The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-09
COST OF THE PRIMARIES
Testimony in Defence of Mr.. Clark
at the Bribery Hearing.
A Witness Places the Legitimate EN-
penses of n Senatorial Campaign
mt $4,000 TO s5o.oOo-WnIter VI.
BicLford Recalled and Contra
diets Evidence for the Memorialists

The evidence presented before the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections of the
Senate yesterday was altogether in favor OF
Senator w. A. Clark.
Frank Corbett, Of Butte, an Intelligent
witness whose honesty was not Brought
into question, testified that March,. DAILY
told him that IL William A. Clark, of Silver
Bow, got the nomination by the Demo-
cratic caucus for United States Senator
something would be heard to drop which
would drive the Clark people out OF poll
tics and land some OF them in the peni-
Tertiary.
Mr. Corbett, when called TO the witness
stand, said that he had been resident
of Montana since 1857. He knew John
ID. Welcome, having at one time been
partner of his He also knew Marcus
DAILY. He had always been Clark man.
He met DAILY at the Netherlands Hotel in
New York in December, 1898.
did you have any conversation with
Mr.. DAILY, and IL so, what was it,"
I'VE met in the hotel and passed into a
little sitting room. / asked him IL he was
going out to Montana TO be present during
the Senatorial contest. He said no. that
ne nau gone Out Ol politics IN Muutdud,
though his friends kept alive the old con-
troversy.
''Mr. DAILY said that II Clark showed his
head in the convention and managed TO get
the nomination something would be heard
TO drop. which would drive Clark and his
friends out OF Montana politics and put
some Of them in the penitentiary."
Senator Chandler questioned the witness
closely about all the details of the Meth
uxsa al fp+n ryfow ha xrifn
not shaken and maintained that he had
quoted rsiy correctly.
Former Governor Howser. of Montana.
was called TO the stand. 1t was through
his efforts. he said, that Senator Clark
was induced TO become candidate for the
United States Senate. He said: MIR.
Days views we considered hostile TO our
town and part of the State, and it looked
10 us as though Mr. DAILY was going to run
the elections. We thought that the best
man TO head him off-about the only man
who could head him u1-was Mr.. Clark.
j went TO New York and saw Mr.. Clark
I told him that he had made his money in
Montana. and that he ought TO stay in the
country and spend his money there. ]
had long talk with him He asked about
how much he would be expected TO spend.
told him that the primaries might cost
$50, 900 or $40 600, and the campaign If he
wanted to go to the United States Senate,
might cost $40 900. $50, 900, or SEQ 600
He explaEaed that this large expenditure
was for legitimate campaign purposes. The
State. he said, was a big one, and the
voters were widely scattered. 1t cost money
TO have them registered. and then to get
them to the polls.
Walter NJ Bckford was recalled TO the
stand by counsel for the memoriesG1s
against Senator Clark, but nothing of any
value 10 Senator Clark's opponents was OBJ
tanned from him. Mr.. Bickford at every
point sturdily and consistently contradicted
the testimony given by DR.. Ector, and Mr..
Rector and Mr.. Stiff.
A j. Davidson and Mr.. Steel were called
In rebuttal of Stiff. whiteside, and Rector
They declared that not one dollar OF the
money which was disbursed by them for
Democratic managers in Montana had been
spent for any other than legitimate cam
paign purposes such as defraying the ex-
penses OF speakers and getting voters to
the polls. They maintained that Senator
Clark was the honest choice of the Mon
tana Legislature for the Office TO which he
was elected.