New-York tribune., 1900-05-17
"THE GENTLEU4N FROM MONTANA. }"


The general opinion in Washington seems TO
be that Mr.. Clark Of Montana, has put the
Senate of the United States in an awkward
situation. His appointment 10 fill the vacancy
alleged to have been caused by his resignation
OF the seat to which the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections had unanimously declared
that he was not entitled. and of which the SEN
ate was about to deprive him. would appear to
lack no element of validity by reason Of the
fact that it made by the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor in the Governors absence from the State,
for the Constitution of Montana Is unusually
explicit in comforting the authority which Mr..
Spriggs exercised. In order therefore, to reject
Mr. Clarks new credentials the Senate will have
to determine that the vacancy was caused. not
by his recent resignation but by the expiration
of the term of Senator TO whom the Legslat-
ure of Montana never legally elected a sue
cessor. though il had full opportunity to do So
and consequently that the vacancy cannot be
filled by Executive appointment. There are some
obvious difficulties in the way of applying the
rule recently reaffrmed in the case of Mr.. Quay
to the case of Mr.. Clark. The Committee on
Privileges and Elections, which has taken the
matter under consideration. may succeed in re-
moving them before Saturday. when it is eX-
pected TO report its conclusions, but for the
present it would be rash to predict what course
the Senate will pursue under circumstances so
strange and embarrassing
In the mean time general attention is fastened
on the remarlla bic operation by means of which
Mr.. Clark has secured a totally unexpected adj
vantage Of position and no doubt opinions differ
widely as to its character 1t was unquestion-
ably smart and those who admire smartness
may be expected to applaud the trick. There
are Others and we hope they are a great ma
jority, who are sure to feel that. whatever the
merits of his original case may have been, Mr.
Clark has now plainly shown himself to be
worthy of the place which he ardently desires
TO obtain. 1t is difficult not to look Oh his per-
Torrance in the Senate Tuesday as piece
of deliberate deception designed to make fools
of the gentlemen whose associate he hopes to
become in what has been called 1.-The most de-
sirable club in the world" Assuredly any act
uaI club in the world which is careful of its
reputation and the feelings of its members
would register its opinion of such conduct on
the part of an applicant for admission in the
form of blackballS.
If Mr.. Clark had silently permitted his scheme
TO work itself out his position would have been
morally better. The reflection which must be
most eXaSperating TO members of the Senate is
that he made studied and artful appeal to
their sympathy. declared in a voice tremulous
with emotion and with the tears running down
his cheeks that he had never been charged with
a dishonorable act in his life, read his letter to
the Governor of Montana reciting his unwilling
ness to remain in the Senate discredted Gre
dentials and his consequent determination to
remit the case TO ''the State and her people"
and then having concluded entered as 1t were
upon an act of farewell and accepted the hui
name and gracious attentions of many Senators
of both parties who supposed they seeing
the last of him. while all the while he con-
iidently awaiting the appointment which was to
secure him the seat that he was pretending to
surrender from a sense Of honor and duty.
The right of the Senate To reject such creden-
tas as Mr. Clark will be able TO present is open
TO dispute. but there is no doubt Of its power to
expel member by a two-thrds vote.