New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
MONTANA SENATE FIGHTS
TIFF STATES REMARKABLE RECORD
CLARK N ALL THE CONTESTS.
-r,r.H,rH To TIE TRIBuSE-I ]


- sRArH To TIE TRIBUSE-I
- Ian 13-The campaign now in
t-,-s1idate the title OF W. A Clark to
:. ~ United States Senate from Mon
--,ss ont for that commonwealth rec
- = ,,-.asts approached By no other Of the
- e.. states. Montana entered the Union in
osc - has elected since then just five mem
.ee Federal Senate OF these four have
.,-,,s1Ied TO fight 10 maintain their titles.
- have forced an entrance into the body
- o4-e- having been once rejected on insult
-. Credentials. one claimant was refused,
cle-. zrbo made no effort TO return. Ger
- 10 other state has in an equally brief
- - statehood encountered so many fail
- s-nba-rassments in maintaining its
--sssntation in the upper house
-be~e disputes over the Senatorial title
--,bsecr of the pending inquiry before the
r------,t+ee on Privileges and Elections has been
-. ~ less directly involved. The first Legis-
- n. Montana which met in Helena. in the
- - 1883. was charged with the duty
:. e1ec-fng tv-o Senator's As Territory Mon
=. had been Democratic in politics, rather
-, Republican. and the Democratic leaders
.,,esertlv expected 10 carry the Legislature
- su tbe two newly created Senate seats
,-o7-ro3 Of the Joint Assembly turned. however.
=, he admission Of Republican or Demo
,-s-tc delegation TO the lower branch from the
s.,g7A county OF Silver Bow. and on this issue
-be legislature split into two rival organiza-
-so,s Each elected two Senators, the Demo
r-sric seceders choosing ". A. Clark and Mar
-i- gFagfuuis. and the Republicans Wilbur T.
ss,zere and Thomas c. Power. All four con-
-as-arrs came 10 Washington in December,
7SSq and the struggle for the two seats was
n-o1onged into the spring Of 1890, when a strict
-s--v vote II the Senate seated the two Repub-
Ii-an claimants. Messrs- Sanders and Power
NJ ssuders's term expired in 1898 and Mr..
clark undiscouraged by his rebuff al the hands
OF hostile Senate majority, returned TO Mon
tsna 10 make another effort for election
THE CLARK-DALY FEUD.
The State was easily carried by the Demo-
Gratis il 1892 and a strongly Democratic Legis-
Iature was chosen Mr.. Clarks candidacy for
The Senate was bitterly opposed. however. by his
foremost rival in local Democratic politics. the
Butte copper mine king Marcus Daily. Through
Days influence a number Of Democratic legis-
lators stubbornIy withheld their votes from
Clark SO that, though made the nominee Of the
Democratic caucus. he failed ultimately OF an
election The Legislature was held in a state Of
deadlock until the day set by law for its ad-
5ouruuent. and the Governor of the State, Re
publican, thereupon appointed as Mr.. Sanders's
successor Lee Mantle then Mayor Of Butte. Mr..
Mantle brought his credentials 20 Congress at
the beginning OF the extraordinary session called
BY Mr. Cleveland in August, 1893, 10 force the
repeal OF the silver purchasing clauses Of the so
called Sherman act
The Democratic majority in the Senate was
at that time an exceedingly narrow one. and
POLITICAL conditions IN the upper house were
cIouded by schisrns IN both parties on the ST.
yer question The Democratic leaders were re-
luctant 70 admit another Republican Senator.
and the sound money managers were little dis
posed 10 favor the seating Of another Western
silver man So, on close vote. which showed
many curious breaks in party lines Mr.. Man
rle's certificate was declared invalid on the
ground that the Legislature having plainly re-
fused 10 I'll vacancy existing by law, not by
accident the Governor was not justified IN ex-
ercising his appointing power One seat in the
Senate from Montana was therefore left unoc-
c7Tpied during tire fife OF the LID Congress, Mr..
Power remaining the States cole representative
II the upper house
CLARK GETS A SECOND CHANCE
In 1894 a Republican landslide swept every
thing before il East, North and West. Montana
elected Republican Legislature, which sent
NJ Mantle 10 the Senate for the short term
ending March. 1899, and Mr.. Carter for the
long Term. ending March. 1901 For four years.
then Mr Ciark's efforts 70 reach the Senale
we're necessarily suspended. In November, lSSo'
however, the fusion silver forces having re-
gained -he State IN 1896 the chance ne nao iOns
been waiting for came The Legislature chosen
vas safely Democratic and his ability 70 con
-rrI The Democratic caucus was freely recog-
nfzed Marcus DAILY again declared war upon
his uarrv rival and endeavored to force another
deadlock but after q warm contest IN Whlcn
money seems 10 have been spent with hDer-
aliry propor1ioned only 10 the means OF the Two
copper king contestants Nj Clark marshalleo
the necessary votes Z the legislative JOINT as
serbiv and received the Senatorial certlncate-
His opponents within the party have now car
ried their losing fight 10 Washington ana are
seeking 10 have his seat declared vacant on the
ground that his election was procured by the
wholesale buying Of votes
THE PRESENT INQUIRY.
No charge is more difficult 10 sustain than
that Of legislative bribery; for, as q rule, only
those witnesses viii appear whose virtue has
successfully resisted al corrupting approaches
The Investigation which has now run for nearly
two weeks al the Capitol has thrown q viva
light on the methods and standards OF poitlcs
al Helena But II scarcely be said TO have
ices which must be proven upon him TO invaIi-
date his election AS with the Payne investiga-
ron in 1SS5 the Senate IS not likely 70 accept
The mere charge Of bribery as constituting a
sufficient fzaw in an otherwise unasxailable title
Deductions Of q mora or less scaudalOus charac-
Ter NAV be made from the testimony so FAR SUD-
rnirred. but 10 vitaIly damaging evidence seems
70 have been unearLhed. And unless such evi-
dence IS Forthcoming, Senator Clarks serenity
of conscience is unlikely 70 be disturbed Dy an
adverse committee report