The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-26
POLITICS IN MONTANA.
An Episcopal Clergyman Says Will
liam 4. Clark VIII Win.

nam r. Clark VIII o1n-
| The Rev. Henry E. Robbins, of Fort
| Benton, Montana, general missionary OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church. is at the
| Raleigh He has been making a tour of
the Eastern States Mr.. Robbins says he
believes William 4. Clark will be TIE VIC
| tor III the bitter and tangled fight pro-
crossing in the Mountain State. He said
to reporter for The Times today:
"Sinee coming East have been repeat
| edly asked my views upon the political
| situation in Montana. Although 1 am a
| Republican in national politics, and have
never been identified with any OF the fac
! tions in either of the political parties in
! Montana, l am convinced that Mr. Clark
has been a maligned and prosecuted man.
| The situation in Montana is something
| like this:
| For several years politics in Montana
| has been controlled by gang many
| times worse. | think, than Tarmany Is
! said to be by Republicans, or the Platt
machine by Democrats. Great crowds OF
miners were rushed from one polling place
| to another OF election day. and this sy5-
| tenn or repeating grew to be a great scam
| dal.
| l.
! of Democrats, leading men and of good
repute. waited on Mr. Clark several years
ago and asked him to lead them in their
| fight against the gang that then domi-
| mated Montana politics. Mr.. Clark was
| emincnt.y fitted for the place. He was
known to be a business man of the strict
est integrity. He was an educated. YER
satile man Of affairs. No scandal had
4 stained his reputation. He had made a
fortune by developing nature, and not at
| the expense of labor His army of en-
ployes had always received the highest
wages. He was the ideal man to lead the
| crusade against such a powerful gang
rule.
Mr.. Clark protested time and again.
| His time was more than occupied He
knew well enough that politics in Montana
could add nothing TO his honor. He con-
scented at last on the coalition that he be
! relieved OF all active part in the cam
paign.
Mr.. Clark contributed large sum to
the campaign fund Some men contribute
! as largely as they can. Mr.. Clark gave
Sf35. COO a large sum for such a fund, but
a mere pittance to what he could have
| given and would have given had he de
sired TO buy his way into the Senate. He
| could have given five million as easily.
! I believe that the money was spent
much as other funds are spent, namely TO
! secure Mr Clark-s election. But no one
! would say that he or anyone with his con-
| sent deliberately bribed men TO vote Tor
| him who knew Mr.. Clark or his leader
upon the fCor o. the Montana house of
represen atiyes-E. C. Day
"A great deal of capital has been made
out Of the fact that several weeks after
the election Mr.. Clark gave Mr. Day a
liberal cheek $4,000, as a personal gift
We know in Montana that this was NO more
a brihe than the gift Of an Office would
have been for faithful service.
Not as much. Mr.. Day is absolutely
and entirely above corruption. He is
known by all his friends as a man above
reproach, as Christian, devout and active
and as a gentleman, II it were not 30 Sc
r1ous Il would make me laugh to have il
reported that Mr.. Clark had bribe6 Mr.
Day. Did Mr.. Clark give il in the dark?
Did Mr.. Day make it secret2 Why. no in
deed; on the contrary. the money was Civ
| en- by check. Mr.. Day placed il to his
| credit in bank, when by so doing he
couTted publicity. This Was a natural thing
fer Mr. Clark 10 do.
Mr.. Day is a young man. He neglected
his practice for weeks 10 manage the cam
paign. He could not afford to do So Mr.
! Clark was a personal friend; both were
Past Grand Masters of the Masonic Lodge
and after the election was over and MI
Clark held his commission as Senator. il
was only natural that Mr. Clark would pay
him little more than he had been accus-
tened 10 pay Mr. Day as his legal advisor
in Helena.
NO man could be more opposed to brib-
cry CT more appreciate its dangers to cur
Government than ,an. but knowing the
situation, do hot believe such can right
" be charged to Mr. Clark Some men
should :,e appreciated as we'll as judged
| by their enemies.
Z hold no brief fer any party I an
not interested in the success of any party
in Montana personally, but I travel over a
large portion OF the State. meet and talk
with the best people. and my opinion is
that MIR Clark will be indicated