The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-02
Clark's Election.
From the Billings Gazette.
This naWSrorar l,l;a,-ac

Ihls newspaper believes, IN Which
opinion it is supported by most OF the
people of the state that w. A. Clark
purchased his election to the United
States senate. The impression is gen
eral that most of the democrats and all
of the republicans who voted for him
did so for a financial consideration.
Discredit and ignominy have been cast
upon Montana by the contest and Mr..
Clark, therefore, win never enjoy the
respect of his constituents unless ne
clears himself Of the charges of bribery
brought against him. The report OF
that Helena grand jury was not a vim
dication; the people will never be salts
fed that bribery was not practiced I'M
til the charges are thoroughly invasIl-
gated by the courts. Mr.. Clark should
court such an investigation and II ne
has been done wrong this newspaper
will be among the first in the state to
do him justice.
At the outset the senatorial contest
was strictly democratic fight and II
was reasonable to suppose that demo-
crat would be elected. From polltl-
cal standpoint, Clark had the sympathy
of majority of the republicans at the
start, but when he invaded the ranks Of
that party and prostituted its members
by the use of money to secure an cleo
tion, it became the peoples fight;
Clark was not content with buying
most of his democratic supporters. hut
must spread the black blot of infamy
broadcast over all political parties in
Montana. His contention was that he
was trying to break the one-man power
of an opposing democratic faction; that
he would succeed without the assistance
of republican votes, which he did not
desire; that he was fighting to liberate
the democratic party from the tyranni-
cal rule of a corporation boss.
But the outcome Of the contest proves
that Clark was deceitful. He was
fighting to crafty his personal ambi-
ton not to liberate democracy; he has
spread the disgrace which always fol-
lows democratic ,ascendency to the re-
publican party and allowed the impress
sion to go abroad that that organization
is as rotten as the one he himself attili-
ates with. This makes it more diff
cult for the republicans to redeem Mon
tana and prove to the world that it is
not rotten borough. Characterization
for which the Clark-Daly feud is solely
responsible. This invasion and proSti-
tuition of the republican party by Clark
| was not necessary to insure his success;
seven democrats not identified with
either faction voted for Maginnis on
the final ballot, enough to elect Clark
with three to spare. But to the shame
! VI Liz ISpIoiiSeAAo, NC ~ SoiA' my
We're cheaper than the democrats; he
drove the best bargain he could, regard
| less of the consequences, one of which
| is that Clark is now as cordially de-
tested by the republicans as he is hated
by the democratic faction that fought
| him.
AS for the Daily faction, whose poll
| teal methods this newspaper has never
| condoned there is now no doubt that
it's influence was exerted in the right
direction in the senatorial fight. But
it's greed in wanting to name the sena-
tor, besides defeating Clark. has cost
the state it's honor; several times dur
ing the fight the Daily people could
| have elected democrat to whom no
suspicion of bribery would have been
attached. They are therefore culpable,
but nevertheless will now do Montana
a signal service if they will carry these
bribery charges into the courts, into the
senate chamber itself, and prove that
this state cannot be prostituted with
| IMMUNITY by millionaire's gold.
| Such a movement would receive the
hearty support and cooperation of all
| decent people of the state, without re-
gard to party affiliations; the seating
of w. A. Clark in the federal senate
without protest from the honest citi-
zenship of Montana is a virtual admis-
sion that she is incapable of statehood
and that the territorial government
should be restored.