The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-31
CLARK's

l HOOp4C VI LIZ oANSSs SAuc w.
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, will never enjoy the
respect of his constituents unless he
clears himself of the charges Of bribery
borught 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 un-
til the charges are thoroughly investi-
gated by the courts. Mr.. CLARK should
court such an investigation and if he
has been done a wrong this newspaper
will be among the first in the state to
do him justice.
At the outset the senatorial contest
was strictly a democratic fight and it
was reasonable to suppose that a demo-
crat would be elected. From a politi-
cal standpoint, Clark had the sympathy
of a majority Of the republicans at the
start, but when he invaded the ranks of
that party and prostituted it's members
by the use Of money to secure an cleo
ton, it became the peoples fight;
CLARK was not content with buying
most Of his democratic supporters, but
must spread the black blot of infamy
broadcast over all political parties in
Montana. His contention was that be
was trying to break the one-man power
of all 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
tion, not to liberate democracy; he has
spread the disgrace which always fol-
lows democratic ascendancy to the re-
publican party and allowed the impress
sion to go abroad that that organization
is as rotten as the one lie himself affili-
ates with. This makes it more diff
cult for the republicans to redeem Mon
tana and prove to the world that it is
not a rotten borough, a 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
Of the republicans, be it said, they
were 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.
tical methuds this newspaper has never
condoned, there is now no doubt that
ito in3uauco uac ovoytod in tho RIGHT
direction in the senatorial fight. But
it's greed, in wanting to name the sena.
tor, besides defeating CLARK, has COS,
thesstate its honor; several times dur.
ingsthe fight the DAILY people could
have elected a democrat to whom. M
suspicion of bribery would have beer
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 tina
this state cannot be prostituted witt
IMMUNITY by a m%illionaire's gold
Such a movement would receive the
hearty support and cooperation Of al,
decent people Of the state. without re,
gard to party affiliations; the seating
Of w. A. CLARK in tho federal senate
without a protest from the honest oiti,
aenship of Montana IL a virtual admis,
sion that she 10 incapable Of statehood
and that the territorial government,
should DO restored.
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
VIM. Lindsay at Dawson county.
j. n. Mckay Of Custer county,
W. A. HAda0s ~ E0r0ns o0unty