The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-01
SENATOR CLARK'S CASE.
He VIII Have Fair show, but 1t
May Go Hard with Him.

Washington Special in Chicago Post.
Senator Clark, of Montana. is getting out
book or else somebody is getting out one
for him. L have not seen a copy. but
derstand it paints him he is. or rather
as he imagines himself to be. and would
be pleased to have others think he is. The
book has not yet left the printers hands,
but it will be ready for circulation within
a week or ten days. The little volume will
give the public and, more important still.
the jury of august senators who are soon to
sit on his case, q true insight into the
Montana multi-millionaire's real character.
1t will recount his achievements and give
the first correct history of his life, tell
why he left home and how he happened to
become Unfortunately rich. 1t will depict
him as a gentleman of fine education, gen.
erous views and broadly philanthropic i'm
pulses-a patron of the arts and one adj
dicted to the elevation of the human race.
When the reader finishes the book and
lays it to one side, il will be to wonder
how a statesman so highly gifted and so
pure at heart could be accused of bribing
his fellow-men TO send him to the Senate
of the United States. The brochure will
get into circulation about the time the
lions resumes its work on the Clark bribery
| case. That will be next week.
By the way, the parties who are in Wash
ington to push along the Clark bribery
charges, are full of confidence In their
ability to make these cha ges stick. They
say about one-third of their case is to be
| found in the Senate document relating TO
the matter. which is already on file. That
they allege, is merely a feeler, ana say they
have much more and harder testimony on
tap. Just what it is they refuse TO dis
oil
| and winning cards in their hands. II is
noted that Senator Clark's associates are
| taking a lively interest in the case-an in
| terest they do not attempt to conceal. Un-
| til recently they regarded the contest as
merely an outcropping Of rancorous feeling
between two bitter personal enemies, and
were annoyed that the dirty business
should be transferred to the United States
| Senate. They have not mitigated their
| feeling of disgust in the least on account
| of recent disclosures Of threatened revela-
| tions, but have in some way become i'm
bued with the notion that after all Clark's
enemies may have him on the HE. As
| CLUB men" they stand ready to defend and
protect fellow-member from the attacks
of outsiders. They are not prepared to go
| to the length, however. of holding him
guiltless in the face of overwhelming evil
dence to the con<ary.
The patent fact that Senator Clark's ene-
mics are vindictive and merciless will
| weigh in his favor with his associates on
| the floor, as II rightfully should, but Ii
will not prevent his expulsion I'm disgrace
| If it should be proved that he Is clearly
guilty as charged. All his millions cannot
| save him. The Senate is extremely sensi-
| tive on the question of the personal honor
| OF its members. 1t may not be possible TO
expel a member who Is unworthy or to
| keep out the black sheep, but no man, how
I ever rich he may be or however high his
| standing may have been, can hope to hold
the esteem of his fellow-senators who does
| rot measure up in the qualities that go to
make a gentleman. Furthermore. q sena-
| tor might well be in the hot place as
on the Senate blacklist. Many a one has
| uncomfortable lives. They have been lone
| some persons-these parties who have been
| consigned to senatorial Coventry.
| Somehow Senator Clark has not made so
good an impression since his arrival in
| Washington as he could wish. Not that he
| has done anything to invite criticism or
| to cause him to be regarded with suspicion.
| Quite the contrary. He has been a model of
| correct department and has carried him
self with unwavering dignity and courtesy.
| 1t may be that reserve has had chilling
| effect. He is as destitute of personal mag
netism as frigid marble Those who come
| in contact with him do not warm to him, -
as the expression goes. This unfortunate
! characteristic will not prevent the Senate
| jury from giving him fair show, although
| it deprives him of the helping influence of
| personal regard and fellowship which
sometimes counts for so much. What may
should set against him, is the apparent in
| difference TO his fate confessediy felt by
more than one Democrat. There may be
nothing real in this evident coldness, al
though the Montana senator Is said to fear
| q broken party support on a showdown.