Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-08
CLARK BRIBERY CASE.


WASHINGTON. Jan. AT Saturday i
hearing in the clark case. before the Sen
ate committee on privilege and elections.
Speaker Henry c. Stiff of the Mont ana
House. was questioned b. Representative
Campbell of Montana. Mr.. Campbell 5
interroSations were directed toward show
ing that the embdrra sSed financial Condi
ton Of State Representative Mclaughlin
had been taken advantage Of By Senator
Clark to approach him to secure his vote.
also that Stiffs own vote had been soli-
cited.
Mr.. Stiff said that the agreement with
Mclaughlin provided that he was to be
employed by Mr.. Clark for two years az
$500 a year. and that Mclaughlin had
since been employed in this connection.
He also said that Mclaughlin had voted
for Clark.
The witness said that, in another con-
vcrsatiun with Mir. Bickford, a week or
SO before the Legislature met, the latter
had offered him $4,000 il he would with
draw from the contest for the Speaker
ship ana support Mr.. Clark for the Scna-
tOrship.
Objection being made here that Mr.
Bicktord's agency was not shown, Mr.
Edmunds said it would be conclusivtIy
shown that BickfOrd was the general
agent for Clark. and that he had fun
power ana plenty of money to act for
him.
Mr. Stiff also detailed a conversation
with Mr.. A. Il. Cook. formerly state audi
tor vino had offered him $4,000 TO vote
for Clark. II made no definite, reply.
said Mr. Stiff. because | wanted 10 fur
Their investigate what was going on.
told him that if Mr. Clark really wanted
To secure my vote he could afford To pay
more than $2pMW, ana suggested So. tmo.
IL mot ia no he.
stood as an offer on my part. Mr.. COOK
said he would see Clark, and We agreed
to meet again that day. did not. now
ever again see him on this subject.
I'pon crDss-rXamination, Mr.. stiff said
that he had never before testified to this
conversation. because, i'll giving MS t"Stl-
mony before the Montana supreme court.
he had not been asked about the incident,
and. in making his affidavit concerning
the bribery for the benefit of the com
mittee on privileges and elections he had
not considered the matter as necessary.
lie also said that. as Speaker, in select
ing a committee Of investigation into the
Clark matter. he had not known that all
the members selected were unlliendly 10
Clark.
Replying, further, to Questions concern
ing his suggestion OF $4,000 as the price
Clark should pay for his vote. he said:
II believe | was perfectly justified in do
ing what | did. | considered that a most
crime was being perpetrated,
ana was willing to act the part OF de-
tective"
He said that Cook and Bickford had
both been friends Of his. and that lie and
Bickford were law partners.
Fred Whteside. Montana state senator,
testified that he had been approached
prior to and after the meeting OF the Leg
isIature in the interest Of Mr.. Clark's
by John $. NJ. Neil. John Z:
Welcome and Charles w. Clark, a son OF
the senator. Mr. Welcome told him that
his vote for and support Of Mr.. Clark
would be worth $l0,ooo. He had cooper
ated with the supporters Of Mr.. Clark for
the purpose OF exposing the corrupt
ing used to secure Clark election.
The witness exhibited list Of the
members of the Legislature whom Mr.
Welcome and Senator Clark : son had re-
uuested him to see. They had told him
they were to pay $4,000 for any Demo-
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