Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-11

But if the charges made are untrue, and
men are politically, socially and perhaps
financially ruined through false accusa-
tons, words cannot measur the infamy
of the wrong.
While the quarrel leading up to these
charges is a democratic one. it is a mat
ter that concerns every citizen of the
state, for it involves the good name and
reputation of the commonwealth, as we'll
as the character and standing of men
prominent in the business affairs OF Mon
tana. 1t is therefore the part of good
citizenship to look upon this important
matter from a more lofty standpoint than
partisan zeal or personal ambitions.
There are several reasons why a hasty
conclusion should not be reached as to
the merits of the charges preferred, and
why the claim that is made as to the in
justice of the accusation is entitled to at
least the respectful consideration of the
people pending a thorough investigation
into the facts. In the first place, it must
be admitted that insofar as the senatorial
controversy of six years ago was concern
ed public opinion imputed to Mr.. Clark's
party enemies quite as much activity in
the matter of securing votes as was
alleged to have been exercised by that
gentleman himself. AS one gentleman
said at the time, in expressing a belief
more or less prevalent: 'It is a case
where the pot cannot call the kettle
black"
If that remarkable controversy was a
| foretaste of Mr.. Clark's political meth
DDS it was an equally strong indication
Of the extreme to which his enemies
would go in a political way. 1t follows,
then, that if Mr.. Clark has conducted his
present senatorial campaign on the alleg-
tagonists are equally competent to meet
him half way with schemes not particu-
larly conspicuous for their purity. AS
the bribery charges emanate from Mr..
Clark's avowed enemies. the public is
naturally curious to know whether they
are or are not honestly made.
The fact that $50, 900 in cash was placed
in the hands of the legislative assembly
| neither proves nor disproves the PROPOSE
ton. for either side to the controversy
would doubtless regard that expenditure
as a mere bagatelle if thereby the end in
view could be attained. If the charges
were dishonesty made, it required the de-
post of a large sum of none to give
them the proper weight-a sum hat
could not be used in any other way with
equal effect upon the senatorial vote. If
honestly made, the securing of 5000 from,
the Clark managers would have proved
the noint with lust as much emphasis as
the securing of 800, 900, and with far bet
ter effect. If criminally inclined the CLARK
managers might have entrusted to STATE
Senator Whitesides $4,000 for his own
vote. but it scarcely looks reasonable or
the face of things that they would make
Mr.. Clark's avowed enemy the custodian
of $50. 900 of their cash funds, without Sc
curity, and with instructions to use thu
money in the purchase of votes! Such
move would have been so conspicuousl!
idiotic as to raise the suspicion that NJ
one was guilty Of making it.
Not only would the political and busi
mess affiliations of Mr.. Whitesides point t
the unreasonableness of his being sud
denly transformed into a confidential
Clark man, out the fact that he has con
stantly posed in the past as a great re
former, exposing everything in sight an
a good many things he never saw Q
heard of, and incessently trying to &C
auire a reputation for nerve in letting tn
light in upon corrupt corners, would seer
to make him the last man in the world t