The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-07-09
Widest Night That City of Helena Ever Saw
Followed w. A. Clark's Election to u. S. Senate

The widest night that the city
Of Helena had ever seen before
or since, vas that Of Jan. Il, 1901,
following the election of william
and banker. 70 the United States
senate. Liquor flowed. Bands played.
The town was wide open and every
thing was free. w. A. Clark paid
the bills. Right willingly did he
strip the greenbacks from his roll
years from the time he first as
pired to represent Montana in the
United States senate until he finally
achieved his goal.
In the meantime he had gone through
bitter campaigns, spent money like
grasp upon occasion but each time until
the last final effort something had
happened to whisk the honor from
him. So when the legislature finally
elected him after days Of balloting, he
personality and told the boys to go
to it, And how they did go. -:
Senators were not elected by popular
vote then as now, but were chosen by
the legislature. The Montana assembly
Helena auditorium. The present state
house had not yet been constructed
at that time.
afternoon. Early that evening Charley
Clark, Senator Clark's Oldest son,
men and sent them through the city
arranging with all the saloons to serve
drinks free to all Corners during h
night. The bars at the Grandon, Hell
ena and Grand Central hotels were
practically purchased outright. Cham
payne, cigars, beer, whisky, everything,
was as free as air.
Rand Furnished Music
Clark t~elegraphed to Butte for the
Boston g. Montana band, predecessor
of the present Anaconda Copper Mines
band, and the most noted musical ag-
It took time to get the bandmen to-
gether in Butte and to arrange Tor
their transportation to Helena, but
proof that no time was lost Is indi-
Gated by the fact that it arrived in
Helena by special train at 1890 O'Clock
It played all wei town, up and down
main street, on street corners, in front
of the hotels and saloons.
Then Charley Clark organized a
parade in which the populace, as many
Of whom were intoxicated by excite
". The procession formed at the old
Helena hotel and headed down the
hill toward Main street. Far out in
front of it went eight costumed min
strel cake-walkers, stepping high, wide
and handsome to the cheers Of the
multitude. Then came the band. It
was followed by an open hack in which
rode Senator Clark, former Governor
Sam T. Hauser, Lieutenant Governor
Frank Higgins and Walter Cooper.
AS the parade stepped down the
street to the lively music of the band,
the horns and drums were at times
drowned out by the roa of bombs,
firoU0rkc and firocrQ nkarc uyhich uara
the crowded sidewalks cheered other
hundreds in the line of march. From
the open carriage Clark bowed and
smiled, waved his hat, his hands. Down
Main street to Sixth the throng went,
and then up the hill to the Grandon
hotel. There the newly elected senator
made a speech.
From there the parade turned back
down the hill and went to the Lambs
club on Main street. From there,
Charley Clark, thinking to get his
father and his friends into the privacy
of the Montana club, then as now the
most exclusive mems social ~organiza-
ton in the northwestern states, headed