that no man can
lay the blame for w. A. Clark's pur-
chase Of the senatorship at the door of
the democratic party of Montana, how
ever venal individual democrats may
have been. On the contrary, it is an
election which could not score a demo-
cratic majority in a legislature over
whelmingly democratic, an election
whose methods have been openly and
vigorously denounced by the represen-
tative democrats in Montana, from the
democratic governor and other demo-
cratic state officers down through the
list.
In view of the undeniable fact that
the representative democrats of Mon
tana denounce the Clark senatorial
sion in yesterdays paragraph in the
Miner which says: "And Deer Lodge
and Silver Bow counties didn't count"
No, they didn't. In Silver Bow, w. A.
Clark did what he could, last autumn,
to elect gold republicans to the legis-
lature; in Deer Lodge county the re-
publican committee publicly resented
the dishonest methods whereby Clark
sought, officiously and covertly, to take
hand against the democratic legisla-
tive ticket. 1t is true that, when w. A.
Clark made up his jewels, Deer Lodge
and Silver Bow counties didn't count"
Indeed, they didn't; thank God for that!
The position of these democrats was
typified in what was said last Saturday
by Speaker Stiff. On that occasion, as
the Standards judgment is, Mr.. Stiff
made the most impressive talk in leg
islative session that has one of its dis
tinctions in the excellence of the ad-
dresses made by the members who have
been fighting bribery. 1t was con-
else, manly, impressive, eloquent, we'll
worded and admira bly-uttered plea
against dishonest action. In that
speech, as we have said, Speaker Stiff
spoke for each member from Deer Lodge
and Silver Bow when, for himself, he
pronounced these earnest words: For
those democrats who have voted for Mr.
Clark from the honest motives I have
indicated, have respect and regard,
but they are, gentlemen of this assem-
bly,, so fearfully in the minority that
they can scarcely be taken into consid-
Grafton. l know members here voting
for w. A. Clark and they know that
know they have received money con-
sideration for casting their votes for
him. The question has been asked on
this floor and elsewhere in this city:
How do you know that bribery has
been resorted to in this election in the
interest of w. A. Clarke I say that
know this much, and I know it so far
as I am individually and personally
concerned that the only reason why I
myself am not casting my vote under
a bribe is because I refused to ac-
cept it,
Since this post election talk which
|
within the limits of a brief paragraph
has been so extended, it may be as well
to refer, once for all. to the studied
effort of Mr. Clark and of his news
paper organs to make 1T appear that he
has had an Anaconda fight" on his
hands. The list of members who Were
foremost in the recent fight agains
bribery includes the names of Mr.. Clarl
Of Madison, Mr.. Anderson of Meagher
Mr.. Myers of Ravalli, Speaker Stiff OF
Missoula, Mr.. Lindsay of Dawson, Mr.
Norris of Beaverhead, Mr.. Worden OF
Missoula-the list might be heightened
but these were in'the lead. There is not
a man among them who directly or in
directly, has ever had business relations
with the Anaconda company. There is
| not man amopp them who bas aya,