The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-19
ALL PURE JOSH"
DR.. Tracy Testifies Before the
Clark Committee
That He Was Joking With the
Supreme Court.
HE Had NO 100000,
Nor Any Other Sum With Which
to Bribe Them.
Didn't Know Anybody Who Had
Money For Such Purpose.
WAS JUST A FEELER.
Wanted to Test the Integrity Of
the Judges.

Washington, Feb Ex-senator Clark
of Montana gave place at the begin
ming of today's session of the senate
committee on elections as witness to
DR.. VIM. Tracy. The charge was made
in order to permit the justices of the
supreme court of Montana to be pres
ent while DR. Tracy was testifying as
his testimony was expected to deal
largely with the interview between him
self and Justice Hunt and Attorney
General Nolan
Before DR.. Tracy proceeded Chairman
Chandler produced a copy of the letter
sent by Mr.. Clark to the Republican
caucus of the Montana. legislature. It
was addressed to the chairman of the
caucus, and was as follows:
CLARK'S LETTER.
Helena, Mont, Jan. 16, 1890
Hon. S. Hobson, Dear Sir: In re-
ply to your valued favor of this date
requesting me to define my position on
the tariff question, I beg to state that
/ am in favor of a high protective duty
on wool, lead, hides and on every other
product of this state, in order that pro-
ducers of raw material shall get an
equitable advantage in the distribution
of tariff duties. 1t is manifest that the
present schedule is inadequate to dis
charge the expenses of the government
and there will necessarily have to be
an increase and a readjustment.
The manufacturing interests are en-
titled to enough to protect them against
cheap foreign labor, and they should be
satisfied to allow the producers of raw
material to have an equal advantage
I maintain that no representative of
this state in the national congress
should allow himself to be committed
by caucus or otherwise to any policy
that would be in conflict with or preju-
dicial to the interests of the state
Yours sincerely, w. A. CLARK
DIR. TRACY'S STORY.
DR.. Tracy was questioned by Senator
Chandler. He testified that after ar
irving in Washington Saturday last he
had met Mr.. Faulkner, counsel for
Senator Clark. The first question asked
referring to the incidents of August y
the Gate of his first interview with Jus
tice Hunt, referred to his association on
that day with Mr. Corbett, ]. s. M.
Neil, Mr.. Clark and Judge Hunt. He
said he had seen Justice Hunt that
day but none of the others mentioned.
DR.. Tracy related all his interviews
with Justice Hunt, also with Attorney
General Nolan. He began with his
first interview with Mr.. Hunt on Au-
gust 5 last, and his report was a prac-
uical repetition of Justice Hunts testi-
mony, except as to the amount named.
He said that at the first interview he
had invited the judge to his office, and
had taken him into his operating room,
where the interview occurred. 1 told
the judge, said the witness, that I had
funny kind of proposition to make
to him. The witness went on to say
that he told the justice of the arrival
in Helena of a special train and said
he told the judge that there was
party there that would give $4,000 il
he would dismiss the Welcome dis
barment case. The judge promptly said
that he could not consider such a propo-
sition and left. He had also seen JUS
tice Hunt later in the afternoon at the
latter's own home, and had renewed the
suggestion of the forenoon
He said he had told .the judge of the
runners that he was under Mr.. Daly's
influence and that the latter would in
sure his reelection. The witness then
could decently do so he would like to
see him get the money to be had out of
the case.
THE JUDGE REFUSED
The judge had refused at both times
to entertain the proposition as he had
at a subsequent interview three or four
weeks later.
Dr. Tracy said he had never authori-
ty from any one to make a proposition
of bribery to Mr. Hunt but he had
until he was notified that Judge Hunt
was to be summoned to Washington.
He had then told the judge that he had
no $50 900 or $100, 0000 to offer him and
no authority from any one to make
such an offer.
Referring to his interviews with At
torney General Nolan the witness said
that when he spoke to that gentleman
about the Welcome case, the latter re-
piled:
I've got 'em over a barrel
q told him. said the witness, that
he'd better get 100000 out of the busi-
ness, destroy his stenographic notes
and get out of the business. He seemed
to feel pretty good over it." continued
the witness, "and I took it that he
thought it a good idea. It was all pure
Josh and he knew it was
After a second interview the attorney
general had given him a half dozen
ducks and the next day had sent him
a piece of venison.
Asked from whom the suggestion
came that he should approach Judge
They came from no person. I had
known him for ten years and admired
him more than any other man in the
state. My only motive was to test
his official integrity and to find out
whether he was all right. 1 had heard
rumors that he was identified with the
DAILY people and there were many
rumors unpleasantly involving his
name. I wanted to know about that
HE IS SORRY NOW
Then" suggested Senator Chandler.
you went deliberately to work to test
the virtue of your friend as a judge?'
I did" was the reply. -and I am
very sorry for it
Continuing, he said that he had ex-
/ pected a, more indignant protest at the
first interview than he had received
| Asked what party he had meant to
| refer to when he had told Judge Hunt