Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-06-12
-AVANTCOURIER.
MONTANA POLITICS.
l1pm Aac ASnt 9sxie,, Hay 81

UUUl DeIS vi Tue Wv MEX TIE Op1JiIUA
has been expressed that the next can
vass should be conducted without an!
y recognition Of former party lines, ani
that nento be chosen should be1NDE
PENDENT Of both organizations. TIN
people ought to be convinced by this
time that no good to the Territory has
been done by adhering to either the
Republican or Democratic parties
That the conventions held have moi
reflected the wishes OF the people
That by money, fraud and treachery
men have been chosen as candidates
!, for Delegate to Congress that were not
nv any means the choice Of the masses
Of either party. Then the men chosen
for the Legislature have proved dis
appoin. ment, and wholly failed 70 carry
out the wishes of the people by the
enactment Of useful laws. The last
:, Legislature is an example of how little
81 osi"l"ti vo body Gan do. It 10 re
garded as having been one grand fail
IRE where nuucL was expected. They
srcyc the creatures Of the abomindble con-
rcntion system. We are thoroughly
opposed to holding any more party
conventions in Montana. We believe
in mass meetings of the people where
every voter has voice In the selection
of candidates to fill the offices. Tho
people of Gallatin county got together
in mass meeting last year and made
selections of men they preferred, and
were successful. The same thing can
he done in every county in Montana,
and until this is done, there will not
I've any real reform in the administra-
ton of public affairs. We think re-
tuQn to the old plan of choosing men
is far prefel.. pie. Let every man who
.:.spires TO serve tho people and hold
I an. olhe cothe ont on his. own heok-
3io 6atter iffthereibe dozen men for
/ cncll Office and the people can choose
their man. In this way there is no
cheating as is done in conventions.
Every arpirant should announce him.
self SOS a candidate subject to the tle-
cision Of tie peOple at.tac polls on the
!, first MondaJ.in August" BY doing this
the elections will be free from corrup-
ton, and rllonest and good men will
alone be chosen. II the people of Mon
tana desire good laws to be enacted
and tlc interests of the Territory pro-
NOTED, they will abandon the system
of conventions and in all Territorial
affairs fling away party.
..How are these conventions anagedf
"A few leaders get together and run
the whole machine. This has been
the course since Montana has been q
Territory. The people have had no
control. of them at all. They have
been entirely ignored. This is too well
known to he q fact to need elaboration.
In every county after the adjournment
of q. convention such have been the
cheating and outrage of private rights
that general indignation prevailed in
the respective communities. II !
Fellow citizens of. Montana we ap-
peal to YOU by every consideration con
nccted with the public welfare and the
interests Of yourselves and your Off
spring to rise in your majesty and no
longer be |" ileNt9s Of wood and draw
crs of water" for party leaders. Throw.
offNAe yoke Dfsparty conventions, and
rise in your own strength and .pOwef
audible 1smen. Too long tou have
boUnc With these abuses, and it is q
solemn duty to your country to assert
your niefende1ce,. TaketA manage
'smeNts q Your ON affairs III your own
hands and no longer be made tools
and cats.paws to foster and promote
men who have no regard. for your
welfare or, that Of the Territory, but
are wholly cngrossed in the promotions
OF their own selfish schemes. In the
States the people are throwirs; aside
party and uniting: They have taken
the reins of power in their own hands
and are welding them in the advance
mcnt of the public good. Reform of
! abuses is being executed and material
prosperity advanced. By declaring
: themselves independent Of old parties
their. interests are now having a show,
and they have made monopolists trem-'
bic in their boots. The great work Of
the people is going on from Maine to
California, and the country is begin
ming to recover from the stagnation
produced by the expressions OF mon
opolies. The power Of this Govern.
mcnt instead Of being in the hands of
political parties is now viii! the people,
and it is only necessary for the people
Of Montana to have full control of
public affairs in this Territory, to throw
Off party allegiance, abandon the sys-
TEN Of Conventions, and choose their
own officers. In order to effect this
desirable result, there should be union
and concert in every county. Let .
. great PEOPLES MOVEMENT be inau.
.gurated and put mono but good anil
true men in Office, whose watch word
should be REFORM. By adopting this
course, we believe the Territory will
be freed aom cormorants, end its 3D.
,.Sa10s.in prosperity will be shbtantial
and rapid. We earnestly appeal to
every citizen in Montana who has it's
welfare at heart to join in this great
sepA glorious. work Ehde il ample
ftinie 10 flIy organize the movement
before the first Monday in August, 80
that none but true and competent men
will be chosen as members Of the Lcgis-
lature and Delegate to Congress.
hst every true patriot who feels the
necessity for reform 60 hravely to work
1Nhrieg 9tput %; g1prious a result,
fShat VIII abound with so much real
GOOD to the whole Territory. ,-'~v