Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-06
HEARING THE CLARK CASE.
Witness Tells OF Dealing Out of Money In
Senatorial Contest.

Washington, Jan. 6.-Henry c.
Stiff, speaker of the Montana house of
Representatives was the first witness
| in the Clark case before the senate
com mmittee on privileges and elections
today. Stiff stated that he knew of
State Representative Mclaughlin dis
tressed financial circumstances prior
| to the meeting of the Legislature.
Witness also stated that he mad been
approached by Representative CLARK.
| Stiff testified that w. NJ. Bickford,
repre- sentative of Clark, showed him
list OF the property to be sol1 by
Mclaughlin to Clark for an exhorbit-
ant price and told witness in part
consideration of Mclaughlin sup
port of Clark for the senate.
Stiff testified Mclaughlin sold his
property TO Clark and that he voted
| for Clark. that he has since been en-
ployed by Clark. Bickford offered
! witness $40 900 to withdraw from the
speakership contest and support
Clark. He sad A. B. Cook offered
the witness $50. 600 TO vote for Clark
When the Roberts committee 1e-
sumed it's session today Roberts
went on with his argument. He con-
tended no requirements by congress
that previously contracted matri-
monial associations should be inter
ruP:ed.
asnIn@tOn. Jan. D.-ine IrSt thing
the house committee investigating tile
Roberts case heard yesterday was the
opinion of eXSecretary Carlisle on the
question. He wrote that the question
is whether the committee will decide
IN ha, of in.lI rio
undoubted pOlygamist. who justifies
The doctrine and policy of poly
gamy. shall be allowed to hold seat
in the house
Roberts then began his plea and
spoke for five hours from manuscript.
at which time the committee adjourned
for the day and Roberts Will proceed
M the next session. Roberts held that
the testimony before the committee
was Inadequate: that it did not show
that he was Il pOlygamiSt at all. He
dWclt with special emphasis on the
right of a constituency 10 determine
upon the moral capacity of II member
In support of this he read with en-
phatic and approving comment Il con
2reSSiOaal report sighed by Il. f. But
les. Daniel ". Voorhees, and others, in
the course of which il is said that the
house of representatives sIiHii he com
posed of members chosen by the people
of the state and not by the represent
dtiveS OF other states. according to
the notion of the necessities of self
preservation and Sclf-purification.
which might suggest themselves to the
reason or caprice of members from
other states. i'll any process of 'purga-
tion or publication. "
Roberts took ND the evidence of the |
witnesses who appeared against him
and was questioning some Of the state |
mpntS when Chairman TaEler inter
rupted: Mr.. Roberts. if YOU want to |
testify YOU ought to 20 on the witness |
stand" This developed some difference |
uf opinion among the members of the |
committee. DeArmond and LittlCfield |
said the statements We're in the line |
of legitimate argument. Tayler in |
sisted that Roberts should not be per-
mitted TO make statements of fact |
while not under oath and not subject |
To the rules of perjury. DeArmond an |
Swered that the hearing had taken |
wide latitude and he was sure the |
committee cOuIG discriminate between |
Mr.. Roberts arguments and his state |
mentS of fact.
Il am not in such Il state of mental |
disturbance" remarked DcArmond. |
''aS Ia Ice able To foreSce what Mr. Rob |
erS is going To say. He added that |
he did not see that the interruption of |
the chairman was at all called for. i'll |
view of the latitude heretofore allowed. |
The incident took an amusing turn |
wEer Roberts. being allowed TO pro- |
ceed. said be was through on that sub |
leCt. and there was hearty laugh all |
around. He went on. however. analyZ- |
ing the evidence of other witnesses. |
and in general questioning the direct |
ness and conclusions of the testimony. |
4 I,s,t. hot >..5x
Washington. Jan. G.-Secretary Hay |