The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-16
CLARK COUP
IS SPRUNG
CONTINUED from First Pageo

has been ELECTED in every case where the
respondent was allowed 10 introduce tes-
tjrnony, that no consideration was given
or received. or promised, nor any consid-
Grafton made 20 secure vote for the
respondent. In order 10 change the re-
suit of the election it would be necessary
to establish that eight members of the
legislature were corruptly Influenced.
Much stress has been laid upon the
comparative financial condition of two or
three legislators before and after the
senatorial contest These men have full
explanation of the circumstances and
conditions relating TO such matters. The
presumption is that If their financial con-
dition was better they acquired Is in
nocently This is a plain proposition OF
law, and the burder of proof did not rest
upon them. From their well known
character I do not believe them dishon-
est, an devon If they were, 1t must DO
remembered that there was much legis-
lation before that assembly involving nil
lions of dollars, in which some of the
memoralists were deeply interested, and
although they appear heer as apostles OF
purity, II is well known IN Montana that
they would not fail to test the probity OF
every man in the most INSCRIPTIONS man
ner to promote their own interests. They
were actively engaged in preventing the
revision of the infamous election law by
which they have been enabled to coerce
every man in thei remploy into casting
his ballot to suit their wishes They
were also deeply inteeNsted in attempt
ing the repeal Of a law that had been
established by a previous legislature re-
curing safety cages to be put into every
mine. which law has been a dead letter
so far as they are concerned, although
all other companies operating in the
staet of Montana complied with It's pro-
visions. Proceedings have been COM
menced against the Anaconda company
by the state inspector OF mines 10 en-
force a compliance with the provisions
OF the statutes
This was legislation involving the
transfer Of property which was hotly
contested by contending parties In Mon
tana, in which the respondent has no In
terest whatever. Hence, If it should be
shown that money was Improperly used
during the session of the legislature there
was chargeable to the respondent or
friends working in his interest. I there
fore submit, Mr. President, my belief that
the conclusions Of the committee on the
main proposition. and those of the ma
jority, on all propositions, are inferential
incorrect, and are not supported by the
evidence"
Here Mr. Clark took Up in detail the
findings of the committee on privileges
and elections, criticising many of them
sharply and at length. As to the refer
ence to the fact that he had frequently
been a candidate for office. he asked
Are we TO infer that it is a crime TO
he a candidate for office?" He then pro-
ceeded to say that he had never volun-
tarily solght to be elected to any Of
fee. giving the circumstances under
which he became a candidate at various
times.
Speaking Of his campaign for congress
in 1888, he attributes his defeat to Mr.
Daily, saying: '"Treacherous work was
done everywhere in the several counties
where DAILY had men employed and the
result was my defeat by several thous-
anu JOAltS, anu lTOIl TINS staggering
blow Of treachery the party did not re-
cover for many years. There was no
provocation fer this. There had been no
business difficulties and never an unkind
word had been spoken between aus. It
was simply an nvious and diabolical de-
sire on his part to forever destroy my 20
litical influence in the territory
Mr. Clark discussed at length the al
legations Of the committee with reference
to the business transactions with mem
bers Of the Montana legislature conduct
ed in his name. The Mclaughlin trans
action, he said. was begun by Bickford
and not by himself. and was purely a
business transaction. the senatorial mat
ter never being referred to. He assert
ed that any reference 10 ii by the senate
is 'manifestIv unfair" He asked senat-
ors to read all the evidence bearing upon
this feature Of the case, because Il is
convincing evidence Of a weak cause
when such flimsy expedients are relied
upon for support" He also contradicted
the statement OF the committee that he
jClark) knew Of Bickford's attempt TO
purchase the Indebtedness which Repre-
sentative Woods owed There Is" he
said. mot one word Of evidence to show
honor as a man and as 4 senator. state
that never heard Of that transaction
until II fas disclosed IN the testimony
during this investigation"
Mr.. Clark also said he knew nothing
Of what transpired in connection with M
Fine being absent from the state at tbs
time. As to the $500 present made 20
State Representative Day. Mr.. Clark faid
that the money was not given because OF
Mr. Days service in the legislature, bUt
for services antedatins the legislature
and In any contest that might be In
augurated adding: Mr.. Day haE not
been very successful financially and /
simply eratiaed nv own impulse in max
ing him gift II was surprise TO him.
and both he and myself testified that II
was not in pursuance 70 any previous
understanding
This. he contended. was rot bribery n
the eyes of thu law. Perhaps" he ad-
ded 80 had used mr. Influence &c create
fat office at the expense q TIE state
Or OF the government with which % re-
ward Mr.. Day. as Is frequently done IN
discharging political laailities, the Incl
dent would not have a-Tousei any crit
icisun"
Speaking ~ the ''Whitesi6e tncidsnt"
Mr.. Clark conte.ded that the story va
Incredible. in vie~ 90 Mr.. Welcome =
SsEacity. y; e rot possible" ne SAID.
''that 4 nan az welcomes asi!ity tx
pe-ience aud sazacity. co1ldl fan ~
- q. 49,, - lat he would - he were
50 disposed. srf5e tao r-en IN ire pTes-
ezce % each othsr wae1. knowing ~
character = al least or q them n