The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-21
ONE MORE BURNING BRAND
Continued from Page One.)
hear.


never knew or noticed me or conde-
scended to take any notice of my OK
istence until after 1 had been elected a
state senator in this body and he was a
candidate for United States senator
Then the first notice that he took of me
was by sending one of his agents and
emissaries from Butte to Hamilton,
where I live, to offer me good posi-
ton at a handsome salary on his staff
of attorneys for years to come if l would
vote for him for United States senator.
II knew his methods when w. NJ. Bick
ford, representing W. A. Clark, came to
Hamilton from Butte and made his
corrupt proposition to me that I could
get such a position with w. A. Clark
at a handsome salary upon the condi-
ton that I would vote for Clark for
United States senator I want to say,
too, in this connection and in connec-
ton with that corrupt proposition to
purchase my vote, and as a part of 1t.
that there is one man who cannot
charge me with being conspirator or
a perjurer in this matter, unless he
has the brazen effrontery to deny his
paternity. and that man is Charles w.
Clark, son of w. A. Clark, who wrote
me over his own signature before l
came here, a letter from Butte, offer
ing me money for corrupt purposes in
connection with the proposition that I
have just alluded to.
THAT letter has been under my con-
troll ever since it was received by me.
1t was not in my immediate possession
at the time of the examination by the
investigating committee and could not
be produced before that body, ana was
not, therefore, there alluded to nor any
testimony introduced concerning it or
the proposition connected with it.
"But thank God that that letter,
that written evidence Of corr
ruption, Is In existence and has
been by me laid before the
grand jury now In session, to be
passed upon by 1t and the result lies
with that body.
These are some Of the reasons why I
do not vote for w. A. Clark and why I
never will. Knowing these things OF
my own knowledge, I cannot do other
wise. These are the reasons that gov
ern my motives and my conscience in
casting my vote for United States SEN
ator. Do you want any other? Are
there others ready for an honest man?
Are there any others needed? They are
sufficient for me. They are the ones
that govern me, and not the corrupt
and sinister motives that have been
falsely attributed to me.
Il speak these few words in behalf Of
my integrity and in defense of my mo-
tives, having sat silent under dispersion
until deem 1t my duty to speak.
With these explanations, I cast my
vote again for W. G. Conrad"
There was no other interesting inter-
ruption of the roll call of the house till
the name of Gibson of Madison county
was reached. Mr. Gibson rose in his
seat and read from manuscript a care
fully prepared address.
The members of the joint assembly
and the crowd that filled the gallery
had by this time become interested in
the situation, and there was an expect
ant silence as the names of the orators
of the house were called, one by one.
There was no further speechmaking
however, until the name of Kelley of
Silver Bow county was reached. Mr..
Kelley is much more familiar with the
conditions in Silver Bow than the, gen.
tleman who read his piece in excuse of
his action in voting for Clark, and he
arose in his place to correct some of
the insinuations made by the young
man from Madison county. Mr. Kelley
spoke as follows, his words being fol-
lowed with deep interest by all present:
No Excuses to Make.
"Mr. President, 1 have heretofore re-
Trained from speaking on the floor of
this house, not so much because the OPP
portunity did not present itself as be-
cause of the peculiar conditions that
have surrounded us and the excitement
and passion to which we have at times
been aroused. But I think, sir. that the
time has now come when every honest
man should vindicate the course he has
pursued and the motives by which he
has been actuated. For myself, have
no excuses to make, nor apologies to
offer, for my conduct in the joint ses-
sion of this body. l have up to this
time cast my vote for a man whom 1
believe to be a clean and honest man
and, although I had not the honor of
his personal acquaintance before COM
ing to Helena, l have since that time
formed the highest regard for his char
acter as citizen and his worth as A
man.
1T has been insinuated by a part of
the press of this state that the support
that has been given this man by the
Silver Bow and Deer Lodge delegations
has been a subterfuge. In behalf of
myself and the Silver Bow delegation,