New-York tribune., 1900-05-18
CLARK'S TRICK DENOUNCED
THE SENATE NOT LIKELY TO ADMIT
HIM AT THIS SESSION.
FEELING OF INDIGNATION STRENGTHEN
ING-AN INTERESTING PARALLEL
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

[BY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE.l
Washington, May 11.-Feeling in the Senate
that w. A. Clark's discreditable scheme to re-
gain his forfeited membership in that body
should be checkmatcd by heroic methods, if
necessary, has strengthened rather than weak
ened the details of the Montana conspiracy
have been unfolded. Though the Committee on
Privileges and Elections will naturally seek to de-
termine the questions raised by the presenta ton
of Mr.. Clark's credentials their legal
merits only. there Is every disposition among
Senators of both parties to regard the Montana
applicants readnission scandal which
would not and should not be tolerated by public
sentiment
AS Senator put the case to-day: THE in
tegrity and honor of the body are involved in
keeping the processes by which Senators are
chosen free as possible from the reproach of
trickery corruption. IT, he added, "by bribery
of Legislatures the hocus pocus of Governors
and Lieutenant Governors. by trickery and
fraud the Senate is to be filled, if the Senate is
helpless to purge itself of membership secured
by bribery, and if the Governor of State may
override the authority of the Senate in such
matter, the body will lose the respect of the
people. and it will be the end of our present
system of elections to the Senate. If this is the
condition which we must accept the election of
Senators by the people is the only escape
1t is the general opinion that the Committee
on Privileges and Elections at it's meeting to-
morrow will decide to recommend the i'm
mediate passage of it's original resolution de-
claring Mr.. Clark's election for the term begin
ming March f. 1890, void and illegal, and to ask
suspension of judgment the validity of any
recess appointment certificate which he may
offer from the Acting Governor of Montana.
There is little likelihood that Mr.. Clark will be
permitted to enter the Senate Chamber at the
present session of Congress-
THE CALDWELL CASE.
There are many similarties between the
of w. A. Clark and that of Alexander Caldwell,
elected Republican from the State of Kan
early in the seventies. Like Clark, Caldwell
reputed to6e the richest man in his State,
He had been connected with railroad building
and transporting supplies across the plains. He
had never held public office and was tyro in
politics. Designing men famed his ambition
and he entered the for the Senatorship.
His candidacy created surprise and suspicion.
Caldwell almost unknown. By some 1t had
been previously thought that he was Demo-
crat. He was a pleasant man, but possessed no
force-the last person in the State almost who
would have been spontaneously thought of for
any considerable office much less the Senator
ship There were no popular forces behind Mr..
Caldwell 1t is doubtful if his county of
Leavenworth would have cast its vote for him
his unaided merits. Prior to the meeting of
the Legislature his name had been scarcely
broached but all at this unknown rich
man pushed himself to the front. He was
elected on the first joint ballot by vote of S3
to 81 for Ex-Governor S. ]. Crawford, Republi
can, and for Ex-Governor Wilson Shannon,
Democrat No Republican held.
The chief manager of this extraordinary canvass
was Democrat, the well known Len T. Smith,
of Ieavenworth. Some of Smiths coadjutorS
were men previously conspicuous in political
jobbery.
No intelligent observer doubted that money
was the controlling influence in the election. It's
presence in unusual quantities was patent to
outsiders; it was handed around in sheaves al
though there were thousand-dollar bills in
evidence The very air thick with stories of
traffic in legislative votes. Everybody seemed to
be for sale, though. of course, there were many
honest men. An unheard of adjunct was free
soup house. where Caldwelfs hungry followers
could be fed at wholesale in the preliminary
canvass The vouchers for the thousands this
soup house was alleged to have cost were thought
to be a cover for the payments of money to
members
At the outset Governor Thomas Carney and
! Sidney Clarke candidates. Clarke
! shifty politician who had represented Kansas in
the House for six years Afterward there
rumor that Caldwell had got both out of the race
! by money payments. 1t is certain that he Sc
! cured Clarke's withdrawal and captured nearly
| all his following by the payment of OF
| ready money to Clarke and promise to pay
more at some future day, under the cloak of re-
funding to that eminent statesman his cam
paign expenses" 1t is said that his deal with
| Clarke was CadWells undoing.
| ELECTED BY CORRUPT MEANS
The whole State was shocked. There were
talk and threats but definite steps at first
were taken to impugn Cdldwels right to his
| seat. But year afterward the Kansas Legis-
lature Unexpectedly investigated the matter A
| large number of witnesses were examined but
| Len Smith and other stars Stunned the COM
mittee room. 1t is clear from this legislative re-
port that Caldwell owed his election almost en-
tirely to corrupt means. 1t speaks of the
methods he employed as Grimes" Whether
Clarke had anything to do with this eleventh
hour movement is unknown. but there were
rumors that Caldwell and Clarke were at outs
over the declination of the Senator to pay Clarke
the balance of his expenses in the canvass
Subsequently, at all events Clarke was loud in
| his threats to get even." while. on the other
hand Mr.. Caldwell freely denounced Clarke as a
! blackmailer. Afidavits and statements, asser-
tons and denials were lust plenty then in
Kansas as they in Montana
Mr.. Caldwell made some friends after he got
into the Senate. Meanwhile. Clarke came to
Washington, and known to be sleeplessl,y
| intriguing to bring about Senatorial investiga-
| ton Of Cadwells election. At last he and his
following succeeded. On May II. 1872, the SEN
ate passed resolution authorizing the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections to investigate
rot only Caldwelrs election but that of s. G.
! Pomeroy five years before.