The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-15
been captured by the British at Mafe-
king.
Pretoria, it is added, reports on the
other hand that Mafeking has fallen.
CLARK RESIGNS.
Montana Senator Retires From
the Senate
After Making a Speech in His
Own Defense.

Washington, May Ex-senator Clark
(Mont.) today announced his resigna-
ton from the United States senate.
Mr.. Clark read letter dated May II
announcing his resignation.
Scarcely had the routine business of
the senate been concluded when Mr..
Clark (Montana) rose and addressed the
chair on question of privilege personal
to himself. Mr.. Clark said:
1T had not been my intention to dis
tur'b the recognized traditions of this
most honorable body by intruding my
opinions upon any questions that might
arise for consideration during the pres
ent session, but the question called up
today for discussion 50 vitality concerns
my own interests and the interests of
the great state which 1 have the honor
in part to represent that l shall ask the
indulgence of the senate While as brief
ly as possible submit some remarks, le-
ferring first to the character of the IN
VestigatiOn; second, to the majority re-
port of the honorable committee on
privileges and elections which has sub
mitted findings adverse to the retention
of my seat in the senate; third, to the
conditions existing in the state OF Mon
tana for number of years prior to my
election which justified my political ac-
ton; and lastly, a statement as to the
course deem best to pursue in the
premises.
1T is not my desire to cast any as
pensions upon the motives which actu-
ated the distinguished senators compos-
ing the committee, and yet with the
most respectful consideration for the
learning, legal ability and eminent
standing of these gentlemen, 1 am
forced to the conclusion, which 1 be-
lieve meets with the concurrence of not
only a large number of senators on both
sides of this chamber, but also to so per
cent of my constituency in the state of
Montana, regardless of political atfilia-
tions, that the methods of procedure in
the investigation of this matter were
manifestly unfair, non-judicial, and that
they resulted in a verdict of the COM
mittee entirely opposite to that which
would have occurred should the evil
dence have been confined to that which
was admissible and pertinent to the is
sue. ] contend that an investigation IN
volving a seat in the highest legisla-
tive body of this nation. as well as the
honor of an individual chosen for that
position by the people of one of the
sovereign states therefor should be
conducted in a strictly judicial manner,
( and that the established rules of evil
dence should be applied. 1t is we'll
/ known to everybody that this was not
/ the case. 1t is true that there was a
strong effort made by the honorable
| senators from Alabama, Maryland, Kan
! sas and North Carolina, at the begin
/ ming of the investigation to exclude all
the irrelevant testimony, but their eff
1 forts were unavailing.
1.-The senators who file a minority re-
| port expressed IN emphatic terms thei1
! condemnation of the proceedings in this
! respect as well as a denunciatiOn of the
/ character and practices of the principa
attorney of summoning their witnesses
who testified for the prosecution.