The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-26
REPORT OF THE MINORITY.
THEY GAVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE
CASE OF SENATOR CLARK.
Agree With the Findings That the
Senator'S Seat should BE Declared
Vacant, but Differ on Some Por-
lions of the Testimony as Taken.

WASHINGTON, April 25.--The minority
OF the members of the senate committee
on privileges and elections, consisting of
Senators Pettus and Harris. who do not
accept all the views of the majority Of
the committee in the case of Senator
Clark, of Montana, today presented their
dissenting opinion in the case. The re-
port begins with the following state
ment:
I'VE agreed and still agree to the reso-
luton adopted by the committee itself.
But the report is merely the writing OF
the chairman with the aid of one other
member, and never was submitted to any
meeting OF the committee, and, therefore,
cannot be considered as the words Of the
committee"
Their Reasons for Dissent.
They then proceed to state their reas-
ons for dissent, which are based. they
say. upon the opinion that the commit
tee did not regard the ordinary rules OF
evidence, but received hearsay evidence
IN great volume"
They state their reasons for consenting
to the statement in the majority report,
that the friends of Senator Clark ille-
gally and improperly used large amounts
of money and thereby caused the cleo
ton, and that this election is not Valid
but under the law of the land Is void"
Review of Conditions i'm Montana.
They then enter upon a review of the
present conditions in Montana. Refer
ring to the initiative meeting of the
Clark men and the attendance Of Hon.
A. j. Campbell at this conference. and
his later election to congress. Messrs
Pettus and Harris remark:
so, to the extent named, Mr.. Camp
bell got the benefit of the private meet
ing of which he was member, and the
benefit of the money sent out by the
committee to the executive committees In
various counties
mfr Campbell was q we'll known op-
in 1885,"
Whiteside IL scored.
Taking up ex-State Senator whiteside's
evidence they say:
The evidence tends to show that white
side is unfriendly to w. A. Clark, and
that he made a threat to explode bomb
II Clark became a candidate for the SEN
ate; and that about the same day Marcus
DAILY, in New York made a threat to run
Campbell Also Attacked.
Referring to the cooperation during the
legislative session of Campbell and Clark,
they say that after Mr.. Campbell had
heard the plan to entrap and betray his
in substance. DO not rely on your own
evidence to prove the charges
Thus" they continue, Campbell and
Whiteside became united in a common
time Whiteside had the benefit of Camp
bells advice. And Whiteside, II you
credit his account of himself acted we'll
and naturally the part of spy and traitor
and did explode a bomb After the
legislature adjourned Campbell, with
Marcus Days money, went into the busi-
ness OF buying newspapers and hiring
editors and setting them to work. He
hpcam m 10 IN Isl
ness of hiring detectives with Days
money. Among other hard cases he en-
ployed one Benjamin Hill and set him 10
hunting up evidence against his friend"
Mr. Campbell Is severely arraigned for
the opening. reading and resealing of a
sealed letter from Bickford to Root,
brought to Campbell by Hill.
Use of Days Money.
Reference is made to Campbells pay
ments to certain witnesses, and 1t Is re-
marked that MIR. Campbell became
Days agent to disburse money without
limit as to amount. and in 1899 was en-
poyed by n corporation controlled by
DAILY at a salary of 5000 per annum
When last heard from Mr.. Campbell had
disbursed about $4,000 OF Daly's money
In this case and had incurred liabilities
for fees to eminent counsel, amounts not
named, and still had the power to go on
spending without limit as to amount He
conducted this case as leading counsel
and became also one of the PRINCIPAL wit
nesscs, but other counsel made the argu-
ment.'
Attorney General Nolan.
They also review the connection of State
Attos ney General Nolan with the prose-
cuton, referring with especial pointed
ness to his use of the notes of Testimony
taken before the grand Jury of Lewis and
Clark county, saying:
He could not be induced 10 see the
shghtest impropriety In his disclosure OF
the secrets OF the grand jury on this
wholesale promise ef pardons, specially
given for the use of Mr. Campbell in the
work In which he was then engaged. This
attorney general came to Washington
took an active part in the prosecution and
In suggesting witnesses. and on the wilt
ness stand could not conceal his bias"
Some Irrelevant Testimony.
They pronounce the testimony connect
Ing the Montana supreme court with the
case as Irrelevant" and say. .sThis
transaction, so far as we are Informed
occurred six or seven months after the
senatorial election; no fact proved con-
meets MI. Clark with any part OF that
MIR. Tracy had no sort Of connection,
directly or indirectly, with Mr.. Clark: and
" ne had, there was no connection be-
tween the election in January and the
supreme court Judges in the fan OF that
wear. All OF the evidence was nothing
more than what may be called coIoring
matter. And Il was admitted against
the protest OF the senator from Maryland
and others And in the conduct OF this
case much other mere 'coloring matter
was received as evidence"
Majority Report Criticised.
They criticise the report OF the commit
tee. saying that II contains several Curl
Gus statements OF a part Of the evidence
as 10 the thing stated" For exauaple-
they say; 1t Is stated that senator
clark. IN June. iSa. destroyed the checks
which he had drawn on his bank" But
the report fails TO state that for wears
past II has been his habit TO destroy the
checks when his account was rendered hv
the bank and examined. And the report
failed 10 state that the committee had
the bank account OF MIR. Clark during All
The time IN which Il was charged that
money had been Illegally used"
They also assert that in the main report
statements are made M facts which are
based entirely on the testimony OF a Wit
ness OF doubtful credit. and that teSti.
mony plainly contradicted."