Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-02-21

Cason to go TO his son or some one else and
get money to pay his expenses to Helena
and back. The next day he met Marceyes
and told him that be was Obliged to him,
That was the extent OF his conversation
with Marceyes.
ut is abs 0lutely false that ! held up my
hand, indicating that Marceyes could have
10000 Tor his vote rs Cason testified nor
did | by any movement or word OF lip in.
dicate that | expected him to secure aNvote
for me for a corrupt consideration" said
Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Clark admitted that he thought well
OF Cason, not only because OF the letter of
introduction he brought, but because Cason
had been with his friends In n combination
OF Democrats and Republicans in u cam.
paign in Butte.
In reply to a suggestion from Senator
Chandler. Clark said hehad written "a letter
to the Republican caucus OF the Montana
legislature. outlining his attitude on the
tariff. The question had arisen in the leg.
i~slative campaign in Yellowstone county
and he had at that date written u letter to
Foster, OF that county. Writing to the
chairman OF the Republican caucus, he had
reiterated the views expressed in the Foster
letter. He had not preserved a copy, but
II M could be found he would be glad To
produce it. Senator Chandltrinsistcd the
letter should be found NJ IL was evidence
OF the pledge he had made TO SECURE Rppub-
lican votes. Mr.. Clark said he had sent il
to Mr.. Hobson, chairman olthp Republican
Caucus. Mr.. Clark outlined The contents
OF the letter to the caucus. llp-uid he had
taken the position that, in Redistribution
Of duties on various article, he thought
raw material should be provided for and
share in the protective tariffs On menuiac-
tured goods, and to cover products Of bis
own state, such as wool, hides and barley.
Returning to CasoD. CLARK said he had
sent him a check for $500 after the adj
journment OF the Legislature. This be had
done because Cason had complained OF his
finances, and because OF the good opinion
he had OF him.
Referring to the Republican votes cast
for him, Clark said he told the Republican
voters that he would not acecpttheir votes
If they would. secure his election, unless he
could get a majority OF the votes in the
Republican caucus. His reason was that
to accept fewer than a majority of the Re.
publican caucus would be to subject them
to the accusation Of accepting II bride.
There was so much scandal at that
time" he said, that | thought it right to
protect them. WANTED theelection above
reproach and did not want TO compromise
any Of these people,"
Questioned closely upon Bick'ord's taking
$1,000 to Missoula to lift Woods mort
gage, Clark said he at that time knew moth
ing about it. lie did not know his son had
given the money to Bedford until the mat
ter was brought out in the testimony here.
"Did your son have access 10 your nc.
counts 50 he could havepiven Bickiord that
amount in your INTEREST,"" asked Mr.. Honr.
''The son il a man OF wealth himself,
said Mr.. Faulkner.
Let the witness answer said Chandler.
"My son had drawno on my account, bnt
he did not do SC in this case. He could
easily have given the money on his own
account"
Replying to a question he said his son
had not even since thedetails Of this trans
action were brought out in this inquiry
explained it to him. He had not paid
Bickford anything Tor his services except
Tor his expenses and his regular salary.
Replying to a question by Faulkner con.
corning the relationship to himself OF his
son. c. W. Clark Welcome, Bickford, A.. j
Davidson, A. J. Steele, William McDermott
and Others, Senator Clark said:
"They expressed to me sentiments Of
friendship in my political %affairs, and some
of them suggested means Of managing the
campaign, and some Of them were author.
lied to look after things generally"
Had they authority to do anything in
"A financial way more than to pay Incl.
dental expenses?"
"They were not, II am to understand
your question to be whether they had au.
thority to pay out money for unlawful
purposes. They had no authority to pay
out money for any other than lair and
legitimate purposes"