The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-19

/ Clark men come into collision, 1t is alto
gether likely that shots would have
| been exchanged and murder commit
| ted.
XVI.
What to do with the thousand dol
lar bills was serious question with
the bribed members. They were afraid
1 to deposit them in any of the Helena
| banks, and most of them were afraid,
| too. to go home and deposit them in
1 their respective local banks. Many of
| them carried the money on their per-
sons day and night. One man went
to ST. Paul to make a deposit, Mrs.
Dundas, an estimable lady who con-
ducts the boarding house at which Rep
resentative Parker stopped, told several
of her other boarders one day that hav-
| Ing occasion to change the bedding in
| Parker's room one morning, she found
big roll of bills of large denominations
tucked away between the mattresses.
| She said she did not count the money,
but informed Parker of her discovery
Later Mrs. Dundas was summoned be-
fore the investigating committee and
| placed under oath. She then denied
that she had made any such discovery
or had told anybody she had done so.
Several days had elapsed since she had
story meanwhile had become current
on the streets and had to be hushed
UP.
This ended the fight. Clark had at
tanned the object of his ambition at a
cost that is variously estimated at from
three-quarters of million to million
dollars. He had been elected by repub-
licans and the Helena republicans paper
at once claimed him as republican,
especially after he had signed an agree
nent to vote for protection in the fed
eraltsenate. He had been elected by
campaign of Doodle, the like of which
had never been seen before. He did
not care for that. He was secure in
the protection of the Lewis and Clarke
grand jury and that was enough for
him. There is one feature Of the cam
paign that should be mentioned. This
is the strong effort that was made by
the Clark forces to lead the opposition
forces into some trap that would indi-
cate that they, too, were using money.
This was never successful, although it
was tried repeatedly Men would come
with the statement that they could
swing two OR three votes from Clark
for consideration. How much would it
be worth? Would not the opposition
make bid? The opposition never did
make a bid and this scheme failed.
There was something amusing in the
manner of these detectives when they
discovered that their scheme had failed.
After having been especially intimate
for several days with their proposed
victims, they would at once become dis
tant and would cross the street rather
than meet one of them.
XVIII.
The victory thus won was one of the
hollowest victories ever recorded. 1t
was supposed that Helena would be
painted bright red that Saturday after
noon and the spectators were on the
lookout for a lively eelebra ton. Helena
had taken such an active interest in the
campaign that 1t was natural to sup
pose that she would turn herself wrong
side out to celebrate it's successful is
sue. But she did not. Even Helena
seemed ashamed of what she had done.
Welcome had established two free bars
in the city and in the immediate vicin-
ity of these there was some enthusiasm
among the FOUNDERS, but elsewhere
there was no sign of any celebration.
The men who had been leading the fight
disappeared from sight. Davidson,
Steele and Neill could not be found.
Toole, Day and Fine were in retire
ment. I was chilly afternoon. Along
toward evening handbillfs were distri-
buted through the streets announcing
that there would be grand ratification
meeting at the auditorium. This
brought out a big crowd and the hail
was filled. But this meeting, too, was
frosty. The crowd waited for an hour
for Clark to appear. When he came he
came alone. He entered the ante-room
off the stage and asked Where is
Toole? He promised to be here But
Toole was not there. Where is Day.
He promised to preside" But Day was
not there, Neither was Davidson there
Nor Steele. Nor any of the boosters.
And the senator-elect had to go upon
the stage alone. The guests upon the
platform rose to receive him. but there
was no chairman. Nobody would con-
Cullen of Dawson county. He simply
mentioned the abhorred name of Clark
and the boodler read a brief address in
which he Endorsed the republican plat
form. Then it was all over. There was
no congratulatory speech from Toole,
there was no pean of triumph from
Day. 1t was frost that was a frost
Clark also had ratification" meeting
in Butte, at which not single promi-
nent democrat of Butte was on the
stage. 1t is also worthy of note that
after the final ballot was taken and
Clark was declared elected, no motion
was made to bring Clark before the
joint assembly and give him an oppor-
tunity to make the speech customary
on such occasions. On the contrary no
sooner was the result announced, than
the Clark people, as if ashamed of Their
work, hurriedly moved that the joint
assembly be dissolved.
XIX.
There was comparative quiet in Hell
ena for the week following this recep-
ton and ratification. Mr. Clark went
over to Butte for the ratification" that
was held there and then returned to
Helena. On Tuesday night, Feb. Z,
there was banquet given at the Hotal
Helena This banquet was not given
by the admirers of Mr.. Clark in his
honor. 1t was not an expression of ap-
prevail by any organization. 1t was a
banquet that Mr.. Clark paid for him
self. and to 1t were invited all those
who would come. Most of the members
of the legislature who had supported
the bpDdlp candidate arrpDta6 thp iDyi-