The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-07
HIGH PRICES PAID FOR VOTES.
STIFF SAID CLARK'S AGENT Of
FERED HIM s2o,c0o.

fEhED diM SSo,tUO.
He Asserted $4,000 Was the General
Price offered. But in Some Cases
1t Was Nore-senator Whiteside
said $4,000 Was offered for Any
Democratic VOte-CIarI's Alleged
Agents Nnmed-How $4,000 Got In
to state Treasury.
Washington. Jan. 6.-Henry c. Stif.
speaker of the Montana House of ReDre-
sentatives. was the first witness in the
Clark case before the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections. to-day.
Representative Campbell of Montana.
questioned Mr. Stiff and his questions
were directed toward showing that the
T. embarrassed financial condition of State
Representative Mclaughlin had been ;
en advantage of by Senator Clark TO 'ap-
proach him to secure mis- vote, and also
that Mr. Stiffs own vote had been i'm
properly solicited.
Mr. Stiff stated that be knew that Mr
Mclaughlin was in distressed financial
circumstances prior TO the meeting OF the
legislature. He also stated that he had
himself been approached by Mr.. W. NJ
Bckford. as representative OF Mr.. Clark
and his support was solicited for the latter.
The witness ST that in another con
versation with M Bickford a week or so
prior TO the meeting of the Legislature
The latter had offered him $4,000 if ne
would withdraw from The contest for the
epeakership and support Mr.. Clark for the
senatorship.
Objection being made here that Mr.. Bick-
ford's agency was not shown. Mr.. Ed
munds said II would be conclusiveiy
Shown that Bickford was the general
agent for Clark and that he had full
power and plenty of money TO act for
i him"
Mr.. Stiff elso detailed conversation
with Mr. A. B. Cook, former state au-
di,or who had offered him $4,000 to vote
for Clark.
Il made no definite reply" said Mr.
4 Stiff. because 1 wanted to further inves-
j ugate what was going on.
stiff Suggested $4,000.
Il told him." he continued, that if Mr.
81 Clark really wanted to secure my vote
he could afford to pay more than $4,Oo)
81 and suggested $4,000, saying l did not
81 want this to be understood a. an offer on
my part. Mr. Cook said he would see
Clark, and we agreed 10 meet again that
& day. I did not. however, see him again
!. this subject"
n Ha said upon cross-examination that he
y had never before testified TO this conver-
sation.
Fred Whiteside, Montana state senator
n from Flathead county, testified that he
had been approached prior 10 ana after
~ ff.a Taerfz z1afr er g h.. FY-
81 teresl of Mr. Clarks candidacy by John
IS ; Nein, John B. Welcome and Charles
al W. Clark a son of the Senator He had
& seen Mr. Welcome by appointment al his
room al a hotel in Helena, and had also
me- there others Of Mr.. Clark's friends
he had also met there Senator Clark, who
lod MIN that Welcome had spoken ia
yora0ly of him (Whiteside)
he first intimation he mad had that his
support of Mr.. Clark would be TO his finan-
S. cial advantage came from Mr. NeiH Aft
I erWards Mr. Welcome had told him that
his vote for and support of Mr.. Clark
would be worth $1,000. He had cooper
ee3 with the supporters Of Mr. Clark for
rs u" purpose of exposing the corrupt meth
z& ols which he was satisfied were being used
Il 70 secure Clark's election.
M He exhibited a list of the members of
A the legislature whom Mr.. Welcome and
s# Senator Clarks son had requested him
III 10 see They had told him they were will
& Vhs 10 pay $4,000 fer any Democratic vote
e and more for the vote of Mr.. J. r. Ander-
N sOh Of MSagher county.
z Money Went TO state Treasury.
Mr. Whiteside detailed his conversation
with Welcome. Neil and Charles ".
Cark, relative to securing the votes of
Various members of the Legislature He
lod of holding 1850 for one member and
u &"D for another-the latter in Sl,000 bills.
IS iae first amount WAS returned 10 Nein
3 ma the latter was a part of the $4,000
urned over 20 the srate treasury.
he had been told by ClaTke's managers
'nll they would pay $4,000 for the votes
Democratic senators and members and
a Sg9 for promises from Republicans. the
u woes of the latter 10 be cast only when
a'ed for, the money TO be paid however
~ any event
One OF Mr.. Clarks managers had said
- Aey expected 10 pay well for all the votes
7 ss for him, adding that ANY man who
otfs for him without being wei paid IS
v tool''
VI 10 TWO other cases $4,000 had been paced
- an envelope and handed 10 him TO be
- d for senator's whose votes We're cup
Nsed TO have been secured. In Dot1
s5s The money was in $1,000 bills, and
's $50 900 making q total Of $4,000, had
turned over 30 the Legislative lnVes-
n. eating Committee
60
49, 4 r-r.r~r, OK