The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-24
AIR FULL OF IT.
Attorney General Nolan Testi-
fies That Bribery
Was Thick Enough to Be Cut
With a Knife.
RIVAL MILLIONAIRES.
MILLIONAIRES.
Daily and Clark Meet In the
Committee Room
Where the Senatorial Investiga-
tiOn Is In Progress.

Washington, Feb. 24-When the SEN
ate committee on elections assembled
today Mr. Marcus Daily, the head of the
Montana opposition to Senator Clark,
was present in the committee room and
it was understood he would take the
stand some time during the day. While
the responsibility for the investigation
has been charged largely to him he
has not heretofore made his appearance
before the committee. He entered the
room quietly and after being introduced
to the members of the committee pres
ent, took a seat with other spectators
back OF the seat occupied by witnesses.
Senator Clark was also present. He
sat across the room from Mr.. Daily but
the eyes of the rival millionaires did
not seem to meet
At the beginning of the days session,
Attorney General Nolan took the wit
ness stand. He read a letter he had
written to Congressman Campbell last
fall promising immunity from prosecu-
tiOn to such as might testify to bribery
as go betweens during the session of the
legislature. He said in the letter that
he had conferred with the governor and
that in case of prosecution and convic-
tion, the governor would exercise the
pardoning power.
Referring to the Whiteside exposure
Mr. Nolan said the people of Montana
did not believe there was any COM
spiracy. THE air was full of evidence
of bribery" he said, you could cut it
with a knife
John R. Toole of Anaconda was next
called. He is regarded as a confidential
friend of Mr.. DAILY and is a member of
the Montana legislature. He said he
was interested with Daily in mining and
had since the first of June last been un-
der a salary from him in connection
with their mining enterprises. He also
said that he considered that hn had Mr.
Daly'S confidence in political matters
and knew the latter's plans. Notwith-
standing this fact he had as member
of the legislature in 1898 voted for
Clark. Indeed, he had never known Mr..
Daily to seek office or try to influence
the course of his friends Last winter
when he had told Mr.. Daily that some
members wanted to cast their votes for
Daily replied: Il authorize you to say
that I do not want my name presented
to the legislature for a vote, either COM
plimentary or otherwise" Nor had he
ever known of Mr.. Daly's attempting
to influence or control any primary, or
any election.
Speaking of the campaign of 1898 Mr..
O'TOOle said he had been a member of
the executive committee; that not to
exceed $4,000 was subscribed for the
state campaign and that the Clark peo-
pie had held no meetings outside of
Silver Bow county.
that the Clark movement was entirely
in the interest of Mr.. Clark''S candidacy
for the senate.
Mr.. O'Toole also said Mr.. DAILY had no
especial candidate for the senate being
willing to accept the nominee of the
Democratic caucus. Mr.. Daly's friends
however opposed Mr. Clark principally
| because of the charges of bribery with
which the air was filled for month be-
fore the meeting of the legislature. The
| witness said he had never entered into
a conspiracy to defeat Mr.. Clark for the
| senate.
Q-When did you first see the $50 900
| used by Mr.. Whiteside in his exposure?
Al first saw it when the legislative
| investigating committee of which I was
a member met.
Odd you give any of that money
| or did you know of any of it being given
| by Mr. Daily or his friends to defeat Mr..
| Clark for the senate.
.A.-No sir, 1 can't find words strong
| enough for a proper denial of the i'm
! putation; it's an outrage.
| Q.-Do you know OF any money being
| put up by Mr. DAILY or any of his friends
! TO defeat Mr. Clark in any other con-
| nection?
Al certainly do not
Mr.. Toole related a conversation with
/ Representative Mclaughlin at the be-
| ginning of the legislature in which Nc
Laughiin told him that he was going to
! vote for Mr.. Clark, as it was a matter
| of bread and butter for his family.
He denied that there was any DAILY
or distinctively anti-Clark lobby in Hell
ena during the session of the legisla-
ture. The friends of Conrad, Mats
/ and others were lost" he said, lin the
| Clark lobby. That is all pipe dream -
If Mr.. Conrad spent any money in the
interest of his candidacy he (Toolej did
not know it.
Mr.. DAILY had not. according to the
| Witness dreamed when the legislature
met that Clark could be elected. I