Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-16

one word Of evidence to show this to
be a fact, and 1 here state upon my
Fhonor as man and as a senator that
l never heard of that transaction un-
til it was disclosed in the testimony
during this investigation
AS to the $4,000 present made to
State Representative Day, Mr.. Clark
said that the money was not gicven be
cause of Mr.. Days service in the Leg
| slature, but for services antedatlng
the Legislature and in any contest that
might be inaugurated. adding; MT
Day had not been very success imam
cially. and 1 simply gratified my own
impulse in making him gift. 1t was
a surprise to him and both he and my
self testified that it was not in pur-
suance of any previous knowledSe.
Perhaps" he added, IF | had used
my influence to create fat office at
the expense of the state or of the gov
crnment, with which to reward MI
Day, as is frequently done in dlscharg-
ing political liabilities. the incident
would not have aroused any criticism"
Speaking of the Whiteside incident,
Mr.. Clark contended that the story
was incredible in view Of Mr.. Well
comes sagacity. 1T is not possible.
he said, that man of Welcomes
ability, experience and sagacity, could
/, fall into such trap, or that he would
if he were 50 disposed, attempt to bribe
| two men in the presence of each other,
when, knowing the character of at least
one of them, he might expect to be be-
trayed The whole scheme is in accord
with the tactics of the prosecutors in
| this case, as we were prepared to
prove, but We're not allowed to do so
by the committed"
| He then introduced an original affidavit
by George Z. McGrath in support of the
contention that the present opposition to
| him (Clark) was the result of a con-
spracy set on foot by DAILY in 1898
| McGrath said that Daily told him then
| that the only effective course to pursue
was to charge Clark. morning, noon and
night. with the bribery. with the nope
| of creating a public sentiment which
would force him (Clark) to retire
| McGrath also stated that DAILY then
| suggested that some of his men should
procure money from Clark or his agents
on promise of voting for him, and then
rise in the Legislature and exhibit the
money" and state how they procured it,
Later when the break in the Legislature
of that year occurred, DAILY had grown
angry, according to McGrath's statement,
and had asked what is the matter with
| letting three or four Of our men have a
few thousand dollars for the purpose Of
showing in the Legislature and stating
that it is Clark's money. This is the only
way | see in which to accomplish his de
feat" adding that the time had come
"for something more than Sunday school
politics"
Mr.. Clark added that McGrath had been
in Washington for five weeks during the
investigation but had been constantly re-
fused a hearing by the committee
Mr.. Clark also dealt with the commit
tees reference to the conduct Of tile Re
publican legislators in voting for him,
saying on this point that the Senate
should remember that the members Of
the Legislature were better acquainted
with local conditions than the Senate
committee on privileges ana elections
and that each legislator had an opportu-
nifty of investigating the truth or falsity
of the charges made by White.ide on his
own account ana his own way.
lie then stated that the action Of the
Republican legislators was the result Of
caucus action ana he contradictcd thr
| statement Of the committee that State
Senator Hobson was mainly responsible
| for the action of the Republicans, saying
that the testimony showed that their ac-
| tion was in response to an almost unani-
nous public sentiment. He also asserted
that there was no truth in the committee
/
tion with Mr. Hobson prior to his clcc
| tion.
Taking up the charge uf violation Of
the Montana laws. Mr.. Clark said that
nowhere was it provided in those laws
that a violation of them should forfeit
office He charged the committee with
seeking ito enact laws for Montana and
at the same time 70 enforce the punish
ment of the laws SO enacted by Il federal
| tribunal
! NJ. Clark referred with evident feel
| ing to Congressman Campbcll's part in
| the prosecution, saying: Mr.. Camp
! bell first appeared as a pretended
| friend of the cause OF cooperation in
the interest of good govcrnemnt in
| Montana, where at a conference he
! feigned sleep in order to obtain in
| formation which he might use to be
| tray his friends. Not then knowing
| his true character, he received the
| support of myself and all my friends,
which insured his nomination and cleo
ton. Immediately thereafter he threw
| off the mask and went to work to en-
compass my defeat, having been EN-
| ployed as he stated, as counsel for
| mining company belonging to the An
| aconda Co. at a salary of $4,000 per an
nun, ostensibly as a blind as he could
not remember on the witness stand the
name of the company for which he
pretended to act. And yet Mr.. Presi-
| dent, it appears that there are some
members of the committee who have
no criticisms to make Of the conduct
of such man"
Clark then took up the large eXpen-
ditures Of money in the campaign. He
! followed this with scathing denuncf-
| alton Of the methods of DAILY in Mon
tana politics, reviewing his course in
| elections and in the state capitol fight,
For the MILLIONS!