The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-16
And the Finding Of the Committee
Was the Result of Hearsay and
Perjured Testimony.
RECEIVES A MESSAGE AT NIGHT
ANNOUNCING HIS APPOINTMENT By
THE ACTING GOVERNOR,
And Wires Back to Montana His Ae-
ceptance Of the Honor-situation
That VIII Cause Worry.

WASHINGTON, May 15.-Mr. Clark, Of
Montana, fairly swept the Senate with
surprise to-day by formal announcement
that he had sent his resignation as senator
to the Governor of Montana. The an
nouncement came without previous notice
and probably not half dozen persons in
Washington knew that it was to be made.
Mr.. Clark struck just at the instant the
iron was hottest. Mr.. Chandler. chairman
of the committee on privileges and elec-
tions, had given notice that at o'clock he
would call up for consideration the reso-
luton unanimously reported from the COM
mittee declaring Mr.. Clark not to be en-
titled to his seat in the Senate. A spirited
contest over the resolution was expected
Every senator in the city was at his desk
At 1890. just as the routine business was
concluded. Mr.. Clark quietly rose and ad-
dressed the chair. He desired, he said.
in low. tense voice. to address the Senate
on a question of privilege personal to him.
self. Instantly there was buzz Of ex-
pectation in the chamber. Senators from
both sides of the main aisle hurried to
seats near Mr. Clark and hush fell upon
the assemblage as the Montana senator be-
gan to speak. At first his words scarcely
could be heard, but as he proceeded his
voice became clear, and while at no time
did he speak loudly, the intense earnestness
of his utterance carried his address to the
remotest parts of the chamber.
His address was sharp arraignment of
the committees action and analytical dis
cussion of evidence adduced at the inves-
tigation, an explanation of political and
business affairs in Montana, and bitter
excoriation of Marcus DAILY and his
friends.
TEARS WELLED TO HIS EYES.
AS Mr.. Clark adverted to his desire to
hand down to his children a name untar-
nished even by the breath of disgrace.
tears welled to his eyes and his voice
trembled with emotion. He almost broke
down. Then, bracing himself, he read the
letter he had sent to the Governor of Mon
tana rendering his resignation. AT the con-
clusion Of the speech Mr.. Clark became the
center of group of senator's, all desirous
of pressing his hand. Little other business
of Importance was transacted. The resolu-
ton relating to Mr.. Clark went over until
tomorrow and the Senate proceeded to the
transaction of routine business.
Some points from Mr.. Clarke's long ad
dress are here given: 1.-THE result of the
admission Of all kinds of hearsay, irrele-
want, mischievous and perjured testimony
was damaging In the extreme to the re-
spondent, as through the medium of both
the respectable and the venal press the
most widespread publicity was given
throughout the land to some of the per-
nicious falsehoods touching the respondent,
and likewise to a large number of most
eminent and upright legislators who sup
ported him and who are the peers Of the
boasted men of any State in this Union.
"The prevailing theory of presumptive in
nocence was largely ignored and the en-
tire proceedings were closely analogous to
the Dreyfus case, where the prosecution
was based on a presumption Of guilt. 1t
has heretofore been held that there must
be proved actual completely of fraud on the
part of the principal or actual, not pre-
sumptive, knowledge Of corruption on the
part Of his agents, or that it must be
proved, not inferred, that a sufficient num-
ber of legislators have been corruptly in
fuenced to change the result Of the cleo
tion."
CAMPBELL AND DAILY SCORED.
Mr.. Clark referred with evident feeling
to Congressman Campbelrs part in the
prosecution, saying: "Mr. Campbell first
appeared as a pretended friend Of the
cause of cooperation in the interest Of
good government In Montana. where. at a
conference, he feigned sleep in order to
obtain information which he might use to
betray his friends. Not then knowing his
true character, he received the support of
myself and all my friends, which insured
his nomination and election. Immediately
thereafter he threw off his mask and went
to work to encompass my defeat
Mr.. Clark followed this with a scathing
denunciation of the methods Of DAILY in
Montana politics. reviewing his course in
elections and in the state capital fight,
where he charged the Anaconda Company
with spending million dollars. He con-
tinued: How was it possible to attack this
un-American despotism without great ef-
fort which only money could make? / was
in a position to aid in this work and am
proud that / undertook it. 1t was done
legitimately and with honesty of purpose.
and although here where the conditions
are not fully understood 1 have received
some censure. the honest people of my
State approved my action and will accord
me grateful recognition
In a few sentences Mr.. Clark then made
a brief review of his own career 'I was
born" he said ''amid the humble sur
roundings of farm life in Pennsylvania I
went to the West when a lad. educated my
self as well as / could by my own exer-
tions while working on farm and teach
ing school for few years, when a spirit
OF adventure led me to the Rocky noun
tains. where 1 have lived, mostly In Mon
tana, for thirty-eght years. For three
years worked in the mines and then en-
gagged In other pursuits and my enterprises