Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-17
CLARK QUITS
Reads Letter Announcing His Resig-
nation From the Senate.
AND SPEAKS IN HIS BEHALF.
Declares That the Proceedings In
Inquiry Into His Case We're
Closely Analogous to Those
Of the Dreyfus AFFAIR.

of the Dreyfus AFFAIR.
Washington, May Ex-senator Clark
created a sensation in the senate by adj
dressing the chair on question Of privi-
lege personal to himself and by reading
Il letter. dated May II. announcing his
resignation from the senate. Mr.. Clark
said:
1.-The question called up for discussion
so vitality concerns my own interests and
the interests of the great state which |
have the honor in part to represent that
! shall ask the indulgence of the senate
while as briefly as possible submit some
remarks, referring, irst, to the character
Of the investigation: second, TO the ma
jority report of the honorable committee
on privileges and elections, which has
submitted findings adverse to the reten-
ton of my seat in the senate; third, to
the conditions existing in the state of
Montana for IL number of years prior to
my election which justified my political
action. and. lastly. the statement as to
the course | deem best to pursue in the
premises.
1T is not my desire to cast any nsper-
sions upon the motives which actuated
the distinguished senators composing the
committee, and yet with the most respect
ful consideration for the learning, legal
ability and eminent standing of these
gentlemen ] am forced to the conclusion,
which | believe meets with the concur
renee of not only a large number of sen
ators on both sides of this chamber. but
also of 80 per cent Of my constituency in
the state of Montana. regardless of polit
ical affiliations, that the methods of pro
cedure in the investigation of this matter
were manifestly unfair, nonjudiciul. and
that they resulted in verdict of the
committee entirely opposite to that which
have been confined to that which was
admissible and pertinent to the issue.
Rules of Evidence Necessary.
II contend that an investigation in
volving a seat in the high legislative body
of this nation, as well as the honor of an
individual chosen for that position by the
people of one of the sovereign states
thereof, should be conducted in strictly
judicial manner and that in the proceed
ings the established rules of evidence
should be applied 1t is well known to
everybody that this was not the case. II
is true that there was a strong effort
made by the honorable senators from
Alabama. Maryland. Kansas and North
Carolina. at the beginning of the investi
CATION, to exclude all the irrelevant testi
mony. but their efforts were unavailing.
THE senators who filed minority re-
port expressed in emphatic terms THEN
condemnation of the proceedings in this
character and practices of the principal
attorney and of some of the witnesses
who testified for the prosecution.
"The prevailing theory of prestlmptive
innocence was largely ignored. and tn,
entire proceedings were closely analogous
to the Dreyfus case, where the prosec,l
ton was based upon Il presumption OF
guilt. The precedents that have been es.
tablished in examinations of this char
acter since 17S5shnve been lightly consid
cred if not entirely disregarded. 1t has
heretofore been held that there must h,
proved actual completely of fraud on The
part of the principal, or actual. not pre-
sumptive knowledge of corruption on the
part of his agents, or that it must he
proved, not inferred. that Il sufficient
number of Legislators have been corrupt
ly influenced to change the result of the
election.
The First Proposition.
CAS- to the first proposition. no proof
was adduced that was accepted by the
committee, and no charge of completely
has been made in the report.
"As to the second proposition, not in Il
single instance. in my opinion or IN the
opinion of the eminent counsel who mid
ed me in this investigation. has ther,
been any proof sufficient to establish tn, |
guilt of single legislator On the con
trary, positive evidence has been elected |
in every case where the respondent was
allowed to introduce testimony that no
was given or received OF
nor any consideration made TO
secure vote for the respondent.
I'm order to change the result of the |
election it would be necessary to establish |
that eight members of the Legislature |
We're corruptly Influenced.
There was legislation involving the |
transfer Of property which was hotly |
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
Turing the session of the legislature.
here would scarcely be even a presump-
ion that it was chargeahe to the re-
spondent or friends working in his inter
asst. therefore submit Mr. President,
my belief that the conclusions of the
on the main proposition, and
hose of the majority on all propositions
ire inferential, incorrect and are not sup
ported by the evidence, and l confidently
believe that after thorough and fair
Investigation the majority report would
lot be sustained"
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Clark's speech
many senator's crowded around him and
shook his hand most cordially. As soon
is order was restored Mr.. Chandler ask
d that the consideration of the resolution
declaring the seat vacant be postponed.
which was done.