The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-09
MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1899,
TEN PAGES.
The Senatership.

/ ELENA is the town toward which,
~ this week, all Montana eyes will
turn-the work of electing a
federal senator devolves upon the legis-
lature of the state. The public has be-
come acquainted with the names of
most of those who are recognized
candidates The situation id precisely
this-there is a well-defined majority of
democrats at this hour, included in the
legislatures membership, made up Of
men who are not aggressive for any
faVorite, who have no choice that is re-
preventative Of clique or faction, who
are ready and willing to unite in sup
port OF any man who is recognized as
worthy of his party and worthy of
the people of Montana. There is no
shadow of doubt that the work of this
week will bring to the front the man
who will be found to be the right man
for the hour.
1t has not yet come to pass that
Montana senatorship is merchandise
for outright purchase-depend upon it,
that humiliating and dishonorable re-
suit will not be the fruit of this ses-
sion's work at Helena. There has been
loud boasting of majority for w. A.
Clark, and he has invested unprece-
denied thousands in the effort to buy
the legislature. Braggart talk has al
ways been the preface to each one of
the many Clark ventures in Montana
politics-they have uniformly failed and
failed signally. This latest raid on the
Montana legislature will most surely
fail.
w. A. Clark is a candidate without a
vote IN MS own county, where the
democratic party scored sweeping
majority last November and where
nearly one-quarter of the states total
vote is cast. He is practically without
q vote in the counties contiguous to his
own county-indeed ninety per cent. of
what support he has is vote by stealth
which. thus far, has not dared to de-
clare itself. Within the membership of
the legislature there has been no
Clark campaigning of the honorable
sort that steps out and advocates its
man; the manipulation of the legislat-
ure in the Clark interest has been al
most entirely by outsiders with ..in-
fluence." Last week there was a notice
able, cheap and vulgar advertising in
Helena of Clark wealth; the studied eff
fort was to impress the idea that he has
plenty of money, that he wants the
senatorship and that he is willing and
ready TO pay high for it.
Mark the probationary. A. Clark's
money will buy, this year. nothing
more satisfactory to him than more Of
the experience incident to his former
failures, of which he seems never to
have enough. This chain of bribery
will surely have it's weak links; YOU
may confidently look to see them
snap. Not all of us outside of legisla.
tive circles may know just when the
break will come or where or how; but
it is bound to come, because that which
is in the order of decency and of com
mon honesty may be counted on t.
prevail. Contrary TO the commonly &C
eepted view, the Standard does MOI
believe that the contest at Helena ovel
the senatorship will be long drawn on
this year. The elements are there thai
are free to score a majority for some
man whose title TO the high office will
be clean-for any good man who an
swers that description. That man
whoever he is. can be elected. He will
be elected without undue delay, we con-
fidently predict, and once again the
Clark bribery plan will be held up be-
fore all the people to scorn and scot
fing and contempt.