The sun., 1900-05-16
SENATOR CLARK QUITS
Reads Letter Announcing His Resig-
nation From the Senate.
AND SPEAKS In HIS BEHALF.
Declares That the Proceedings In
Inquiry Into His Case We're
Closely Analogous to Those
of thu Dreyfus Affair.

of tn. Dreyfus Affair.
Washington. May Ex-senator Clark
created a sensation in the senate by ad-
dressing the chair on a question Of priyi-
iege personal TO himself and by reading
a letter, dated May IL, announcing his
resignation from the senate. Sir. CLARK /
said:
THE question called up for discussion |
go vitally concerns my own interests and
the interests Of the great state which l
have the honor in part to represent that
/ shall ask the indulgence OF the senate
while | as briefly as possible submit some
remarks. referring, first. 10 the character
or the investigation: second 10 the ma
| iority report of the honorable committee
ON privileges and elections, which has
submitted findings adverse to the reten-
tion of my seat in the senate: third. to
the conditions existing in the state Of
| Montana for number Of years prior TO
my election which justified my political
action. and, lastly, the statement as 10
the conrse deem best TO pursue in the
premises.
1T is not my desire to cast any asper-
sions upon the motives which actuated
the distinguished senators composing the
committee. and yet with the most respect
full consideration for the learning, legal
ability aud eminent standing Of these
gentlemen | am forced to the conclusion,
which | believe meets with the concur
renee Of not only large number of SEN
ators on both sides Of this chamber, but
: also of 50 per cent Of my constituency in
ii a,-II In-- 1f =.
ical affiliations, that the methods of pro-
i cedure in the investigation of this matter
were manifestly unfair, nonjudicial, and
that they resulted in verdict of the
: committee entirely opposite to that which
Il would have occurred should the evidence
Il have been confined to that which was
:. admissible and pertinent to the issue
Rules of Evidence Necessary.
|; 81 contend that an investigation in
volving a seat in the high legislative bod!
of of this nation, as well as the honor of al
ID individual chosen for that position By tn
ty people Of one of the sovereign state
:. thereof, should be conducted in a strictl
'S judicial manner and that in the proceed
lg ings the established rules of eyidenc
at should be applied. 1t is well known t
everybody that this was not the case.
is true that there was a strong effoI
~ made by the honorable senators froI
be Alabama, Maryland, Kansas and Mort
be Carolina, at the beginning of the invest
10 CATION, to exclude all the irrelevant test
:, mony, but their efforts were unayailing.
u 1.-THE senator's who filed minority r.
DE port expressed in emphatic terms the
m condemnation of the proceedings in tn
IL, respect, as we'll as denunciaton of Il
character and practices Of the nrincip
ne attorney and Of some Of the witness,
nj. who testified for the prosecution.
ks The prevailing theory Of prcsumpti'
for innocence was largely ignored, and Il
" entire proceedings were closely analogo,
'As to the DreyfuS case. where the prosec
te, tion was based upon PRESUMPTION
np guilt The precedents that have been {
"a tHblished in examinations Of this cha
- acter since 11Sj have been lightly conSi
y cred if not entirely diSreeardcd. 1t h
Re heretofore been held that there must
ted proved actual completely Of fraud IN t
-. pait If the principal Or actual. not pl
9'e Sumptive knowledge of corruption on l
part Of his agents. or that il must
or proved, not inferred. that a suiicic
In number of legislators have been CORFU
-. Is influenced 10 change the result of I
election.
AZ The First Proposition.
ed, ".As 10 the first proposition, no Pre-
will was adduced that was accepted by t
dc committee, and no charge OF comphc
80 has been made in the report.
'"e "As to the second proposition, not ir
re- single instance, in my opinion or in t
opinion of the eminent counsel who a
, IL ed Inc in this investigation has tn,
~ been any proof sufficient to establish
guilt of single legislator. On the c.
IN trary, positive evidence has been elicit
in every case where the respondent v
allowed to introduce testimony that
consideration was given or received
promised nor any consideration made
lege secure a vote for the respondent.
jiub In order to change the result of
and election it would be necessary to establ
AS that eight members of the legislat
t of were corruptly influenced.
There was legislation involving
transfer Of property which was he
Ient contested by contending parties in III
on tana in which the respondent has no
- tcrest whatever; hence, il it should
NC shown that money was improperly u
tbo during the session of the legislatl
hala there wouiu searceiy pe eNeu d p'esu'
spondent or friends working in his in
est. | therefore submit, Mr.. Preside
my belief that the conclusions of
L. committee on the main proposition,
by those of the majority OH all propositit
,lace are infercntial incorrect and are not s
ausc ported by the evidence, and | confidel
car believe that after a thorough and
c as investigation the majority report We
,ould not be sustained"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Clark's spe
many senators crowded around him
Shook his hand most cordially. AS 5
me- as order was restored Mr.. Chandler
the ell ihat the consideration of the resolu
amp declaring the seat vacant be postpo
which was done.