The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-06
HEARING COMMENCES
IN THE CASE Of CLARK.
Ex-sENAToRs EDMUNDs AND
FAULKNER As COUNSEL.
The Outlines Of the Prosecutors
Claim OF Bribery and Corruption
and the Defense's Claim Of Com
spiracy Presented to Committee.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-The senate
committee on privileges and elections to-
day began its deliberations on the charge
Of bribery made In connection with The
election Of Senator Clark, Of Montana. The
proceedings were begun by arguments from
counsels on both sides. Clark himself was
present with his counsel, former Senator
Faulkner.
Ex-senator Edmunds appeared a. leading
counsel for the complainants making the
first statement in support Of the memorial
presented against Clark. He said the COM
plainants expected to be able to prove all
the charges made and to show that Clark's
election was obtained by the liberal use
OF money and that large sums Of money
were furnished to this end In the contest.
He believed the expenditures could be trac-
ed to Clark. with due effort on the part
OF the committee He said he and his as
sociates had many witnesses summoned.
Edmunds also said complainants expected
to prove all the charges made and in doing
SO, would enter quite thoroughly into he
Whiteside libel case, showing that when
Clark had an opportunity to oppose 1t In
court he had refused to answer any ma
terial questions.
While Edmunds was making his state
ment question arose concerning the ad-
instability Of the testimony taken by the
grand jury Of Lewis and Clark county.
Senator McComas took occasion to init
mate that he would hesitate to admit state-
ments purporting to violate the secrecy Of
grand jury room.
Replying, Edmunds said the notes on the
grapl jury proceedings had been made by
Attorney General Nolan and had been pre-
scented and received by the Montana court
in the disbarment proceedings against
John B. Welcome.
Hear suggested that the testimony should
be admitted for the time and ifs relevancy
determined upon the final decision ofxthe
case. This brought out q spirited protest
by Mr. Rogers Foster. who appeared a. one
iof the counsel for Clark. He urged that
such e course was contrary to tho precc-
dents Of the committee. that Nolan was
autaxonistic 10 Clark and that At best tho
testfrnony was ex parts. Such ! document
was no more evidence than mn Indictment
would ..bs.
Ex-senator Faulkner made the formal
statement on behalf Of Clark. He, re-
viewed the politics OF Montana, referring
to the "Daly gang and the Clark faction
in the Democratic politics Of the state. 1t
was, he said, an acknowledged fact that
the opponents Of Clark in the state had
determined to prevent his political pre-
ferment regardless Of all proprety. 1t
would be shown that Notwithstanding that
charges were made Of bribery against
some twenty persons, including members
OF the legislature, there had been no pro-
ceedings against any Of the men thus in
volved In any Of the Montana courts. This
was evidence that the present proceedings
were not sustained by public sentiment.
He said:
''The prosecution was conceived in the
womb OF personal malice, rocked in the
cradle Of personal hate and nonrished up
on corruption and jealousy. All the men,
bers of the legislative committee were op-
posed to Clark"
Outlining the defense. Faulkner said 1t
would show that the proceedings against
Clark had really had their origin in the
senatorial contest in 1898, when the idea
of springing pretended exposure of Clark
upon the legislature was conceived by the
DAILY faction, and that the leader of the
faction had turned prophet in December.
1898, and declared that IL Clark showed
his head something would be heard to