The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-04-20
THE COUNTY CONVENTION.

Qtu Clique were HOT many uaSs "So poi' VI"
appointing delegates to Chicago whose prefer
ences are d;stasteful to Montana Republicans,
it is furnished in an article which graced the
columns of our veracious and honorable
cotem. on the 18th inst. The Herald is
thrown into an agony of apprehension be-
cause a call has been issued for Deer Lodge
county Republicans to assemble in mass con-
%vention. According to the high minded
notions of the Blaine organists, there is some
thing radically wrong in the idea of giving the
people an opportunity OF expressing their
sentiments on an important political issue.
1t seems to haye too great, a tendency to
render them independent and they might
perchance vote for anti-Blaine men to
attend the Territorial convention. This
would certainly be a most outrageous pro-
ceeding and our Infatuated contemporary
launches terrific invectives at the lncorrlglDle
members of the county committee. Certainly
they have committed a grave otfense. They
have assumed. needless of the fearful conse-
quences, to act in open opposition to the Her.
AIDS dictation. They have even gone so far
as privately to hint that in its foolish support
Of Blaine <who sent a substitute to the war
III 1861, the Herald is actuated solely by
selfish and dishonorable impulses, and that
were not its editors confident of Federal pat
ronagc they would drop him like a hot potato.
Prominent Republicans have no hesitation in
stating that the present Blaine organ would
grind out Presidential music for Ben. Butler
or VIM. Pitt Kellogg with the greatest alacrity
if promised a little more patronage than
they expect to receive for supporting
Blaine. Said a prominent Republican IN our
hearing yesterday: "Lewis and Clarke
county has had things its own way about long
enough, and has controlled every Republican
convention ever held in the Territory. The
Herald ring has carried things with a high
hand, and when their interests were at
stake were always opposed to letting the
people have a voice in political affairs
as their recent attempt to appoint delegates to
Chicago abundantly proves. Hereafter we in
tend to have a little 'say SO" on this side, and
instead of running the party in this territory
by ignoring the wishes Of tie people, propose
to hold a convention to which they will be
lINlltu. Illus, IL aIlSttiS, liiC 1ACfott lIiil-
ipics have no terror for American citizens on
this side OF the range, and the sooner the
Herald editors come to this conclusion the
better it will be for Republican unity in Mon
tana. But our incensed cotem., in its cbagrin
at being openly snubbed in this county,
speaks without its usual caution and gives
away the party Of high moral pri:.cil'es, of
which it claims to be the exponent. The live
editors spitefully observe:
"a mass convention can easily enough be
converted into a packed political caucus, and
'.that something Of this kind will result'in
.Deer Lodge is not at all improbable. # has
''beer the boast that Presidential candidates
':other than Blaine were in the lead in that
''county, but the mass meeting business will
scause a general disbelief in the accuracy OF
THAT claim. We have little doubt that Deer
sLodge by the means resorted TO will be able
sto beat q Blaine delegation. The county
s'seat has before now won victories over the
"~county, and. it may do it again. A tow
s.squad of a half a dozen will very likely
"have full charge of and run the mass con,
"~vention' to their entire liking"
This is decidedly refreshing. 1t is a tact
declaration and acknowledgment that it is the
practice of the Republican party in this Ter
ritory to run conventions to subs"rve individ
ual interests, and to swindle the people out o
their natural right to be heard on politica
issues. 1t is an implied charge that the Re
: publicans of this county are political Tick
=, sters, and that it is a common thing with
= town squad of Deer Lodge Republicans t
= run conventions or the machine plan an
= for personal ends This certainly is
y damaging disclosure, if true, and the part
leaders of this county, most of whol
we believe to he honorable men, will not b
doing justice to themselves if they allow t
pass unnoticed this foul aspersion IN the
integrity, for not only does it reflect Oh the
own personal character but it will tend
create a very unfavorable impression through
out the Territory in regard to the means b
Which the affairs of the administration part
are conducted in Montana. We sincerely hoI
that the Herald is mistaken in its harsh jud
ment as to the political virtue of Deer Lod!
county Republicans, and that the implis
charge of corruption has no foundation
fact. If it has, and if the condition of tt
party in this county and Territory is in al
sense typical of the state OF the party at lare
then the sooner the affairs of the governme
pass into Democratic control the better it W
be for the general welfare of the Republic.
CORRECTION.