The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-19
THE CLARK RESOLUTION
1t Will Be Taken Up and Pressed
TO a Vote in the Senate.
An Agreement by the Committee on
Privileges and Elections Reached
After Considerable B.scussion-
The PInn of Action Regarding
the New Credentials Considered.

After Considerable B..cussion-
the New Credentials Considered
The resolution reported to the Senate
ly the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
ions that William A. Clark was not duly
elected a Senator from Montana will bt
pressed to a vote, that is if the commit
lee and the anti-Clark men in the Senate
are strong enough to bring about that re-
suit. The decision that the resolution
should be pressed was reached yesterday.
The committee met at II o'clock. ant
Mr.. Chandler, the Chairman, read pro
test from Governor Smith, of Montana
setting forth the belief that questionabl,
methods had been used to secure the ap
pointment Of Mr.. Clark to the vacanc.
which he himself had created. and asking
that when the credentials signed by Lieu
tenant Governor Spriggs should be pre-
sented. that they might be referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections fol
The text of the protest fol
lows:
Butte. Mont, May II.
Hon. w. E. Chandler. Washington,
d. c.:
Il desire to present in as forcib'e
manner as possible. my protest against
the course pursued by Eon. W. A.
Clark in attempting to defeat the &C.
tion of the Senate of the United States
upca the resolution presented by the
Committee on Privileges ard Elections
affecting his title to a seat. and to
protest against the methods pursued
by him in securing an appointment at
the hands of the Lieutenant Governor
during my absence from the State. un-
der circumstances and conditions,
which to my mind indicate collus on
and fraud. His conduct In attempting
resignation and procuring reap
pointment under the conditions as re
did. il the matter was before court
. of Justice. would have been considered
contempt of court on his part.
II therefore trust that the commit
tee and the Senate will proceed to a
proper and complete consideration OF
the question so that the rights, not
only of Mr.. Clark, but of the State of
Montana in the premises. may be de-
termined, and that upon the presenta-
tion of his credentials of appointment by
the Lieutenant Governor. the same be
transferred to the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections for investigation
and that be permitted to make
me Z, complete and detailed statement
of facts concerning the resignation
and appointment of Mr.. Clark. Very
respectfully -. ROBERT b. SMITH,
Governor of the State of Montana"
The committee met for the purpose of
what should be done with the
pending resolution. When Mr.. Clark re-
signed his seat in the Senate on Tuesday
Mr.. Chandler moved that the resolution
go over until "wednesday. on which day he
moved that il be laid aside until Satur-
day at / O'Clock, saying that ON Friday
the committee would determine what
course it ought to pursue. The meeting
Of the committee yesterday was inhar-
Messrs. Pettus. Harris, Pritch
ard, and Turiey joining issues on certain
points OF Law. with Mess-s. Chandler,
Hear, Burrows. McComas. and Caffcry.
Mr.. Pritchard is reported to have said
that ne considered it better that the
pending resolution should be indefinitely
postponed. He said that the precedents
OF the Senate pointed that MIR. Clark was
not a member of the Senate. since. on
Tuesday, he had notified the President
pro tempore of the Senate that he had
his resignation to the Gov
ernor of Montana. This being the case,
he could not see the utility OF declaring
by means of formal resolution that he
was not a member of the Senate.
Senator Pettus is reported TO have said
that he believed there was a sufficient
number CT Senators who are opposed to
further action against MIR. Clark to block
the passage Of the resolution and possi-
bly, to defeat it. Those members of the
committee who are known to have said
that they thought further action on the
resolution unwarranted were Messrs.
Pritchard. Harris. and Pettus.
Mr. Pritchard said that the belief was
spreading that the committee. in order to
itself. would not stop at perse-
;ution Of Mr.. Clark. He advised that the
matter be left where it is and that the
'esolution be indefinitely postponed
Mr.. Chandler said that Mr.. Clarks resig-
lation did not in any way bar the further
.ction OF the Senate. as the resolution is
directed at the action CT the Legislature
n originally attempting TO place him IN
ffice. He said that when the Senate as
ume. jurisdiction of the case it no longer
estoi with Mr.. Clark to determine it by
esigning.
In reply to this Mr. Pettus contended
hat the right Of resignation was a per-
onal one, and could not be taken away by
he committee, and that the vacancy was
reated when Mr.. Clark resigned.
The con .nittee finally agreed that Mr..
Chandler should press the resolution. it
,eing authoritatiyely announced that no
-ote was taken, each member of the COM
nittee having declared his view of the
ase.
The committee discussed the plan OF ac-
ion which it may follow when the new ere
Ientials OF Mr.. Clark shall have been pre-
ented to the Senate. 1t was agreed that OBJ
ection should be made ard that a motion
hould be made TO refer the case to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections for
and report.
Considerable bitterness was manifested
~ certain members of the committee to-
ward Mr.. Clark. 1t being said that he had
them and that IL 1t could be
,revented his superior tactics should avail
lin nothing. The members were averse
o discussing the case for publication.
An agreement was reached later be-
ween the members OF the committee and
he friends OF Mr.. Clark, whereby the con-
;idera:ion OF the resolution will go over
Until Monday. II Mr.. Clark's credentials
rrive today they will not be presented un-
IL Monday.
ON THE WHITE LOT.