The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-07
TESTIMONYIN CLARK CASE
WHO VOTES FOR HIM UNPAID
Is A FOOL"
THE REMARK OF ONE OF HIS MANAGERS
So Said Witness Fred Whiteside, Montana
State Senator. Henry c. Stiff, Speaker Of
Montana House, Also Gave
Damaging Testimony

Washington, Jan. 6.--Henry c.. Stiff,
Speaker of the Montana House of Rep
resentatives. was the first witness in the
Clark case before the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections today. Rep
resentative Campbell, of Montana, ques-
toned Mr. Stiff, and his questions were
directed toward showing that the emDar-
raised financiaI conGition OF State hep
rescntative Mclaughlin had been taken
advantage of by Senator Clark to APP
proach him to secure his vote and also
that Mr.. Stiffs own vote had been inn
properly solicited. Mr. Stiff stated that
he knew Mr.. Mclaughlin was in dis
tressed financial circumstances prior to
the meeting CT the Legislature. lie also
stated that he had himself been ;lp-
proachd by Mr.. W. NJ. Bickford, as Il
representative of Mr.. Clark and his sup
port solicited for the latter.
The witness stated that in another
conversation with Mr.. Bickford, a week
or SO prior TO the meeting of the Legis-
lature the latter had offered him $10,-
0G0 if he would withdraw from the con-
test for the Speakership and support
Mr.. Clark for the Scnatorship.
Objection being made here that Mr..
Rickford's agency was not shown, Mr..
Edmunds said it would be conclusively
shown that "Bickford was the general
agent for Clark and that he had full
power and plenty of money to act for
him"
Mr.. Stiff also detailed conversation
with Mr.. ~ B. Cook. former State Audi
tor, who had offered him $4,000 to vote
for Clark Il made no definite reply"
said Mr.. Stiff, "because | wanted to
further investigate what was going on.
Il told him." he continued, that if
Mr.. Clark really wanted to secure my
vote he could afford TO pay more than
$4,000 and suggested $4,000, saying
| did not want this to be understood as
an offer on my part. Mr.. Cook said he
would see Clark and we agreed to meet
again that day. ] did not however see
him again on this subject
He said upon cross-eXamination that
he had never before testified to this /
conversation.
Fred Whiteside. Montana State Sena-
tor from Flathead county, testified that
he had been approached prior to and
after. the meeting of the Legislature in
the interest OF Mr. Clark's candidacy by
John b. Neill and John B. Welcome and
Charles w. Clark, a son of the Senator.
He had seen Mr. Welcome by appoint
ment at his room at q hotel in Helena
and had also met three others of Mr..
Clark's friends He had also met there
Senator Clark who told him that Well
come had spoken favorably of him
(Whiteside). The first intimation he had
had that his support of Mr. Clark would
be to his financial advantage came from
Mr.. Neill.. Afterwards Mr.. Welcome
had told him that his vote for and sup
port of Mr.. Clark would be worth $1O.-
600. He had co-operated with the sup
porters Of Mr.. Clark for the purpose OF
exposing the corrupt methods which he
was satisfied were being used to secure
Clark's election. He exhibited a list OF
the members of the Legislature whom
Mr. Welcome and Senator Clark's sou
bad requested him to see. They had
told him they were willing to pay $10,-
600 for any Democratic vote and more
for the vote of Mr. j. L. Anderson, of
Meagher county.
Mr.. Whiteside detailed his conversa-
tons with Welcome, Neill and Charles
w. Clark, relative to securing the votes
of various members of the Legislature.
He told of holding $4,000 for one mem
Der and $4,000 for another-the latter
in 1000 bills. The first amount WAS
returned to Neill and the latter was n
part Of the $4,000 turned over to the
State Treasury. He had been told by
Clark's managers that they would pay
$4,000 for the votes of Democratic Sen
ators and members and $4,000 for prom
Uses from Republicans, the votes Of the
latter to be east only when called for,
the money to be paid however, in any
event.
One of Mr. Clark's managers had said
they expected to pay well for all the
votes cast for him. adding that any man
who votes for him without being we'll
paid is fool"
In two other cases $4,000 had been
placed in an envelope and handed to him
to be held.for Senators whose votes We're
supposed to have been secured. In both
cases the money was in 81 900 bills and
this $50, 600. making Il total Of 100000
had been turned over to the Legislative
Investigating Committee. =