The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-24

A resolution declaring that william a.
CLARK was not duly and legally clc.'ed 10
a scat In the Senate Of the United States
hy the Legislature Of the State Of Mon
tana was introduced in the Senate yester-
day by Mr. Chandler Chairman o! ire
Committee on Privileges and Elections. 10
behalf Of that committee. Accompanying
the resolution was a report presenting the
findings Of the committee and its reasons
for the course it had adopted, This report
does not rehearse the testimony, which,
however was presented in connection with
IT, comprising three large volumes coutain-
ing a total Of nearly 5000 printed pages.
MIR. Pettus. one Of the members Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
said that some Of its members. without
in any way dissenting from the resolution
offered by the Chairman. desired 10 sub
NIT some remarks as to the conduct Ct
the case.
Does the Senator desire to make his
statement at this time. asked the Presi-
dent pro TEN. (Mr. Frye.
No not at all, responded Mr.. Pottus.
"A minority of the committee disagree
with portions Of this report. and they de-
sire to submit their views in writing, with
out in any way dissenting from the con-
illusions"
The resolution was then placed on the
calendar and the report accompanying II
was ordered to be printed.
The statement Of the minority. which
Will be presented in a few days, will be
signed by Messrs. Pettus and Harris, and
viii differ from the majority report in the
manner Of reaching the conclusions lead
f~rr 10 mill
that in the opinion Of the two Senators
by whom il is to be drawn, Senator Clark
was not directly implicated in the alleged
brberies, but that il was carried on en-
tirely by his friends The methods en-
ployed by several Of those engaged in
prosecuting the case will be more sharply
criticised than has been done in the re-
port and a fuller statement will be made
regarding the amount Of testimony that
these members of the committee utterly
disreEarded because OF its irrelevancy OF
Of its manifest unreliability.
The Committees Finding.
The report opens with brief history
Of the case. concluding with the state
ment that the committee began its con-
sideration on January 5, 1900 and that on
April 10 a finding was made as follows:
The finding OF the comTsittee is that
the election to the Senate Of William A.
Clark Of Montana is null and void on
account Of briberies, attempted briberies.
and corrupt practices by his agents. and Of
violations Of the laws Of Montana defining
and Furnishing crimes against the elective
franchise"
The report concludes as follows;
The Senate should, as a duty to itself
and to the country. demonstrate by its
action in this case that seats in the United I
States Senate procured as Senator Clark's I
has been procured cannot be retained by
the deliberate judgment OF the Senate.
The Senate also owes a duty to the |
people OF Montana who. conscious OF the /
bad repute into which the State had fallen Z
by reason Of vast expenditures Of money
in connection with its elections, mani |
Tested such a public sentiment that the I
Legislature Of 1895 passed a statute which. I
il obeyed would have redeemed the State .
from its bad name. For the direct and F
gross violations OF that statute and the
consequent discredit which continues to +
rest upon the State, Montana has a right .
TO expect a prompt and decisive remedy !
from the action Of the Senate upon the /
report Of this committee.
The committee report and unanimously I
recommend the adoption by the Senate Of .
the following resolution:
\
and legally elected to scat 10 the Senate Of /
thu United States by the legislature Of the /
State OF Montana.
The Facts Adduced.
The finding, the report says, is made in |
view Of certain admitted or undisputed /
facts, with their attendant circumstances. |
appearing in the testimony taken by the
committee as follows:
aprior q 1898 the elections in Montana
were accompanied by enormous eXp6ndi-
lures Of money, unquestionably involving
widespread belief that extensive corruption /
was resorted to in all elections. Former 4
Governor Hauser. witness called by SEN
ator Clark in his defence, testified that at /
the first State election the Big Four So
called. consisting OF Senator ". A. Clark. 4
Mr. Broadwater. Mr.. Marcus DAILY. and
himself as first contributions gave $40 600 4
each, and he also estimated that the ex-
penditures made in connection with the
contest 70 determine whether Anaconda or
Helena should be the capital Of the State /
were upward OF 81 coo 600. Senator Clark /
said he spent over 500 geo IN that contest /
"On February %, 1885 Montana under
took TO protest herself against corruption |
In elections. and passed a law relatives to
crimes against the elective franchise |
which limited in purpose and amount the |
political expenditures which could be made /
In any election, either by a political COM /
mittee or a candidate. especially naming /
candidate for United States Senator. who /
could not give more than 81 900 10 any one /
committee In one county and could not pay /
more than 81 Gee for his personal expenses /
II lawful ways specified and provided that 4
every political committee should make a |
public return Of its expenditures. stating
from whom every dollar was received and
10 whom every dollar was paid and that
every person acting otherwise than under
political committee should make a similar
public return. and further provided a fine |
and Imprisonment against persons emitting .
10 make the return required by law.
Senator Clark has been constantly a
candidate for Office. He was a candidate
Tor Congress in 1883 and defeated In 1890
here were two Legislatures in Montana
He was elected United States Senator by !
The Democratic Legislature, but was not /
seated. He was again a candidate for the
Senate in 1893. but there was no election.
10 1895 he was voted for az the Democratic |
,andidate, but Senator Carter was elected.
In the sumner OF 1885 after he had
consulted with Governor Hauser and other
including at that time Mr.
\ J. Campbell a committee Of his friends
vas created outside the State committee
u the Democratic party. which was in the
lands Of persons not favorable 70 him;
his his committee. being organized for
he purpose OF controlling the politics Of
he State and securing the Legislature 10
meet In January. 1899. This committee
consisted Of his son, Charles W. Clark.
William McDermott. and A. J Davidson. |
gent Charles W. Clark was made treas
irer, and the assistants Of the committee 4
we're John r Welcome, Walter NJ Bick-
ord. A. ]. Steele. John S NJ NELL. Frank /
E Corbett. r. L. Whitmore. and Walter |
Cooper. To this committee Senator Clark /
pave unlimited asrfbrrF+s q, ..,yr.-.1 -. I