Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-07
OLD MATTER RULED OUT
Clark Committee Excludes Testimony Re
garding the 's3 Campaign.
Plan of the Defense Checked-ieOrge
L. McGrath, Powell Block and w.
VI. BickfOrd on the Stand.

The first witness called before the Senate
committee on privileges and elections to-
day in it's investigation of the election of
Senator Clark of Montana was George E.
McGrath of the civil service commission,
located at Chicago. He was in 1892 and
1893 editor of a newspaper in Butte. Mont,
which, he said, supported Mr.. Daily. He
was also secretary of the democratic state
central committee.
An attempt was made by counsel for the
defense to Investigate the Montana sena-
torial election of 1898, but they We're
checked Statements were made by ex-
Senator Faulkner and Mr. Foster showing
that they expected to prove by Mr. Nc
Grath that in 1893 he had been in a caucus
of Days friends and that Daily had then
suggested the defeat of Mr.. Clark for the
Senate by getting some one to go to Mr..
Clark for money. and, failing to accomplish
this purpose, to put up the money himself
for an exposure This, 1t was claimed
by counsel was the scheme carried out by
Mr.. DAILY through Mr. Whiteside in 1899.
showing malice tenaciously held by DAILY.
The point was argued at length by coun-
sci on both Sides and the committee went
into executive session to decide 1t. Mr. Nc
Grath being temporarily withdrawn from
the witness stand.
When the doors were reopened Chairman
Chandler announced that the committee
had decided to exclude for the present the
testimony relating to the senatorial cam
paign of 1898.
Powell Block. a member of the Montana
legislature, was then recalled. He denied
all of the testimony of Whiteside and Rec
tor connecting his name with bribery and
efforts at bribery in connection with the
senatorial contest.
He said in contradiction of N-hitesde that
it was not true that he had been fixed"
by Mr. Steele and he denounced all of Rec
tors stories concerning him as untrue
Mr.. Bickford's Testimony.
Walter NJ Bickford was next called He
had been one of Mr.. Ciark's active agents
in the senatorial campaign of 1850, and
his name. next to that of Mr. Welcome.
has been most frequently mentioned by the
prosecution. Mr.. Bickford said that he
was at present a resident of Butte. but
that he had formerly lived at Mfssoula,
where he was a law partner Of Mr.. Stiff.
speaker of the house of representatives,
and a prominent witness for the prosecu-
ton in the Clark case.
Mr.. Bickford was first asked concerning
his engagement of Mr.. Stiff to examine the
title of the property owned by H. w. Nc
Laughlin of the Montana legislature. which
property was afterward purchased by Mr..
Clark through Mr.. Bickford.
The latter said it was an ordinary bust
ness transaction. Mr.. Stiff being employe ed
because 1t was inconvenient for him (the
wltnessl to perform this service himself
Mr.. Bickford said that at a subsequent
time he had talked with Mr.. Stiff concern
ing the latter's candidacy for the house
speakership. He had never, however at
any of these conversations told Mr. Stiff
that there was an understanding that Nc
Laughlin should vote for Mr. Clark for the
Senate He had at one time. prior to the
Mclaughlin transaction. talked with Mr.
Stiff concerning the senatorial election. He
had preached the subject and inquired of
Mr.. Stiff how he felt on the subject
Stif's Attitude.
q asked him how he felt toward MIR.
Clark" said Mr.. Blckford. land he replied
that he knew Of no reason why he could
not vote for Mr.. Clark If he should be the
nominee of the democratic Legislative eau
Gus. Mr.. Stiff told me that he had had
aspirations for the district judgeship of
that district. and said that he wanted to So
shape his course a member OF the house
as not to injure the chances for his nomi-
nation two years hence. 1 then thought
him friendly to Mr.. Clark"
The witness denied that he had suggest
ed to Mr.. Stiff that If he would support
Mr. Clark for the Senate the latter would
appoint him as attorney to represent some
Of his interests.
The Mclaughlin transaction was explain
ed at length, the witness explaining that
the timber land owned by Mr. Mclaughlin
was especially fayorably located and that
Mr.. Clark, being a large user of timber
had found it necessary to establish mills in
order to protect himself against monopoly