The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-21

came to express Mr.. Clark's thanks for
| the services l had rendered, and also TO
present me with a testimonial OF his re-
gard and retainer for any services
might have been able TO render in any
controversy arising over his seat in the
United States Senate. Accompanying his
words he handed me an envelope bearing
the name Of the banking Arm Of William
| A. Clark & Bro. and in which were two
| certificates Of deposit for $500 each,
| dated March 2, and payable 10 my order
on demand. | thought the matter over.
| probably as long as / have been telling
this story. / thanked Mr.. Davidson and
asked him to thank Mr.. Clark for me.
And deposited the certificates Of deposit
| to my credit in the Montana National
| Bank the same day.
That Is about all there is to that
| transaction. Since that time l had con-
sidered myself Senator Clark's attorney,
I SO far as the controversy over his seat is
| concerned"
| On cross-examination the witness was
asked whether he had ever been employed
| heretofore as an attorney at-law for Mr..
| Clark He said that he had not been, eN-
cept that he had done some little bust
ness for Clark & Bro.
Did you receive any money from Da-
wilson during the session of the Legisla-
ture?"
Il received some money from Mr.. Da-
wilson before the State Convention met.
l think l received 500 or $500 in the
month of December. / received none at
all while the Legislature was in session.
What was that for?"
THAT was TO be used in the campaign
which / was to make as candidate for
| Speaker"
why should Davidson pay it TO you?"
MIR. Davidson was a member of the
| committee which was interested in my
| candidacy for the Legislature
a Retainer and Gift.
did you regard that s. 1000 as a retain
ing fee or as a gift?''
Partly as retaining fee. and partly as
a gift. / got 1t certainly as retainer,
but presume that the most Of it was due
to my relations to Mr.. Clark
The oath of Office as administered TO the
members of the Montana Legislature was
produced and read. and the witness ad-
mitted that he had taken the oath. One
phrase of II is that ! win not knowingly
receive, directly or indirectly, any money
or other valuable thing for the performance
or nonperformance of any act, or deed,
other than compensation by law, so nelp
me God"
Mr. Faulkner, while not defending the
witness as a matter OF ethics, argued that
the act of receiving the $1,000 was not a
violation OF the oath.
After some colloquy the witness address,
ing the chairman. said: You asked me II
had that oath in mind when / took that
money. l had not"
The Chairman-What do you think about
IL now. do you see that ii was a violation
of your oath?
well. do not see that 1t was VIOLA
ton OF the oath. OF course I appreciate
that there may be some criticism of it .
Mr.. Faulkner-You are one of the few
men who were in favor OF Senator Clark
against whom there were no charges made?
II do not know. / never heard OF any
public charges made against me-"
welcome Witness.
John D. Welcome, one of the most con-
spicuous characters In the Senatorial cleo
ton, was the next witness. 1t was he who
was disbarred by the Supreme Court OF
Montana on a charge of corrupt practices
in connection with Senator Clark's cleo
ton. In answer to questions OF Mr. Faulk-
ner he said that he resided in Butte;
that he had been" a lawyer; that he was
born in the State of New York, and was
admitted to the bar in New Hampshire.
He had not been a member Of the COM
mittee of Senator Clark's friends. but had
taken considerable interest in the cam
paign. He mad never leen an active poll
tician. and had been a Republican up 10
the Bryan campaign In 1886.
He was asked to give the circumstances
in reference TO a telegram from the Con-
tinental Bank OF Chicago. which was used
during the Senatorial campaign as an in
eliminating paper. II was In relation TO
10, to ha nj i'm, nv hot bap
and II had been obtained in some way
and published in the Anaconda Standard"
as an evidence of corruption. His eXpla-
nation was that the bond had reference
to the guarantee of contracts which be had
made. or was 20 make, as the representa-
tive of the Mexican Plantation Association.
His attention was then called, seriatim,
to statements sworn TO by the anti-Clark
agent Whiteside as to conversations with
the witness. He either denied the state
ment point blank or explained 1t in a man
ner TO rob it OF its injurious effect.
Did you ever tell Whitesde," his was
asked. that he would be well paid for
any services he would render?'
Il did not
did you ever tell him" he was again
asked, that you would be willing to pay
him any sum. or the amount of $4,000, for
his support and vote for MIR. Clark"
i did not
And so It went on through the whole. OF
Whiteside's voluminous testimony.
MIR. Whiteside," the witness went on.
was introduced to me by Charles Clark
or Mr.. Neiil We had some little talk
about matters generally. He said he had
been a supporter of the DAILY people. but
that he did not propose 10 be so any more,
as they had treated him badly. Quite
number of people spoke 10 Lie about
Whiteside They would ask me whom
Whiteside was going TO vote for. and /
would say he was going to vote for Clark.
Then they would say, You cannot believe.
He has been identified and allied with the
DAILY people, and he must be undertaking
to 60 this for some purpose ] said 1T
will do harm II he does not vote for Clark,
and IL he does vote for him we will have
gained something.
Senator MeComas-Did you ever discuss
with Whiteside, or anyone else, the bribery
of members?
Il did not
AS Mr.. Faulkner was continuing TO ques-
ton the witness as to the truth or falsity
of extracts from Whiteside's testimony, he
was interrupted by the chairman with the
suggestion that he might save time and
trouble, as the committee would assume
that Mr.. Welcome would deny everything
that Whiteside had said Mr.. Faulkner
thanked the chairman for the suggestion,
but said that il was necessary for some
reasons that he should continue as he was
proceeding. Without closing Mr.. Well
comes testimony the committee adjourned
at J:4J O'Clock until this morning.
CONCERNING OLD RECORDS.