The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-03
THE TESTIMONY ALL IN
Examination of Witnesses in the
Clark Case Concluded.
The Senate Committee ON Privileges
and Elections to Meet Today mud
Arrange the Details for Argument
by Counscl-The Evidence of T.. l..
Whitmore and James W. kcmPer.

The examination of witnesses in the
Montana Senatorial enquiry. which has
engaged the attention Of the Committee
of Privileges and Elections of the Senate
since January 5. was concluded yester-
day The committee will meet today
TO examine some papers believed to have a
bearing on the case. and to settle upon
the time, duration, and order OF argument
by counsel.
The feature of the sessions yesterday
was the appearance as a wit..ess Of E. l.
Whitmore, who negotiated the transfer of
the property of State Senator Warner, to
Charles ". Clark. son of Senator Clark.
The contention of the memorialists against
the Montana Senator is that the property
was bought upon consideration that Warn
er would vote for Clark. Another signifi-
cant incident OF yesterdays proceedings
was the testimony of James W. Eemper
concerning the transfer Of trust on the
property of State Senator Wood.
When the hearing had been resumed,
Representative Campbell, counsel for the
memorialists, who had been under exam
ipation for the last two days, volunteered
an explanation OF one point. 1t was that
when he concluded not to go into the cam
paign on the Clark side me had done so be-
cause he knew il was to be a Doodle"
campaign. BY that he did not mean that
he knew money was to be used corruptly,
but that it was to be expended lavishiy.
Mr.. Campbell then presented general
statement Of the amour. of money he had
expended during the Welcome disbar-
ment proceedings and the Senatorial en-
quiry. The full amount was given as S21,-
704.45. This included all money paid to
attorneys, witnesses, and detectives. An
other OF the items. though not bearing di-
rectly On the case at bar, was the eypendi-
ture OF $4,000 for the purchase and sup
port of certain newspapers in Montana,
among them being the Livingston Enter
prise" and the "Boseman Chronicle" The
witness affirmed directly and positively
that these papers were not sustained for
the purpose Of attacking Mr.. Clark. or
were they sustained for the purpose of adj
vocatins Dalyism. but solely in the interest
of good government.
Senator Uoar asked: What was the mo-
tive for purchasing these papers,"
Mr.. Campbell replied, The press Of the
State had been subsidized to countenance
bribery and corruption and the people de-
sired TO have papers that would advocate
eood government without regard TO politics
and We were willing to aid such papers,
whether they were Democratic or Republic
can"
He said that stock companies had been
chase had nothing to do with the present
transaction. He had received all this
money from Mr.. DAILY.
Senator Hoar-Were these papers pur-
chased in order to oppose Mr.. Clark?
Mr.. Campbell-Not to oppose Mr.. Clark,
but to oppose bribery and corruption.
Senator Harris-Do you mean to say
that the press Of the State had been sub
sidized in the interest of Mr.. Clark?
Mr. Campbell-I do not mean to say
that: but 1t was generally reported that
that was the case.
Senator HarrIs-And you believed that?
Mr.. Campbell-Yes. sir; / did. Two or
three weeks after the exposure good
many Of the newspaper editors throughout
the State came to Helena, and as soon as
they returned they denounced Mr. White
side. The "Bozeman Chronicle" had
always supported Mr. DAILY, and it did
until after the exposure. Then it was re-
ported that the Chronicle" had received
1880 from the Clark party. and it imme
diately turned round and supported that
side.
Senator Pritchard-was there any un-
Outstanding as to the control of these
papers after they were purchased?
Mr.. Campbell-No, neither / nor any
body else endeavored to control their
policy.
Senator Pritchard-They were purchased
as business investment?
Mr.. Campbell-As a business investment
and also to aid honest men to carry on
the press in the interest of good govern
ment. They have not been dictated to in
any manner, as to how they are TO run
the papers.
Mr.. Faulkner-Is not every man who is
connected with these papers an anti-Clark-
man.
Mr.. Campbeli-I suspect that is true.
Henry L. Myers, former witness. was
recalled on the part OF the prosecution in
order to contradict Ben Hill. Clark wit
ness. The main part of Hills affidavit, he
said. so far as 1t related to him Myers
was correct and his (Hill's) evidence de-
nying 1t was incorrect chill had, on the
stand. repudiated his former affidavit.)
Mr.. Myers said that during the session
of the Legislature Hill was an active Clark
worker, and had on several occasions come
to him and said that Senator Clark de-
sired to see him in his room, and that II
he tthe witness) would vote for Clark he
was repeatedly made. After the White
side exposure, the Clark people offered
the witness, he said. $40 900 to leave the
State Of Montana Mr.. Myers denounced
the testimony of Charles W. Clark, SO far
as II related to him, and said it was abb
solutely false"
James W. Kemper was the next anti
Clark witness. His testimony was that, in
1892, he had sold a ranch for IS, 500 TO E.
p. Wood. of Ravalli county. a member of
the Montana Legislature. The principal
with about 81, 100 interest Cat IL per cent
was unpaid until about the first OF Feb
ruary, 1899. Then man named Billiard
ian attorney of Senator Clark came up
from Helena and paid him $500, and
witness gave a deed OF the ranch to Mrs.
Wood. The ostensible object OF the busi-
ness to have lower rate OF interest fixed
for the debt The deed was delivered to
Bullard to be held by him till the Woods
should redeem the property. That deed
was not placed on record. and the property
was again sold by kemper in two parcels
for $3.50. He supposed that the money
was paid back by Mrs. Wood to Billiard.
The point of this witness evidence is
connected with transaction testified 10
by other witnesses as TO money given by
Charlie Clark 10 Biekford for the purpose
Of canceling the mortgage on Woods prop
erty.
DR.. Ector. of Missoula. testified that the
Clarks sought TO get control OF the mort
gage on Woods property. W. NJ Biekford
Clark agent. corroborated this but said
his faction feared that the DAILY people
might get the mortgage and squeeze"
Wood into voting against Clark. He also
said that Charlie Clark let him have 81 900
for the purpose indicated. but that he did
rot apply the money and returned 1t to