Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-14
LOCk1ART DENIES II.
To the Inter Mountain:

To the Inter Mountains:
I beg that you will allow me space in
your paper to answer the Infamous
charges made against me by Governor
Smith, Speaker Stiff, Congressman
Campbell and others who signed the pro-
test against the seating of Senator Clark,
and which was presented to the senate
by Senator Carter on the day which con-
gress convened.
I am very much surprised that. men oc-
cupying public positions such as those
do who signed the protest referred to,
should stoop so ow as to make such
wholesale charges as they have mad
against a large number Of Montana citi-
zens without any evidencewhatever of
the truthfulness of the charges. 1t is, at
ter all, only in keeping with the methods
of the men who compose what is COM
monty known as the Daily faction of the
democratic party. One who is familiar
with their methods in Montana politics
for the past ten years., cannot be much
surprised at them taking such a course
as they have in this matter, as it has
been the policy of the leaders of what is
any means to- accomplish the ends
sought.
AS for myself, l desire to say that the
charge that l was ibribed to vote for Mr..
w. A. Clark for the office of United States
senator, is an infamous libel, wholly with
"a "Ao " ~ =
was never offered one dollar. nor any
other sum, by either Mr.. Clark or any of
his friends, to vote for him, nor was l
ever paid a dollar to do so. nor was any
promise ever made to me by Mr.. Clark,
or any of his friends, of any reward
whatever in consideration of my vote.
The statement made in the protest re-
ferred to, that l was indebted to Mr..
Clark in the sum of $4,000, and that the
said indebtedness was ~relinquished and
cancelled in consideration of my support,
is absolutely false, wholly without foun-
dation and a libel. The men who made
the statement over their signatures are
liars. and it is my opinion that the mean
est liar of the whole crowd is Robert b.
Smith, now occupying the gubernatoriai
chair of the state of Montana. Next af-
ter him comes Alexander James Camp
bell, congressman from the state of Mon-
tana. 1t is painful to know that there
are men in Montana so void of all sense
of honor as those men who signed the
| protest against Senator Clark. The good
name, standing and reputation of men
ought to be worth more to them than
worldly effects or any property holdings,
and | know of no punishment too severe
to inflict upon persons who Wantonly,
willingly and maliciously, and in such a
reckless manner, attack the reputation
of others.
1 voted for Mr.. Clark for senator because
a majority of my constituents desired me
to do SO. I have been a friend to Mr..
| Clark for a number of years and support
ed him for United States senator in the
legislature of 1893, and have ever since
been one of his political supporters. 1
have no apologies to make for having
supported him last winter in the legiSla-
ture. nor do | regret the course | took in
the matter. If | had the same thing to do
over again. I would take the same posi-
ton that l did last winter regardless Of
the bowls of the Daily hirelings.
--zs VIM. H. LOCKHART.