The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-06-08
FROM HIGHLAND.
The nection-The other Side of the Cas-

Inc CIeClsOI-AnS Ol1ef Slue OF the LdSe.
EDITOR Posi- :-In your issue of May
11th appeared communication signed
a a Republican" relative to the town
ship election that took place here on the
goth of April, that contained a number
of statements that the facts in the case
in no wise warrant, and knowing that
you are disposed 10 publish facts rather
than emanations from any clique, faction
or individual. 1 beg brief space in your
columns to set your numerous readers
right in regard to the matter
The Board of Commissioners appointed
the Judges and Inspector OF said election,
regardless of their political proclivities.
They were selected because they were
well known and responsible citizens.
They selected two competent men to act
as Clerks-one Democrat. the other a
Republican. The polls were ordered
open at O'Clock 4 NJ At that time
the Judges and one Clerk were on hand.
and ready for business the other Clerk
(Republican) did not appear Thus mat
tiers remained until quarter past o'clock,
when the people becoming impatient TO
deposit their ballots, the Judges found
il necessary to fill the vacancy caused by
the absence of said Clerk There was
no time to lose, and the first competent
person found was selected He, too,
proved to be a Democrat, though this
was not known TO the judges at the time
All went smoothly on, until about fifty
voters had deposited their ballots, when
the following pleasing CD note was hand
ed to the judges: ..-----a
" We Republicans most emphatically
object TO Democrats running this ma
chine exclusively. Ginger (the absent
clerk is our choice"
This demand, under the circumstances
heretofore stated, was of course un-
needed. During the day, many slurs
were thrown out by that leading man
of the opposition" to the effect that
the Democrats were bound to be vic
torious, as they had it all their own
way" meaning, of course, that they
(the judges and clerks) would stuff the
ballot-box, if necessary, to carry the
election. After the polls were closed,
the same leading" individual demand
ed to be admitted TO the room to- witness
the counting of the ballots. This re-
quest was refused, not because the
Board did not wish to have any one
present, but because he had been "lead-
ing so much during the day that they
had become disgusted with his importu-
mites. This action upon the part of the
judges, upon which "a Republican "
lays so much stress, did not, nor could
not ,cause honest citizens any uneasiness,
as the polls were held in a house on a
public street, and the windows were
open, so that any person so disposed
could see and hear the ballots counted.
No man worthy of being considered a
leader of any party political or other
wise) was threatened or gone after "
by any Democrat, either on the day of
election or any day thereafter We say
this, not in spirit of malice, but be-
cause we deem any one unfit to be a
" leading man who does not adhere TO
the truth in his statements
When "A Republican asserted that
the judges did not select one of his party
to act as Clerk of said election, he stated
a falsehood, and knew it TO be such No
Democrat can be intimidated or prevent
ed from expressing his honest convic-
tions by threats made by falsifier,
though he styles himself leading
man" A DEMoCRAT
Red Mountain City, June ?, 1867.