The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-21
Montana a Political Storm
Spot Since Entering Union
State Torn by Long and Bitter Battles OF
DAILY, Clark and HeinZe.

carried. and the State was for two
years without a second Senator Cow
ernOr Rickarts appointed Lee Mantell.
but the United States Senate SAID THIS
could not be done. the Legislature nav
ing had a chance and refused. Cover
nor Rickarts being a Republican ana
the Legislature Democratic, ne decllheu
to call a special session, for the reason
that that body had had its chance
WAR OVER THE CAPITAL.
In the fall of 1894 DAILY and Clark
were engaged in their great contest
for the location of the State capital
Daily for Helena and Clark for Butte,
and not so much attention was given
10 the election of legislators. The roll
call developed a Republican majority
This time there were two Senatorshlps
to fill. Mantell was chosen at the nrst
meeting of the caucus, and there was
a sharp contest between Thomas Car
ter, Senator Powers and ex-senator
Sanders. Mantell and Carter were
elected. This ended the strife for four
years.
w. A. CLARK UNSEATED-
In 1899 the Legislature was again
Democratic and Clark was again
candidate. This was ike old times.
In the midst of the contest Senator
Whiteside of Flathead County pre-
scented the Speaker with thirty one
thousand dollar bills, saying they had
been given him by one of Clark's lieu
tenants. Some of Clark's following
talked Of going over to TOOle, the for
mer Governor, but Clark rallied them,
declaring the thirty thousand 10 De
Days money and the whole thing
trick Not only did they believe him,
but l now gained and finally Won
DAILY engaged former Senator Ed
munds and some other Of the best legal
talent and prosecuted a contest at
Washington. Charges of bribery and
counter charges OF conspiracy we're
thrashed out before the committee on
privileges and elections of the Senate
Clark having, of course, taken his seat
Judgment was rendered unseating him
on the ground that more money had
I been spent in securing the election than
was permissible under the law Sen
/ ator Clark admitted that he had spent
over a quarter of a millionaire law in
Montana allows an expenditure of
$1,000
/ Senator Clark resigned his seat. Be
/ fore night of tn same day he received
/ wire that Lieutenant Governor
/ Spriggs, F'usionist-POpulist, acting in
| place Of Governor Smith. a pronounced
DAILY man, had appointed Clark to sue
coed himself.
| SOME POLITICAL TRICKERY.
\ A few days prior to Senator Clark
/ resigning Governor Smith, who was a
! lawyer of considerable Tepute, was en-
! gagged by one of Clark's lieutenants &c
go to San Francisco to try a big mining
suit. The POpulist Lieutenant Cover
nor was at the time away OF in Da-
kota. Governor Smith named TO act in
his stead during his contemplated alb
sence the president of the Senate, Nor
ris of Beaverhead County, who was al
so a recognized Daily man.
But as Governor Smith passed out
over the south line of the State Lieu
tenant Governor Spriggs came in from
the east, came straight to Helena and
took the Governors office on the morn
ing that Senator Clark resigned. Some
people said it was sharp practice.
Governor Smith had seen no newspa-
pers until he arrived in San Francisco,
being carefully accompanied, and when
he there learned what had been done
he straightway took the train back to
Helena and undid it. appointing Major
Martin Maginnis as United States Sen
ator. But the Senate adjourned a few
days later and the major did not take