Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-17
CLARK HAS RESIGNED
The Senator from Montana Speaks
About His Case.
The MILITARY ACADEMY BILL,
Tho House sends the Last Of the Appropri-
alton Bills to tho senate sad VIII 10
Ready TO Adjourn When the Senate
Gets Through.

Washington, May Ex-senator Clark,
of Montana, fairly swept the senate
with surprise yesterday by formal
announcement that he had sent his
resignation as senator to the governor
of Montana. The announcement came
without previous notice and probably
not half dozen persons in Washing
ton knew that it was to be made. Sen
ator Clark struck just at the instant
the iron was the hottest. Senator
Chandler, chairman Of the committee
on privileges and elections, had given
notice that at one O'Clock he would
call up for consideration the resolu-
ton unanimously reported from the
committee declaring Senator Clark not
to be entitled to his seat in the SEN
ate. A spirited contest over the reso-
luton was expected. Every senator
in the city was at his desk. At 1890,
just as the routine business was con-
cluded, Senator Clark quietly rose and
addressed the chair. He desired, he
said in a low, tense voice, to address
the senate on question Of privilege
PERSONA to himself. Instantly there
was buzz of expectation in the cham
Der. Senators from both sides Of the
main aisle hurried to seats near Sena-
tor Clark and hush fell upon the as
semblage as the Montana senator be-
gan to speak. At first his words
scarcely could be heard, but as he pro-
ceeded his voice became clear, and
while at no time did he speak loudly,
the intense earnestness of his utter
ance carried his address to the re-
hottest parts of the chamber. 1t was
a sharp arrangement of the commit
tees action and report, an analytical
discussion of evidence adduced at the
investigation, an explanation of politi-
cal and business affairs in Montana
and a bitter excoriation of Marcus
DAILY and his friends.
As Senator Clark adverted to his de-
sire to hand down to his children
name untarnished even by the breath
of disgrace, tears welled to his eyes
and his voice trembled with emotion.
He almost broke down. Then, bracing
himself, he read a letter he had sent
to the governor of Montana rendering
his resignation. At the conclusion of
the speech Senator Clark became the
center of group Of senator's, all de-
sirous of pressing his hand.
When order was restored Mr..
Chandler said: "In Difference to the
statement just made l ask that the
resolution relating to the case 20 over
until tomorrow" The request was
agreed to.
Senator Ross, Vermont, then called
up his bill regulating appointment
to and removals from civil Offices In
outlying dependencies of the United
States" and addressed the senate up
on it. He held that the appointments
should be non-partisan and no Office
holder should be removed without
having an opportunity to meet
charges properly made and duly es-
tablished.
Senator Hale, of Maine, said he did
not share in the expectations of Sem
ator Ross as to the carrying out of
the perfect programme marked out
by him for our insular possessions.
"The history of colonial possessions
said he, from the days of the Ro-
mans to the present time Is a history
Of robbery, peculation, extravaganza,
wronC-doing in high quarters and
corruption broad and large. do not
think that the examples of to-day are
going to show that the American peo-
pie are to be exempt from the mon
strous evils which have always at.
tended a colonial policy. The jaunty
way in which the American people
have embarked in the enterprise of
colonial possessions has certainly re-
ceived rebuke in what has been seen
to happen during the last few months.
The senator from Vermont and | will
be older than we are now before the
rule which has been written down in
all history is changed by the Ameri-
can republic"
Senator Ross having called for a
vote on his bill, Senator Scott, of Vir-
ginia, moved to postpone the bill in
definitely. The motion was lost 10
to 35. 1t was noted that in calling
the roll the clerk omitted the name
of Mr.. Clark, of Montana, indicating
that so far as the senate is concerned,
his resignation is an accepted fact.
Senator Mason, Illinois, addressed
the senate in humorous vein in OPP
position to the bill.
The senate at $3.50 p. IN. adjourned.
The House Ready 10 Adinurn
Washington, May l6.-The house
yesterday sent to the senate the last
of the general appropriation bills
the military academy bill-and will
he ready to adjourn as soon as the
senate disposes of those it has not
passed and the two houses adjust
the differences in conference. To-day
the house will take up the bill to es-
tablish a civil government for Alaska.