The Topeka state journal., 1900-02-20
CLARk'S HABIT.
Montana Senator Destroys Old
Checks Every Six Months.

Washington, Feb. 20.-When the SEN
ate committee on elections resumed it's
sittings today the cross-examination of
Senator Clark was continued by Mr..
Campbell. The first inquiry related to
the memorandum of expenses supplied
yesterday by the senator. He said he
had prepared this statement from the
books of his bank. He had not only de-
stroyed his checks. but also the check
stubs but was confident that the show
ing made was correct. He had de-
Etroyed the checks in this instance as
he was in the habit of doing about ev-
cry six months.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Clark said
so far as he knew the committee acting
in his behalf in the campaign had not
filed any statement of expenditures as
required by the Montana election law.
He had made none. He had not cOnsid-
cred himself a candidate when the
members of the legislature We're elect
ed. Money supplied by him later was
for the purpose of paying expenses al
ready incurred and not as a senatorial
candidate.
Where did your son get the $4,000
he paid during the session of the legis-
lature %
Il presume he checked on his own
account, but I don't know"
What explanation did Mr.. Welcome
make when he made his demand upon
you for S15,000?"
He said as well as I remember that
he had drawn upon his own account
He will however, be able to tell you
about that. 1 required no detailed
statement from him, feeling confident
the expenditure was made in legiti-
mate way"
Asked about the reports that his son
had bought a large amount of property
from State Senator Warren, Mr.. Clark
said he had made no inquiry of him,
hhcaUSR he fhnrA1lp6lV convinced
that the reports were untrue. I asked
neither him nor Welcome, nor Bick-
tord nor Davidson nor Steele, nor any
of these men in regard to any of the
reports of bribery, because was sure
they were absolutely false, he said.
THE charges were made by men in
whom [ had no confidence and they
went in one ear and out of the other"
His son was, he said. in the habit of
conducting his own business affairs
without consulting him, and as for the
charges of bribery in connection with
the transaction he did not believe them,
hence he had made no inquiry and did
not know that the 81, 900 paid for this
property had come out of any of the
money furnished by him in connection
with the campaign
Referring to one of Mr.. Ecter's let
tiers concerning Representative Woods,
Mr.. Clark said he understood Mr..
Woods was a good natured man, and
liable to be Influenced by those who
saw him first. He did not believe he
was seeking or would take bribe. He
believed, however, that DR.. Ector him
self was intimating that he wanted
pecuniary remuneration for himself.
lie said, however, that he had merely
glanced the letter over and passed it
to Mr. BickfOrd. This latter remark
aroused the interest of Senator Hoar,
who asked a number of questions show
ing incredulity in the matter, but Mr..
Clark insisted that he did not know Mr..
tention to the letter, Notwithstanding
it related to a vote of a member of the
legislature.
Mr.. Campbell asked Mr.. Clark about
the purchase of ex-senator Powers
stock in the Fergus County bank in
which State Senator Hobson is a men,
Der
Mr.. Clark said he had understood after
his election senator that Senator
ing for him Clark; and has told Hob
son that he must find a purchaser for
his Powers) stock of which he owned 460
shares. The senator said he had inVesti-
gated the matter, finding that the stock
to be dividepd paying and had told Mr..
Power that he would take it, provided it
offered at par. This offer was made
later. after he had gone to Europe and
had consummated the trade paying $4,000
for the stock on his account.
Mr.. Clark also testified concerning the
loan of 900 made by him to the Ross
far as he knew this firm had no connec-
tion with State Senator Hanna At this
juncture Mr. Campbell asked Mr.. Clark
to submit his account books showing his
campaign in Montana Mr. Faulkner OBJ