The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-27
IT WAS A DARK DAY OF WRATH
In the Two Houses at Helena in the Lobbes and on the
Streets Passion Was in Full Sway-W Whiteside At
tacks His Enemies With Whitening Scorn.

| justice Imaginable, and not a single
senator of the majority attempted to
defend it. They had the necessary
brute force to eject Whiteside, and they
| used it. Tonight there is a strange
feeling of excitement and unrest in the
city. Many members are going armed.
| There has been one furious fist fight
at the Helena hotel, and there may be
more before morning. Here is the text
of Senator Whiteside's speech:
| Whiteside's Speech.
"Mr. President and Members of the
| Joint Assembly: Not in explanation
of my vote, but exercising the privi-
! lege universally accorded to members
! of this body, desire at this time to
! reaffirm the position which I have ta-
! ken in this senatorial contest l do
not desire to question the right of any
| man here present to cast his ballot as
he sees fit, nor is it my purpose to in
| dulge in any unseemly abuse, but, un-
Influenced by prejudice and unswayed
| by the tempest of passion that seems
| to be sweeping over this community,
| / desire at this time to reaffirm that
| position.
understand that the fiat has gone
| forth that this is the last day of which
| I am to be a member of this body.
| and if failed to SO express myself at
| this time T feel that I would be false
| to my home, false to my friends and
| false to the memory and teachings of
! the Christian woman who gave me
birth. God bless her (Applause). For
| in the language of my friend, Senator
Myers of Ravalli county, dark, indeed,
| is the future of this young common
wealth if the bribe giyer, even though
| a millionaire, is to be lauded to the
skies as a benefactor of mankind, while
| the men who have the courage to ex-
pose him are to be branded as Grimm
ais wild applause).
when the capital contest was on, we
We're told of the evil influence that
| would surround the legislative assem-
bly, if the capital went to Anaconda,
and for that reason, largely, I worked
and fought for Helena. / spent my
time and money in her behalf, as my
good friend Major Maginnis and 9TH
ers will tell you, and, behold the at
| mosphere of political purity that now
surrounds our lawmakers! Why, the
very air is rife with bribery, counte-
nanced and upheld by the citizens of
this place, and the man who has the
temerity to oppose it is shamed and
looked upon as an enemy.
LET us clink the glasses and drink
to crime. let us declare that manhood
should be without honor and woman
hood without virtue. But l refuse to
believe that this is the sentiment of
a majority of this community. I ad-
nit that it is the sentiment expressed
by the subsidized press and by the
silk-stocking parasites who are shout
ing for Clark. 1t is the same clique
which, through the First National bank
dishonesty and other crimes, has COW
cred this country, like a pail, with
sorrow, which has strewn this region
| with wrecked homes and desolate fire.
| sides. Go over to Warm Springs and
| look through the grated bars of the
mad house at some of the wild eyed
maniacs there if you want to see a
part Of your work, you who are riding
in carriages with Clark badges upon
your breast and Clark money in your
pockets, you who have made a foul
hell hole of corruption of this city.
But what change has come over the
scene since the first days balloting?
What has w. A. Clark done that at this
time makes him a more worthy can
didate than he was on the first day of
this contest? What line or word of
that testimony introduced here showing
bribery has been refuted or contra
dicted?
mot one. The crime of bribery, as
shown by the evidence here introduce
ed, stands out in all of its naked hide
| business, and there are 40 members
seated here who, to-day, are ready to
embrace and kiss it. And what is the
motive? Answer me that question, you
who sit with bloodless lips and shift
ing eyes-answer if you dare. (Great
applause). There is a rumor afioat
which seems to be reliable, that the
grand jury now in session in this city
is to indict myself and companions in
this matter I say that the rumor is
from John S. NJ Neill, the jury fixer,
and he ought to know.
IN any event, they claim that We'll
come and Clark are to be whitewashed
l have been in some trying positions
during my life, situatio that have
required both courage and endurance,
and, like the friends who are with mo
in this matter, Senators Clark and My
ers, I believe have never yet shown
the white feather With courage born
of truth, and with the confidence in
spired by the business of our position,
we defy them to indict us. To some
this might seem to be thickening of
the storm around us. but to my mind
it is the sun beyond the Clouds For
evil must ever recoil to destroy itself,