The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-20
WHAT CLARK SAYS.
Doesn't Know of Any COrruption-Spent
311b,OOO in the Campaign.

Do1Or6 Cn0 SS00C6 COnmlGGee Oh 6leC-
tions for about four hours today, and
when the committee adjourned for the
day only his examination in chief had
been completed, leaving his coss exam.
~ination for next Monday. Ills testi.
mony related solely to the charges made
against him in connection with his
election by the Legislature of Montana
to the United States senate during its
sitting last winter. He denied ex.
rlicitly and categorioally all the charges
in the testimony that efforts were made
by himself or with his co~nnivance or
consent to corrupt members of the
legislature in his behalf, oontradicting
many Of the statements made by wit
nesses for the prosecution. He admit.
ted having paid an aggregate Of about
$115, 900 during the campaign, but said
these expenses were for legitimate pur.
poses only. The large outlay was due
to the fact, he said, that he had con-
traoted to pay all the expenses Of a
campaign against Mr.. Days rule in
the state and he had gone into the ON.
pact to that end, because he considered
Mr.. Days rule tyranny and opposed to
the best interests of the state.
He then referred TO the preliminary
meeting of his friends, the particulars
of which were related by Governor
Hauser, in which he had made the
agreement above related by agreeing to
pay all the expenses il the others would
do the organizing and perform the
work necessary in the campaign.
Ibid you in accordance with your
agreement with your friends at that
meeting, make any contribution to the
campaign fund.-" Mr.. Faulkner asked.
"Yes sir" was the reply. "some
days after the meeting I gave an
amount which it was estimated would
be necessary to begin with. That
amount vas $35 1000. The second con-
tribution was made in October and
amounted to $40. 900. In November I
contributed $40, 900 and after I was
elected I gave my son, Charles W.
CLARK, a check for about $40, 500 to
pay expenses incurred during the sit.
ting of the legislature in Helena. Up.
on leaving that city I had told my son
to stay there and settle up all bills
VIA lau UOCA lAOuA4Cus opOA ~ Q
turning to Butte he gave me a state.
ment showing disbursements amount
ing to about this sum-. These oontri.
buttons we're all that we're made BY me
in connection with that campaign"
Explaining to Senator Hoar, Mr..
CLARK said that the first contribution Of
$85, 900 was necessary in organizing
for the legislative campaign, q great
deal Of money being required to get
polls.
Ibid you ever" asked Mr.. Faulk.
ner, directly or indirectly make any
money or other voluntary contributions
to secure the vote of any member of
the legislature for you for United
States SENATOR"
"No, sir, I never did,, responded the
witness, holding himself erect and
looking directly at his interrogation.
"Do you know Of your personal
knowledge Of any money being used to
corruptly influence voters in your be.
half?" was the next question.
II do not. There we're plenty of
rumors about the expenditure of mon
ey. but I have no personal knowledge of
anything of that kind being DONE"
Senator CLARK was questioned con-
ceruing his conversations with Senator
Whiteside and Mark Hewitt and his re-
tive Jackson of Utah. He denied hay
ing any conversation with Jackson, and
while admitting talking with White.
side aud Hewitt, he oontradicted all
the statements made by them III their
testimony that would in any way i'm.
plicate him with corrupt methods in
the Legislature.
Speaking of the republican votes cast
for him, Mr.. Clark said he had told all
republican mombers Of the legislature
that he would not accept their votes if
they would insure his election unless
he could get a majority of the republi.
can caucus. His reason was that to
accept fewer than a majority of the
caucus would subject them to accusa.
tions of accepting brides.
"There was so much scandal at the
time" he said, "tllat l thought right
to protect them. wanted to have the
election beyond reproach and I did not
want to compromise any of these
people,"
CLARK had meant to adhere to this
position even II he had fallen only one
short Of a majority of the republican
caucus.
Replying to a question by MI. Faux.
her concerning the relation to himself Of
his son, g. W. CLARK, Welcome. Biok-
ford, A., ], Davidson, A j. Steele.
William MoDermott and others, sena.
tor Clark said; "They stood to me In
the relation of friends promoting my
political interests. and some of them
composed a committee which had un.
dertakan to disburse funds In the cam.
paiRn and whe were authorized to look
after tha maffasa ~aanaraIlx y