Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-19
TUESDAY EVENING. JUNE 10 1907

PLAIN PEOPLE with old-fashioned
IDEAS of decency and integrity In tne
conduct of public affairs, iound 'neip
selves wholly unable to comprenenu
the oountenauce given by the senate
committee on privileges and elections
70 the prosecution or rather perseou-
tion of Senator Wm. A. CLARK. hVi-
deut;y the prosecution was inspired oy
one mans money and malice. 1t was
10 who had formerly prevented Mon
,ana from being represented in the u
s. Senate, and to crafty his spite wss
ready to spend hundreds OF thous-
snds ofdollars to hire lawyers and VIII
nesses tn Islander fellow citizen out OF
the seat to which the legislature Of
Montana had elected him, by the votes
of both parties. The republican Sens-
tors had an obvious interest in encour-
aging the prosecution, since 1t tendeu
70 divide the democracy of Montana
and to give them chance OF securing
both the electoral vote and two Sena-
TORS If MIR. Clark could be forced oct.
One of these Senators, the chairman OF
the committee. mad figured in the pro-
ceedings by which MIR. Tilden was
cheated out of the Presidency in 1856
and while he was probably sorry after
wards for his part in the affair, 1t was
merely because be was not fully re-
warded for his trouble. Mr.. Hayes
used him and then dismissed him.
From such a Senator as he, little could
be expected. One of the democrats
renegade in 1S96-distinguished him
self by retailing in public speech
made on tho Senate floor, private
conversation held at a gentlemans
house in Washington-the interviews
being held at his own request. Toe
composition of the committee being
thus partisan and mixed, it was to be
expected that it should disregard all
the rules of evidence by which truth
is ascertained before judicial tribunals
throughout the land. This was doDe.
A member of the House of Representa-
tives-an enemy Of Senator Clark
paid by Marcus DAILY, was permitted
and encouraged to act the part of CHIEF
prosecutor. 1t TRANSFERRED during the
investigation that this man had been
presumably present and had aided ana
abetted the opening OF private letter
belonging to the mails and intended
and addressed to friend Of Mr.. CLARK.
This act was felony, both by the fed
ersl and State laws. The attorney
openly confessed his part in the aci.
He saw nothiDg wrong in 1t. The
mslority OF the committee after this
revelation of infsmy permitted him to
90 on with the case. The chairman OF
the committee treated him with great
respect. Probably there is not q court
in all the land so obscure and so low
that, under like circumstances, 1t
would not strike from it's rolls tn name
of an attorney who had thus acted.
There is not one that would allow him
to go on with the case. Such pro
ceeding as this would indicate that the
case was already prejudged. 1t was
natural, therefore, that on the conclu-
sion OF Senator Clark's impressive state
ment to the United States Senate,
there should be a strong feeling
of sympathy and respect for him.
1t was predicted at that time that Mr..
Clark's appeal to the people of Mon
tana for his vindication would be amply
to. So far, this is the case. In
the contest for the demo ratio State
convention Clark's friends have swept
the State overwhelmingly. They carry
nineteen counties. Dsly's friends |
carry four counties only. One county |
is divided. Mr.. Clark will head the
delegation to Ksr sas City. This is
great rebUke to the unworthy elements
who have endeavored to rule the State
and to blacken Its good name. Itlooks
now as if Mr.. Clark will be reelected
to the seat in the u. s. Senate which
he resigned and that the better class OF
men in Montana will hold the reins OF
power for long tine to come. Nomi-
nally it has been a fight between two
men for the mastery, but really the
question is whether Western Tweed
ring shall De able to plunder the State
and establish reign of terror over all
decent meu.
SENATOR PE1TIGREw, of South Ds-
kota, may not now be such a favorte
with the republican party as he for