Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-10-24
CLARK THE ISSUE.

not for w. A. clark's candidacy for a
seat In the United States Senate Mon
tana Democrats would be united in OPP
position to the Republican party. Or
dinarily, any party that had the well
fare of its organization at heart would
cast aside the fortunes and ambition Of
one man and unite upon someone else.
But the situation in Montana is extra
o. dinary. While there are Democrats
in the state much better equipped in
t~ellectually for a seat in the United
States senate than w. A. Clark, the
fact that he is a multi-millionaire and
has obligated many of his own party
leaders to him by the liberal use of
money, furnishes the only reason for
his candidacy at the present time.
While he has some honest and sincere
supporters, somc attached 10 him by
the ties Of friendship and long acquain-
lance, the great majority are a mcrcc-
nary SIT Of 'graftcrs" and workers"
who care nothing for Clark personally
or politically, only so they can get some
Of his swag. They llattcr and cajole
him for what there is in it. Such men
are 50 lost to dccency that bribery and
perjury have nothing but a pleasant
sound to them. They know that the
charges are true but they are naturally
SO dcprovgd that they regard it as an
cicmclt Of strength Oh the part of Mr.
Clark.
While Democratic quarrcls do not
concern Republicans as long as they re
maiu in the party the moment corrup.
ton is exposed and an attempt is made
to foist the corrupter upon the people
it becomes the duty not only of Repub-
Leans, but of all good citizens who
have the interests of the state at heart,
to thwart the attempt.
The great majority of the people of
Montana believe Mr.. Clark guilty of
bribery and perjury-many of them
know il TO DC a fact. Such being the
case, what claim has he on the people of
Montana? Ifhe wereaman of moderate
means would his name he even men
TONED int primary or convention in
this state after the charges have been
proven? After spending thousands OF
dollars IN c%orrupting Legislators and
having failed to retain his seat in the
senate. he thinks his record could moi
he made any blacker and if ii were his
money would buy him friends and in.
i%luence, hc is determined to seek .'vindi.
cation by spending million more il
necessary, to gain his insane ambition.
In order to do this he buys up news.
papers, cquips them in an c%xtrayagant
manner and conducts them at a los.
every day in the week in order to SOUND
his praises and do his dirty work. In
keeping with the arch briber's method,
in attempting to deceive, these organ,
have no regard for facts or decency. In
flaming headlines of bold type they
magnify Clark meetings and belittl,
those of the opposition. They denounc,
Democrats and Republicans alike who
paint their master in his true light
They call it abuse in an effort TO Great,
sympathy for Mr.. Clark. Mr.. Clark ha,
abused himself and the state of Mon
tana. 1t is impossible for Others t,
abuse him.
His ambition to be a United State,
senator is laudablc enough but he ha.
taken the wrong method of getting
there. Although he has been a resi-
dent of Montana for thirty years II,
was never noted for his public spirit o.
generosity unless he desired to promote
his own personal ambition. In thi.
spirit he has granted nm eight hour dal
three or four months before election
If ii was through sympathy for the la
boring man he should have acted year
ago. He simply charges the loss of tn,
clipped hour RIP to the expense OF hi
senatorial campaign,
To cover the shame of Mr.. Clark
record as a briber and to miSlcad tn
people generally a cry is heard abou
kerosene" and the Amalgamatcd Cor
per Co. People ear nothing about tn
former and are not half as much alarm
ed about the Amalgamated octopus
as they are of the one nan power S
criminally cXcrtcd 10y w. A.. Clark.
will take many years to outlive III
shame he has already placed on III.
state.