The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-11
Senate Committee on Privileges De
eide Unanimously In Favor
Of Unssating Clark.
LAVISH EXPENDITURE OF MONEY
It Was Proven That BE Spent a Half
Million Dollars-clark Win
Not Be Expelled.

The report IS to declare the seat Of
Senator Clark vacant and not TO expei.
The decision was reached after two
hours sitting. at which all the members
Of the COMMITTEES were present except
one. The absentee was Senator CaheEy.
OF Louisiana, and he wired his vote in
opposition to Ar. CLARK.
The ballot was not taken until all the
members present had expressed them
selves upon the question, some OF thea
speaking at some length. and all eN-
pressing direreat shades OF opinion.
Most Pronounced Leniency.
Senator Harris. OF Kansas. Indicated
the most pronounced leanins toward
lenIency for Mr. Clark. He did not OK
press any doubt that there had been u
lavish expenditure OF money in Mr..
Ciark's behalf ana while not condonins
this course he spoke in terms Of strong
condemnation Of the tactics pursued by
some Of his tClarks) opponents, refer
ring especially TO Congressman Camp
bell and former State Senator White
side. He said that whatever Mr..
cIsrk's ofsnses they were but little
worse than the methods pursued by
Campbell and whlteside, in their efforts
to expose the senator and he insisted II
the repor, was 70 be antasonisdc to Mr..
clark It should at the SANE time reiat=
In fun detail the course pursued by the
two principal witnesses against him.
The Committee of One Opinion.
Senator Pettus prac;lcallyagresd with
Nr. Harris. The TWO senators also ex-
pressed sons doubt a. 10 the justlfcn-
tion OF the conclusion drawn by ma
Jority OF the committee, that Senator
Clark's candidacy for the senate began
In August. Isgs. when he returned TO
Butte from New York. The effect OF
this conclusion was to charge up the
entire slSs. 900 which Senator Clark con-
fessed TO having expended. to his cam
paIgn for the senate, while the conten-
ton was made in Senator ciark's behalf
that he had not become candidate IN
Ill after the state election, thus elimi-
mating from the campaign in his indi-
vlduai behalf the amount spent in the
general contest. Senator McComas was
among the senator's who expressed him
sci. as convinced that the senatorial
sea, was in view from the beginning.
Mr.. MeComas, however, united with
other senator's In condemring the meth
DDS pursued IN prosecuting the case
Cumulative Evidence Condemns Him
The consensus Of opinion Of the com
mit,ea appeared unfavorable TO accepS-
ing any one especial feature against Mr.
clark as the basis for the report against
him. the general opinion being that iS
Was the cumulative character OF tn
testimony thu; should be considered
rather thau any one especial detail.
senator Harris raised the point in NT.
Clarks behalf that the cumulative effect
OF the testimony could not properly b
considered but he was oyerruleSi in this
position.
II prominence was given to any one
line OF testimony more than to another
II was that dealing with transactions
apparently OF a regular business nature
between senator Clark or his agents
and members OF the legislature. The
purchase OF proparty from Senator
warner and Representative MeIaugh-
Lin and the money rendered Representa-
tive Wood 10 lift the mortgage from his
ranch were considered as bearing d.
yc;ly upon the case. OF these matters
the Wood case received especial atten-
tion. The payment OF money to Repre-
sentative Day after Mr.. CIa-S's elee-
ton also had weight. The opinion vas
expressed that no one OF these facts "ss
sufficient basis for an adverse report
but all agreed that all these facts,m many
OF them admitted. together with other
occurrences connected with the cam
paign were suficien, 20 justify 3 posi-
tive position against the senator's con-
tnuIng to hold his place.
No Reports to State Authorities.
The fac, that Senator Clark and hls
repressntatiyes had failed TO make their
reports TO the state authorities of Mon
,ana as required BY the state law, also
was urged against him in the discus
sion in the committee. as was the fact
that he and his representatives had de-
s,rUyed all their vouchers showing
where money had baen used and TO
whom paid. When attnntiou was called
10 the fact that this course was usual
with campaign managers. the state
meat was met with the contention that
while thc plan might be more common
Is adopted than 1t should be. still there
could b. no reasonable excuse for i AZ
ter the whltcside exposure. 1; was
then knr.,u. II was asserted. that there
would b. a contest and the arsum2ut
was made that every scrap Of paper
bearing upon the election should have
been preserved after this development
IN the ease.
Senators Chandler and TuTley wnra
directed to prepare the report. is ex-
p2c,ad to b. presented at an carly day
senator Clark was at the capitol whan
thu announcement, OF the action Of the
committee became known. He was SUI