The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-16
deepened until the tension was fear

deepened until the tension was fear
full.
At one point the strain was broken
and the members and spectators broke
into roar of laughter. That was,
when that part of Whiteside's testi-
mony was reached which told how
Clark proposed to pay $4,000 apiece
for Democratic votes. but considered
5000 sufficient for Republicans
There was also considerable merri-
ment mixed with other emotions when
the secretary opened the envelopes
containing the $4,000 and holding the
fresh crisp one-thousand-dolla bills
up before the members. proceeded de-
liberately and methodically to count
them. Few Of the spectators had ever
seen so much money together before,
and the eyes of some men fairly glis-
tened at the sight
The presentation of the money as
evidence was followed by a reference
of the alleged bribery to the investfga-
ton committee and resolution hold
ing the fund at the disposition of the
joint assembly.
SENATOR'S STORY.
The evidence of Senator Whitesioe.
given before the investigation commit
tee, Is voluminous, but in it's essentials
the story which he told was as fol-
lows:
When arrived in Helena I was looked
upon by all the senatorial candidates as
Mt subject for missionary work. / was ap-
Preached by the agents of all of them but
the representatives OF W. A. Clark were the
only ones that offered any money. 1 ap-
parently fell in with their plans and was
soon on the inside. In order to learn all the
facts got in and worked for Clark, and
they regarded me as valuable man. and
M all hat hc.-r
fered me $4,000 in cash and great deal
more in promises. John B. Welcome and
Charlie Clark were the managers. while their
chief assistants have been A. J. Steele VIII
liam McDermott and ". M. Bickford.
They were all engaged in buying or trying
to buy the support of members for W. A.
Clark for United States senator. All of
them have talked it over in my presence, ex-
eept Nj. Bickfor1 For some reason he has
seemed to be little shy of me, but 1 knew
through the others what he was doing Be-
sides the men I have named they had a
great many second lieutenants. with whom 1
did not come in contact. have in my hands
over to your committee; 5000 Of this was
paid to me by John B. Welcome for my own
services, and I will explain in detail how I
received the rest Of the money.
desired to get some proof besides the
money and my word, and as l had confidence
in the integrity Of State Senator Clark, OF
bell to him. They had talk together, and
Mr.. Clark agreed to help me. l met him by
appointment in Mr.. CampbelPs room In the
Helena hotel on the night of Jan. g. / ex-
planned to him fully the part I wanted him
to take, and then l saw Mr. Welcome and
told him that Senator Clark, of Madison
county. could probably be bought.
Mr.. Welcome authorized me to offer him
s10,0 o0, and the next time I saw Welcome.
which was the next day. I told him that
Clark would accept it About 9 O'Clock on
lobby of the Helena hotel and he asked me
to bring Clark up and fix the matter up
We three went UP to room and Welcome
placed ten $1,000 bills in large envelope
and 1t sealed up. Clark put indorse
ment on it, and they gave it to me to hold
| until Clark should fulfill his part OF the
agreement, which was that he was TO vote
for ". A. Clark, OF Butte. for United States
senator whenever they wanted him. If he
voted agreed was to give him the money.
whether ". A. Clark was elected or not.
This is the envelope which contains the
money. It has not been opened. and has
been in my possession ever since 1 re-
ceivsd it.
Continuing. talked the senatorial situation
over with Charlie Clark, Welcome and others
very often. We discussed the different mem
bers that had been bought and others with
whom they were negotiating. Welcome said:
EVERY man who votes for Clark is to be
paid. and the man who votes for him without
being paid is a fool
MONEY GALORE.
They gave me the names OF the members
whom they claimed had been bought and the
amounts which had been paid or put up for
them. The amount which they paid or put
up for each member was from 5,000 to $4,000
They claimed to have bought about an equal
number Of Republicans and Democrats, but
they would not pay over $500 for Republic
cans. At the request of Welcome and Charlie
Clark. approached Senator Myers. of Ra
Valli county but not IN the way they intend
ed. They authorized me to offer him $4,000
I talked the matter over with Senator Myers
and he agreed to help me make the expos
ures. I Afterwards saw Welcome and told
him that Myers would accept the SO, 900. He
asked me to take Myers up into room in
the Helena hotel and he would meet US with
the money. This was about o'clock on the
evening OF JAN z.
took Myers to the room and then went
20 Welcomes room, but instead of going to
see Myers with me- he gave me the money
and asked me to fix It with Myers I went
| to Myers and counted out the $4,000 and put
| it in an envelope and sealed 1t. Mr.. Myers
then signed his initials on the back Of It. /
took the envelope and showed it to Well
! come. The understanding was that I was to
keep the money until Myers voted for Clark
| when I was to turn it over to him. This is
| the envelope which contains the money. It is
| still sealed and has been in my possession
| ever since received 1t.
/ There seemed to be no end to the supply Of
| money. think they expected to use nearly
! a million dollars and as near as can judge,
have already paid cut about 5000, 600; censd-
! cradle portion of this money was absorbed by
1 the second lieutenant who handled 1t.
! Some Of it was paid to the members, but
| the larger portion of it was deposited with
| third parties, to be held in escrow They ran
| short of money several times because large
/ sized bills were hard to get. The most of II
| was In 81, 900 bills, some of $500 and some of
| $50 and 500. Welcome said that ". A. Clark
| had instructed them TO go in and win, no
matter what II cost.
They generally paid $500 or 81. coo down and
| the balance was placed In the hands of a
! third party to be paid TO the member after he
| lad given his support to ". A. Clark for
United States senator. 1t was not contingent
! upon Clark's election