The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-07
EVIDENCE IN REBUTTAL
The Hearing in the Clark Bribery
Case Devoid of Incident
The Intercepted Letter Produced in
Evidcncc-t Proves an Unimport-
amt Document-Republic Testify
Tint They Voted for Contestant
Because of His Tariff Views.

The Montana senatorial enquiry pro
crossed yesterday without marked incl
dent, though all the testimony was in re-
buttal of that which has been offered
against Senator w. A. Clark.
Mr.. Campbell, of counsel for the memo
rialists against Senator Clark, handed to
Senator Chandler the letter which was
written by Bickford TO Foot, and which
was entrusted to Benjamin Hill for de-
livery, but which Hill gave to Mr.. Camp
bell. The letter appears to be of little
Importance, though, Mr.. Campbell re-
marked, "a great fuss had been made about
1t" The letter follows:
Butte Mon, August l3 1899
My Dear Root: ] have had talk with Mr..
War this a. m and with Mr.. Falk. When You
see Falk find out from him what his expenses
would he and ask him about Mclntire as a lawyer.
perhaps the expense money was thought too little
YOURS, ". VI. b.
The envelope was addressed, Jesse B.
Root Politeness Mr.. HILL"
When Mr. Campbell handed the letter
TO the chairman OF the committee. he asked
that 1t might be returned TO him, as It
might be important to have it in suit
IN Montana.
To this request Mr.. Foster took excep-
ton, saying that as the letter was not
the property of the prosecution they had
10 right to its return.
The first witness was B. ID. Phillips, OF
Silver Bow county, State Senator from
that county. He testified as to having had
conversation with Senator W. A. Clark
Phillips said he told Senator Clark that il
the Republican members of the Legisla-
ture voted for a Democrat for the Senate.
that Democrat must be a proteetionist.
Senator Clark said he was for protection
on raw. materials produced in Montana.
Senator Clark wrote letter TO this effect
TO Mr.. Hobson, Chairman of the Repubii-
can caucus.
The witness was asked a number of
questions as to the reasons which induced
the Republican members of the Legisla-
ture TO vote for Senator Clark He in
sisted that these members of the Legisla-
ture voted for Senator Clark because he
was protectionist, and because ii was
impossible TO elect Republican.
State Senator Callan. the second Wit
ness, said he had voted for Senator
Clark in 1898. and had always been
Clark man. He told of a conversation
with Senator Clark before the contest
Senator Clark said he thought of becom
ing candidate for United States Senator.
and would like the support OF the Wit
ness. Callan said that some time after
meeting Clark he met Marcus DAILY. WHO
told him that every man who voted for
Clark should be branded "as boodler and
a bride taker."
Benz w s. Falk. OF Kalispell, Mon, |
and Harry Ringwall. of Great Falls. Mon, |
were two Clark witnesses, whose iesti- |
mony, though in rebuttal of Rector and |
Whiteside, was unimportant.
Mr.. Foster asked Falk if he had had |
any conversation with Mr.. whiteside about |
election returns in November, 1885
Mr.. Campbell objected. 1t was the pur-
pose Of the defence TO show that White
side attempted to bride Falk to give him |
tWhiteside) the election returns of his |
own election as Senator from Flathead |
county
Senator Chandler announced that the |
committee had determined TO exclude for |
the present the testimony sought to be in |
trodueed by the defence to show that |
Whiteside. the leading witness for the |
memorialists. had attempted to bride Mr. |
Falk. deputy clerk of Flathead county |
Mr. Foster in behalf of Senator Clark |
wanted 1t spread upon the record that he
was prepared to prove by Mr. Falk and /
Mrs. Falk that Whiteside offered Falk |
LOCO TO permit him, Whiteside to tamper
with the election returns from Flathead |
county in the contest between whiteside |
and Geiger.
MIR. Foster asked: You live in the same
town with Whiteside?"
Yes. SIR
What is his general reputation for |
probity and veracity?"
Stop right there" said Senator Chan
dler; we VIII not go INFO that at pres
ent'
Mr.. Foster-Were YOU employed by any
one to watch State Senator Carr, as sworn
to by Mr.. Rector?
NO, sir; / waited on him while he was
sick"
Under cross-examination by Mr.. Camp
bell. Falk said that he went TO wait
upon Carr at his request. The expense of
this good Office was paid by Walter Cooper
q Clark man
He said he took no part in the senatorial
election other than to formulate an opin-
ion among his friends" in behalf of Sem
ator Clark's candidacy.
On redirect examination the witness
said Carr had asked him to remain by
him, as he, Carr. was afraid that White
side would do him personal injury.
II. W. Mclaughlin was next sworn. He
lived, he said, in Mssoula He is a Re-
publican in the Montana House of Repre-
sentatives. He told Of his business trans
actions with Mr.. Bickford The witness is
a straight-cut business man and one of
the best witnesses who has appeared in
the case. During the negotiations leading
up to the sale of his timber land and saw
mill TO Senator Clark, through Mr. Bick-
ford. the senatorial contest was never
spoken OF.
He had been asked, he said, by one Of
the DAILY workers 40 support Conrad for
the Senate. He voted for Clark because