Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-25
CHAMPIONS CLARK
Attorney Durant's Plea For the
 Montana Senator.
GIVE THE RICH MAN A SHOW

Harry Says the Wealthy Should Be
 Allowed To Seek Office AS We'll As
 the Poor-Hawley and Platt 'Tis
 Said. Put In Good Word For the
 Montana Millionaire Through the
 1ntercession of Our Own Harry.
 Our distinguished fellow citizen. Ffosecutlng Attorney Harold R. Durant has become indignant at the manner in which republicans have been bufeting Senator Clark, the dem- ocratic senator from Montana, and strikes at Clark's enemies with cop- siderable force. Mir Durant writes to the New York Sun as follows:
 10 the Editor of the Sun: Sir: In a communication to the Sun ! few days ago the writer gave vent to q peSslmestic Outbul.st and incidentally. accused w. A. Clark of Montana of having bought his way into the sem ate This was only one of the many like attacks which have been made upon Mr Clark since he entered poli- tics, and 1 doubt not that so much of this stuff has appeared of late that many Of those who should know bet ter are beginning to take it as all ac- cepted fact that NIr Clark is corrupt. though actually all of it is most un- just and untrue
 There are two sides to every ques- ton, and it is duty which the public owes NIT Clark to hear him before they condemn him. It is we'll to re- member also that a public man has many enemies both in a political and q business way and AIr Clalk's ene-s mics have left no stone unturned ill their efforts to blacken his character and blast his reputation knowin:. this, it is only fair to assume that his enemies might be at the bottom of. these stories and also that newspaper correspondents have thougiltlessly sent east congregations of q harm loss little dinner to his political friends into q lavish and vulgar dis play of wealth. All the stories which have come from the west in regard to MT Clark's oStentatious use of money are as ridiculous and absurd as they are untrue.
 This is not meant to be q denial of the fact that money has been free lN used ill Mr Clark $ political cam DaiSn. but not more so in his canSass. than in hundreds of other cases. Some candidates spend mere mGney than others. >but they all use it. .Ad- hitting this people are too raatiy u, assume that the money is simply nsa.l to buy votes right and left which iS not to be believed for q moment BY any one who gets his information c.,s- side of the yellow press. Howeye,. no bette, vindication of M. Clark could be had than the actieu Of ;i... present Montana legislature. E
 There is altogether too much pre-. iudice against the rich man in pol;- ties because Ee is rich. It is not | crime to be rich. X ricll man oEel.f not to. be sneered Ut the moment II. seeks political advancement The men who are poor do not monopo!i..e, all of the virtue and ability to be had The danger does not lie With the rich man in politics. but in the rich man outside. The weak and poor man in politics and the strong and Wealthy- man out of politics are what causes the trouble. It would be far better if more rich men entered public life. The country would be better off if the sen- ate contained fewer Pittigrews and more Clarks.
 The next senator from Montana will be an honor to his state and 8 faith- ful servant to his country. He ia rich. but he has made his money hon. estly. by hard work and sound judg- ment. He is q man of strict integrity and q gentleman Nowhere in this country can be found q higher or bet- ter type of progressive American mans hood. It seems to me that'i Is time to stop reviling and cartooning this man and suspend judgment until he has a chance to be heard. The public can afford to be just in It's treatment of public men, if not generous.
 H. R. DURANT, :.
 Waterbury. Conn, Feb 19.
 Mir Durant talks from experience. He was defeated for office himself last fail not only because he was accused of being rich but also on account of the fact that it was common talk that all the wealthy corporations of the state were back Of him. Harry knows how the republicans can malign an op- Donent and we are pleased to see him take up the cudgels for his friend Clark, even though the Montana man is not of his own political faith. Bully for Durant!
 It is said that Senator Clark once recognized Harry's influence in polf- tics by soliciting his aid in getting the support of Messrs Hawley and Platt to help the Montana millionaire to keep his disputed seat in the sen ate. Miliionaires are. no doubt. pretty good things to keep in with, in Harry's opinion.