Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-02-22
CLARK IS HEARD.
me Montana Senator Takes the Stand
and Denies the Charges Made
Against Him.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Clark
himself appeared before the senate
committee Investigating the bribery
charges connected with his election to
the senate. His appearance caused a
ripple of interest throughout the
room. After being sworn the senator
took his seat quietly and Mr.. Faux
ner Immediately began his questions,
the first of which brought out the
facts concerning Mr.. Clarks career,
political and otherwise. in Montana
lie said he had resided in Montana
since 1863, most of the time in Butte,
and had been engaged in many occupa-
lions, the principal of which were mer-
chandlslng, banking, mining and the
reduction of ores. He had, he said,
taken an active part in politics, espe-
c1ally for the past Is years. s.
Coming to the campaign of 1898 he
said he had entered it at the solicita-
ton of number of friends ''who had
asked me to help them organize the
state against what was called .h,. Dali
power, which I agreed to do with their
aid and assistance"
He then referred to the preliminary
meeting of his friends, the particulars
of which were related by Gov Hauser.
in which he made the agreement above
related by agreeing to pay all the ex-
penses if the others would do the or
ganizing and perform the work neces-
sary in the campaign.
Relating further the motives actual
ing him in entering into this campaign,
which was for few of the state Off
GERS and for members of the legisla-
ture, he said he had sent out some
friends to feel the pulse of the state.
He also stated that democratic politics
in the state had been running wild
for some years. The democrats had
been fusing with populists and silver
republicans and he was opposed 10
such a course, because it resulted IN
the nomination of people who were
not democrats. The object was to SO
organize as to break down the lone
man power in the state. After ascer-
tanning these facts the senator said
that he had very reluctantly agreed
to the proposition of his friends and
to assist financially furnishing such
funds as were absolutely necessary in
a prudent way to accomplish the OBJ
iect aimed at.
Senator Clark said he had at the
preliminary meeting with his friends
in Helena agreed to enter the cam
paign to wrest the power from DAILY,
but not with the understanding that
he would be a senatorial candidate.
That conclusion had come later. He
said that all told he had spent about
S115.OOO in the campaign. There were
four different contributions, a pre-
liminary one of $4,000, then $4,000.
then $4,000 and then $4,000. He de-
MED explicitly all the statements made
by Whiteside, Mark Hewitt and others
connecting him with corrupt methods
in securing his election to the senate.
saving that so far as he knew no
money had been used corruptly in his
behalf. He said he might have writ
ten the letter testified to by Justice
Brantley, but that he could not re-
member.
Concerning his contributions to the
campaign fund, after the preliminary
meeting with his friends, he said:
'Some days after this meeting gave the
amount which it had been estimated would
be necessary to begin with. That amount
was $4,000. The second contribution was
made in October and amounted to $40, 900.
In November I contributed $4,000, and
after I was elected I gave my son, C. w.
Clark. a check for about 500, 500 to pay ex-
penses incurred during the sitting of the
legislature in Helena. Upon leaving the
city I had told my son to stay there and
settle up all bills that had been incurred.
These four contributions were all that had
been made by me in connection with that
campaign. The first contribution of $685.
O0O was necessary in organizing for the
legislative campaign, a great deal of money
being required to get voters registered and
to get them to the polls.'
PLAGUE AT MANILA.