Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-07-20
PLEA FOR HOME RULE.

A PLEA FOR HOME RULE.
In response to the call of numerous Repub
licans there met at the Court House in Deer
Lodge, June 21st, mass meeting of the Re-
publican electors of Cottonwood precinct.
The meeting was called to order by George
w. Irwin, I'd, who nominated for Chairman,
O. B. O'Bannon, and for Secretary, Howard
H. Zenor, ard by the meeting these gentle
men were duly elected. The Chair stated the
object of the meeting briefly: That in the
probable election of R. B. Hayes to the Presi-
dency and w. A. Wheeler to the Vice-9r
dency, the Republican party within itself
would undertake reform that the character
of Federal appointments to this Territory
were frequently such as met our disapproval;
that united and dignifed movemeDtoughtto
be made by the whole body of the Republican
electors to secure the retention of officers who
had proved themselves faithful; to secure the
appointment of persons to all occurring
vacancies in Federal positions from among
the bona fde citizens of this Territory, and to
prevent apparent endorsement by Montana of
irresponsible applicants from our own Terri
tory.'
The Chair thought this could be fairly &C.
complished by the Territorial Republican
Convention to convene during the summer
for the nomination of delegate to Congress,
when the convention should nominate to the
President, in the same manner as Delegate,
the several persons to fill the general Federal
offices within the Territory, whether from
among the present incumbents or others not
now in Office. After pretty full discussion,
participated in by Messrs. W. H. Clagett, DR..
Chas. Mussigbrod, DR.. Gleason, Geo. W.
Irwin, and number others, a motion was
made and carried authorizing the Chair to
appoint committee to draft an address to
the Republican electors that should embody
the sentiments of this convention, and be
offered for publication to the Neso North
West and Helena HERALD.
The Chair appointed as such committee,
VIM. H. Clagett, DR.. Mussigbrod, and H. Fl.
Zenor. Upon motion the meeting adjourned
| sine die.
O. B. O'BANNON, Chm.
H. II. ZENor, Sec'y.
DEER LopaE, NJ. T., June IS, 1876.
ADDRESS.
To the Republicans Of Montano:-
All the indications point to the complete
triumph of the Republican party in Novem-
ber 1t may be confidently assumed that
Rutherford B. Hayes will be the next Presi-
dent of the United States AS such it will be
his duty, as we'll as pleasure, to carry out in
spirit and in letter the platform upon which
he was nominated. That platform instructs
him to overthrow the system under which
Congressman have heretofore dictated the
Federal appointments in their respective dis
tricts and in the Territories. This instruction
is notification to all whom it may concern
that the appointment of aliens to the people
of the Territories to the Federal offices there
in, must be abolished. Its stoppage will Sc
cure to our people what we have so long
striven for, viz: The appointment of those
identified with our interests, and owing their
appointment to the wishes of our people, and
not to the favoritism of kinship or some Con-
gresham in the East When the incoming
administration, recognizing its duty in this
respect, shall ask US who we wish appointed,
what answer shall we give? Who will be
authorized to speak for Us?
In 1869 President Grant openly declared
that in all of the older Territories he should
take the federal appointments from the bona
fde residents of the same, but when he came
to select them he found several coteries of
men from each of them striving for the ap-
pointments, and unable to select from among
the rival candidates, those who would give
satisfaction, he filled the offices with apoin-
tees from abroad. So it will be with the
incoming administration, unless you take
steps to relieve it from this inevitable embar-
rassment. There is only one way in which
this can be done, viz. To have the party
recommend to the President the names of
those whom we wish for our rulers. The
only way in which the party can take action
is in it's coming Territorial Convention. This
Convention can be called not only 10 nomi-
nate candidate for delegate, but also to
select and recommend for appointment
representative Republicans for the various
federal appointments. There are in the
Territory twelve federal offices to be filled,
whose functions are general to the people.
The selection of the incumbents need not be
IL ,1%1r s.
should be done openly and by the party at