The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-18
CLARK GETS IN THE SENATE
He Resigns and Is Appointed by the
Acting Governor OF Montana. the
Governor, a DAILY Man, Being ont OF
the State.

Helena. Mont. May 15.-Acing Gov
n Spriggs tonight appointed W. A
Clark, OF Butte. United States enator
TO serve until the next legislature shall
elect his Senator Clark's
resignation was filed early In the day
with the governor and tonight he was
appointed b. Governor Spriggs TO sue
e himself. Governor Spriggs has
all along been q friend OF Senator
Clark. during his candidacy for the
s~enatorship and since. although he
preserved the utmost impartiality in
his Office as lieutenant governor and
president of the senate during the SEN
atorial campaign.
Governor Smith, a partisan Of the
Daily people, left the state two weeks
ago for California to attend to some
mining cases IN which he Is retained
as attorney. At that time there was
no thought OF Senator Clark resigning.
The resignation filed today came a a
surprise TO the people OF the state. who
had no inkling Of the CUP prepared.
During h day, Governor Spriggs re-
ceived a great many kilograms from
all over h state urging him to appoint
Senator Clark, alleging that he was
the real choice OF a large majority OF
the democrats and a large proportion
of the republicans.
Governor Spriggs was besiegefd all
day by individuals and by delegations
friendly and hostile to Clark.
Washington, May Ex-senator Clark
tonight received the following tele-
gram announcing his appointment;
Helena. Mont, May Is.
s'SaDator W CLARK VaShinpfnp-
Il have h honor to inform you that
1 have this day appointed you to fill
the vacancy in Montana's representa-
ton in the senate of the United States
l send you certificate by registered
mail. I trust you will accept the APP
pointment.
(Signed.) a. E. SPRIGGS,
Acting Governor"
The senator also received the follow
ing telegram from his SON:
Governor Spriggs today appointed
you as senator. Congratulations:
C. w. CLARK"
enatOr Clark accepted the appoint
ment in the following. reply TO Gov
ernor Spriggs' message:
washington, May Is.
Hon. A. E. Spriggs, Governor Of Mon
n
Dear Governor: 1 have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your
very complimentary message, inform
ing me Of my appointment to fill the
vacancy in the United States senate
caused by my resignation and to in
form you of my acceptance thereof.
1 fully appreciate the high compliment
implied by your action and pledge my
self to discharge the duties of the Of
flee in the interests of all the people
af the state to the best Of my ability.
with the assurance Of my esteem.
1 am. Yours sincerely,
wv. A. CLARK"
COMMENTS OF SENATORS.
Senate Chandler, of New Hamp-
shire, chairman of the lat cleo
tons committee, when informed of
Mr.. Clark's appointment, said:
reckon the trick Won't work"
Senator McComas, a republican
member of the committee, said: If
the report of the appointment is true,
apparently the case would depend
upon the fate of the pending resolu-
ton reported by he committee on
privileges and elections in the Clark
case"
Senator Caffery, of Louisiana, d
democratic member of the committee,
| concurred with Senator McComas, as
did Senator Jones, of Arkansas, demo-
crat. Senator Aldrich, of Rhode ISL
and, said that Senator Clark had
made a mistake in getting the appoint
ment.
Senator Allen said: IF the appoint
| ment is made under the statutes Of
| Montana, / don't think it can be un-
lone by the governor upon his return
to Montana. Moreover, my opinion,
without having had opportunity to in
vestigate the case closely, is that Sen
ator Clark's resignation takes effect
from the time it was rendered. 1 do
| not hQliQx-a that tho fact that the raS-
ignation is rendered pending ar inves-
tigation can ave n effect. In the
Caldwell case, indeed, no further pro-
ceedings were taken after Mr.. Cald-
| we'll rendered his resignation"
Senator Butler, of North Carolina,
| said: "I don't him that the senate
| can refuse to seat Mr.. Clark. Accord
| ing to all presidents vacancies occur
| when a resignation is rendered."