Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-18

III 80
Ihe fact that Senator Carter submitted
the governors protest was for a time
a bombshell in the camp of the Junior
senator and it appeared charged with
lyddite. for such action was regarded as
evidence of Carterian opposition to Mr..
Clark, based upon the, fact, probably.
that the latter could afford to wear bet
ter clothes than Mr.. Carter and make a
speech in more languages. An eye wit
ness of the incident, however. informs
the Inter Mountain correspondent that
MI. Carter's action was purely perfume
tory: that it was an act of courtesy to
a particular friend who happened to be
one OF the chief executives of the state;
and that the other one, a distinguished
cltizen OF Anaconda, now visiting in
New York on a pass, probably stood in
with the play. To prove that he was
without personal feeling in the matter,
Mr.. Carter, after magnanimously sub
hitting a protest against the seating of
Mr.. Clark in the senate cheerfully sug-
gested that the latter accompany him
to a seat in the basement restaurant, to
remain there as long as his appetite
should last, further proposing that they
should charge the meal to Bob Smith.
Thus was the entente cordiale between
the two senators restored; Mr.. Clark
was satisfied; the governor and his
hackers We're satisfied; the sojourning
adherents of both sides were satisfied,
and Mr.. Carter had, with great good
Judgment, performed a delicate duty
without disclosing to a living soul how
he himself stood on the proposition of
admitting MI. Clark to q permanent
seat in the senate.
A consideration which will have great
weight in the settlement of the Clark
case will be the action taken in the
Quay, Scott and Taliefero cases. Quay
Is an appointee. Scott is charged with
having been elected through the votes
OF two men who, being army officers, |
were not qualified member of the legis-
lature. The Florida man is said to have
used money to procure his election. 1t
is conceivable that Mr.. Clark is not such
a bitter partisan as to oppose the ad-
mission of Quay, though his newspaper,
the Butte Miner, once opposed the seat
ing of Mantle in a similar case. Mr..
Scott, being a democrat, will also find
in Mr.. Clark a friend, for the charge
against him is purely technical and has
little merit. If it could be established
beyond doubt that Taliefero actually
used money to obtain his election in
Florida, Mr.. Clark might vote to unseat
him, but the Montana mar is certainly
not going to accept as true the charges
of any mans enemies without investiga-
ton. Besides, perhaps Taliefero didn't
spend half a million all told. 1t is easy
enough to blacken any mans reputation.
should the three senators named be
permanently seated and Mr.. Clark figure
among their supporters, which he may
or may not do, his prospects will be con-
siderahly improved, though many we'll
Informed men look for a mighty uproar
when the Clark case shall finally get
before the senate. Senate Hoar is re-
ported to be likely to deliver q great
speech on the subject in opposition to
Clark. Party lines will not cut much
figure in the matter. senator Jones of
Arkansas is studying the case infinitely.
He is personally friendly to the junior
senator and to Mr.. Daily also, and
greatly deplores the Montana feud
which estranges two such estimable and
wealthy contributors to the democratic
campaign barrel. He is hopeful of a
reconciliation between them and Il wine
supper at Chamberlain's. Speaking gem
orally. it may be said that at present
all is involved in uncertainty. Should
the senate committee go to Montana
next summer to wash the democratic
linen all the big chiefs of the denloc-
racy will be put on the rack-none will
be overlooked unless they happen to be
abroad at the time. and there will be
some testimony elected which will prob
ably change the political affiliations of
at least 1o,e00 men i'll that state who are
now democrats. The situation is there
fore growing more interesting every day.
Mr.. Clark may have to walk home, but
his enemies will not, his friends assert,
emerge from the fight With all their
clothes on. There will be many a politi-
cal funeral of tremendous proportions
after it shall be all over, and the whole
free trade, anti-eypansion crowd will go
to defeat in the next Montana election,
I'm one red burial blent."
The contest has many amusing fea-
lures, and some people believe the Who'll
thing will be settled between Clark and
the Standard Oil people, who are said
to be very good friends just now. While
the principals are likely to compromise,
therefore it is folly for their friends to
bfandish tomahaWks and call for blood.
The protest filed by Carter against the
admission of his present colleague fills
400 quarto pages. Whether the cost of
publication is met by the government, by
Mr.. Clark or by Governor Smith is not
stated. However amusing the situation
may be to the general public and to the
people of Montana when they view the
r; r,, =, ,,,ct q ,,oa- ,, both e;Jnc f.,,, =, 40