The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-04-14
IS AGAINST v. A. CLARK
Is DENIED A SEAT IN SENATE

IS DENIED A SEAT IN SENATE.
The Charges Were sustained-The
Senate Committee IL Unanimous i'm
Its Findings Against Him-Evi-
Aense Was Too strong-He Was
Surprised.
Washington, April 1.-THE senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections yester-
day decided by q unanimous vote to rec.
ommend the adoption of resolution de-
claring that Hon. w. A. Clark of Mon
tana is not entitled to occupy his seat a.
senator from that state. The decision was
reached after Q two hours sitting, ut
which all Of the members Of the commit
tee were present, except one The ab-
scntee was Senator Ceffery, and he wired
his vote in opposition to Clark. The bal
lot was not taken until all the members
present had expressed themselves upon
the question, some Of them speaking At
some length and all expressing different
shades Of opinion.
Sentaor Harris indicated a most pro-
nounced leaning toward leniency for
Clark. He did not express any doubt that
there had been lavish expenditure Of
money in Clark's behalf and while not
condoning this course, he spoke in terms
of strong condemnation Of the tactics pur-
sued by some of Clark's opponents, re-
ferring especially to Congressman Camp
bell and ex-senator Whiteside.
He said that whatever Clark's offensea
were, they were but little worse than
the methods pursued by Campbell and
Whiteside, and their efforts to expose the
senator, and he insisted that If the 70
port was to be antagonistic to Clark il
should at the same time relate in full
detail the course pursued by the two prin
cipal witnesses against him.
Senator Pettus practically agreed will
Senator Harris.
Two senators also expressed some doub
as to the justification Of the conclusion
drawn by tho majority Of the COMMITTEE
that Clark's candidacy for the senate be
gan in August, 1898, when he returned Il
Butte from New York. The effect 0
this conclusion was to charge up the en-
tire $4,000, which Clark confessed t
having expended, to his campaign for tn
senate, while the contention which wa
made in Clark's behalf was that he di'
not become candidate until after tn
state election, thus eliminating from tn
campaign in his individual behalf tn
amount spent in the general contest.
| His Failure to Report.
The fact that Clark and his representa-
tiyes had failed to make their reports :
the state authorities of Montana as re
quired by the state law was also urge
against him in the discussion of the CON
mittee, as was the fact that he and hi
representatives had destroyed all of thel
vouchers showing where the money ha
been used and to whom paid. When a
tention was called to the fact that th
course was usual with campaign man'
gers, the statement was met with the col
tention that while this plan might be moi
commonly adopted than it should be, sti
there could be no reasonable excuse Il
it after the Whiteside exposure. 1t wa
then known there would be a contest, an
the argument was made that every scra
of paper bearing upon the election shoul
have been preserved after this develol
ment in the case.
Senators Chandler and Turley were d
rected to prepare the report 1t is e.
pected to be presented at an early day.
Clark Was Surprised.
Senator Clark was at the capitol whe
the announcement of the action of II
committee, was made known. He va
surprised at the result, but refused
make a statement until after consult
, ton with his friends and attorneys. II
, senator bore himself with his usual con
} posure. His face appeared somewh;
flushed but his voice was calm and b
manner collected, and he discussed 9th
J business affairs as II nothing had tran
pired.
, He was asked If there was any truth
the report that he had decided to resie
and he replied as he did to al 9th
questions bearing upon the case:
II can not at present answer any que
tions bearing ON the report of the COZ
Z mittee on elections"
Senator Faulkner, counsel for Car
, was summoned to the capitol immediat
ly after the verdict Of the committee W
announced and had long consultati'
I with his client over the situation.