The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-05-17
MR.. CLARK ISOUT
Montana Man Announces the
Resignation Of His Seat
in the Senate.
Preceded the Statement With q
DenunciatiOn of the Late
Investigation.
Methods of Procedure, He Says,
Were Plainly Unfair and
Non-Judicial.

WASHINGTON, May 10. Senator Clark
Of Montana has announced his remgna-
ton from the United States senate. Mr.
Clark read letter dated May II an
nouncing his resignation. At the con.
clusion of Mr.. Clark's speech many sen.
ators crowded around him and shook
his hand most cordially. AS soon as
order was restored Mr.. Chandler asked
that the consideration Of the resolution
declaring the seat vacant be postponed
for day. 49,,
AS soon as the routine business had
been concluded Senator Clark rose and
addressed the chair on question OF
privilege personal to himself. Mr..
Clark said:
ut had not been my purpose to dis.
turb the recognized traditions of this
most honorable body by intruding my
opinions upon any questions that might
arise for consideration during the pres
emit session; but the question called up
today for discussion so vitality concerns
my own interests and the interests OF
the great state which have the honor
in part to represent, that shall ask the
indulgence of the senate while I, as
briefly as possible, submit some re-
marks referring first to the character Of
the investigation; second to the major
ity report of the honorable committee
on privileges and elections, which has
submitted findings adverse to the re-
tention of my seat in the senate; third,
to the conditions existing in the state
of Montana for q number Of years prior
to my election, which justified my polit-
ical actions; and la silly, a statement as
to the course I deem best to pursue in
the premises.
Investigation Manifestly Unfair.
cit is not my desire to cast any as
pensions upon the motives which actu-
ated the distinguished senators compos-
ing the committee, and yet, without the
most respectful consideration for the
learning, legal ability and eminent
standing of these gentlemen, I am
forced to the conclusion, which I be-
ieve meets with the concurrence of not
only large number of senators on both
sides of this chamber, but also to 80 per
cent of my constituency in the state of
Montana, regardless of political affil-
ations. Methods of procedure in the
investigation of this matter were mani
testify unfair, on-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
issue.
81 contend that an investigation in
volving seat in the highest legislative
body of this nation, las well as the honor
of an individual chosen for that posi-
ton by the people of one of the sover-
eign states thereof, should be conducted
in strictly judicial manner, and that
in the proceedings the established rules
of evidence should be applied. It is
well known to everybody that this was
not the case. 1t is true that there was
strong effort made by the honorable
senator's from Alabama, Maryland,
Kansas and North Carolina, at the be.
ginning of the investigation, to exclude
all the irrelevant testimony, but their
efforts were unavailing.
"The senator's who fled minority
report expressed in emphatic terms
their condemnation Of the proceedings
in this respect, as well as a denuncia-
ton Of the character and practices Of
the principal attorney, and of some Of
their witnesses who testified for the
prosecution"