The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-16
CLARK'S BIG POLITICAL COUP
Continued from First Page.)

fight I have made against the DONNA
ton of DAILY and his crowd There is no
question in my mind of the right of the
lieutenant governor, while acting as Gov
ernor. TO make this appointment. 1 presid-
ed over the convention which made the
constitution of the state and 1t was the
purpose of that convention to safeguard
the executive office so that it should at
all times be occupied That is why our
constitution not only places upon the
shoulders of the lieutenant governor all
of the duties of the Governor during his
absence from the state, but makes him,
in fact, the Governor with both the
duties and the emoluments of the
Office from the time the Governor
himself steps across the state line until
he returns 10 resume his office. Should
be appointed by Gov. Spriggs, 1 shall feel
that have an absolute and dnquesuoned
ii lie to the office which cannot success
fully be assailed. No, 1t is not possible for
the Governor to return and undo any
thing which the lieutenant governor has
done while the latter is acting as Cover
mr."
Even should the credentials of Mr..
Clark go to the Committee on Elections
and remain tied up there without action,
throughout the rest of the session, Mr..
Clark will have won a decided advantage
in his fight for election before the next
Legislature. He will have the prestige of
the appointment instead of letting the ad-
vantage go 10 some one of his enemies as,
would have been the case had Gov. Smith
made the appointment.
Clark Received Notice.
Senator Clark tonight received the fol-
lowing telegram announcing his appoint
ment:
Helena, Mont, May Ex-senator w. A.
Clark, Washington: I have the honor to
inform you that 1 have this day appoint
ed you to fill the vacancy in Montanas
representation in the Senate of the United
States. 1 send you certificate by regis
tered mail. 1 trust you will accept the
appointment. A. E. Spriggs,
Acting Governor"
The Senator also received the following
telegram from his son:
Gov. Spriggs to-day appointed you as
senator. Congratulations. c. w. Clark"
Senator Clark accepted the appointment
in the following reply to Gov. Spriggs'
messages:
washington, May 15.-Hon. A e.
Spriggs, Governor of Montana. Dear Gov
ernor: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your very complimentary
message informing me of my appoint
ment to fill the vacancy in the United
States Senate caused by my resignation
and to inform you of my acceptance
thereof. I fully appreciate the high COM
pliment implied by your action and pledge
myself to discharge the duties of the Of
fee in the interests of all the people of
the state to the best of my ability.
With the assurance of my high esteem,
am yours sincerely. W. A. Clark"
Some of the Comments.
Senator Chandler of New Hampshire,
chairman of the Senate Elections Com
mttee, when informed of Mr.. Clark's APP
pointment said:
x reckon the trick won't work"
Senator McComas, Republican men,
Der OF the committee, said:
IF the report of the appointment is
true apparently, the case would depend
upon the fate of the pending resolution
reported by the Committee on Privileges
and Elections IN the Clark case.
II that resolution should be passed It
would be a Judgment of the Senate 10
the effect that the seat was vacant from
tne beginning of the term, and we should
then have in the Clark case substantially
repetition of the Quay case"
senator Caffery of Louisiana, a Demo-
cratic member of the committee, concurred
With Senator McComas as did Senator
Jones, Democrat, of Arkansas. Senator
Aldrich of Rhode Island said that Senator
clark had made a mistake in getting the
appointment
Senator Allison said: "If the appoint
Ihent Is made under the statutes of Mon
tsha' l don't think it can be undone by
.he Governor upon his return to Mon
,aha' Moreover, my opinion, without hav-
ing mad opportunity to investigate the case
closely, is that Senator Clark's resigna-
slon takes effect from the time 1t was ten
uered. do not believe that the fact that
we resignation Is rendered pending an in
oesCgation can have any effect. In the
SGaluweil case indeed no further proceed
LIS Were taken after Mr.. Caldwell ten
oered his resignation
senator Butler, Populist said:
O. cont think that the Senate can re
.use 20 seat Mr. Clark. According to all
pa,, vacancies occur when a resig-
nation Is rendered"