Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-10
Unanimous Recommendation of the
Senate Committee.
VIEWS OF some OF THE MEMBERS
No Especial Offense Taken as
Basis of the Report.
MANY THINGS COMBINED

>'~SN-SAit'
vote - recommend the adoption of a reso-
luton declaring that w. A Clark of Mon
tana is not entitled to occupy his seat as a
senator from Montana. The decision was
reached after two-hours' sitting, at which
all the members of the committee were
present except one. The absentee was Sem
ator Caffery of Louisiana. and he wired his
vote in opposition to Mr.. Clark.
The ballot was not taken until all the
members present had expressed themselves
upon the question, some of them speaking
at some length and all expressing different
shades of opinion.
Too Lavish Expenditure.
Senator Harris of Kansas indicated the
most pronounced leniency for Mr.. Clark.
he did not express any doubt that there
had been lavish expenditure of money in
Mr.. Clark's behalf. and while not condoning
this course, he spoke in terms of strong
condemnation of the tactics pursued by
some of his (Clark's) opponents. referring
especially to Representative Campbell and
former State Senator Whites;de He said
that whatever Mr.. Clark's offenses, they
We're put little worse than the methods pur-
sued by Campbell and Whiteside in their
eHorts to expose the senator and he in
sisted that if the report was to be antago-
nlstlc to Mr.. Clark, it should at the same
ilme relate in full detail the course pursued
py the TWO principal witnesses against him
Length of Campaign Disputed.
Senator Pettus practically agreed with
Mr.. Harris. The two senator's also ex-
pressed some doubt as to the justification
OF the conclusion drawn by a ma iori+v ,f
the committee that Senator Clark's candi
dac! Tor the Senate began in August 1898
"hei ne returned to Butte from New York
Inc erect of this conclusion was 10 charge
up the entire sl39,oo0 which Senator Clark
confessed 10 having expended to his cam
pash Tor the Senate, while the contention
was made In Senator Clark's behalf that he
had not become candidate until after tho
SUE eiec1on, thus eliminating from the
campaign in his Individual behalf the
amount spent i'll the general contast 0
senator McComas was among the sepa-
tors VINO expressed himself nc con,,innna
.iia' .h me senatorial seat was in view from
.he peslnning. MIR. McComas, however
united with other senators in condempin.,,
me methods pursued in prosecuting the
NO One Feature Selected.
Inc consensus of opinion of the commit
tee appeared unfavorable to acceptiup anv
ohe especial feature against Mr.. Clark as
the basis for the report against him the
general opinion being that 1t was the cumu-
iatlve character of the testimony that
should be considered rather than anv ono
especial detail. s"'' any oiis
Senator Harris raised the point in Mr..
LARK behalf that the cumulative effect of
the testimony could not properly he CON
sidered. but he was overruled in this nosi-
tion. " S P'si-
REPORT and Vouchers Missing.
The fact that Senator Clark and his rom
resentatives had failed to make their re
ports to the state authorities CT Montana as
required by the state law, was also urged
against MIN in the discussion in the com
Hllttee, as was the fact that he and his rem
resenlatlFes had destroyed al! their vouch-
ers showing where money had been used
ana to whom paid. When attention was
called to the fact that this course was 1.s,1a1
WIN campaign managers, the statement
was met win the contention that while the
pan Iiisnt De more commonly adopted than
II should be, still there could be no reasnn-
aple excuse for 1t after the Whiteside ex
posure. 1T was then known, it was as
serted, that there would be a can.est ara
the argument was made that every .cr.,, ~
paper bearing upon the election should ha We
neen preserved after this development in
the case. 1it
Senators Chandler and Turlev were di-
rected to prepare the report. 1t is exnected
" oe presented at an early day
senator Clark Refused to Comment
senator Clark was at the Capitol when
the announcement of the action of the
committee became known He was sur
prlsed at the result, but refused to make
statement until after consultation with
his friends and attorneys
Inc senator bore himself with as much
composure as usual. His face appesred
somewhat flushed. but his voice was calm
and his manner collected. and he discussed
other business affairs as If nothing had
transpired; He was asked: rs there any
~ u.m u IN IN .ne report that you have decided
70 reslgn!' and he replied as he did to all
otner questions bearing upon his case: II
cannot at present answer any questions
bearing upon the report of common ai.n'
tions." t eie1
Senator Faulkner, principal counsel for
senator Clark. was summoned to the Can't
tol Immediately after the result of The
tSlnnhttee t,,anl meeting was announced. and
they nad long consultation over the sit
uation. S-'
The Talk About Resignation,
The belief prevails among senator's that
Mr.. Clark will resign. The fact that the
report Of the committee is unanimous
leaves no opening for a contest in the SEN
ate In which there could possibly be any
hope Of Mr.. Clark being successful The
report of the committee will not assert
that Mr.. Clark was personally engaged in
brtbers.
1t will be silent on this point, dwelling on
the expenditure Of large sums Of money,
which the committee finds prevented a free
choice Of senator by the legislature. Mr..
Clark's admission will be cited as evidence
OF the large expenditures of money, with
out an assertion that it was his purpose
that this money should be used to pur-
chase votes in the legislature.
This will leave the way open for Mr..
Clark to resign from the Senate, alleging
that he does so because he is not willing
to hold a seat which the committee finds
to have been procured by use of money,
though he disavows any knowledge of the
improper use of the money.
A resignation would have the effect of
cutting off any adjudication of the case
by the Senate, and make 1t possible for
Mr Clark to assume a better attitude
that of not being willing to hold a seat
to which the committee thought him NOT
entftled-than he would occupy II turned
out by a vote of the Senate
He might be Influenced not to resign how.
ever, by the fear that such a course might
make it possible for the governor of Mon
tana to fill the vacancy by appointment
the vacancy technically acquiring at the
time of the resignation, when the legisla-
ture is not in session.
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