The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-03-30
CONVENTION OR COMMITTEES.

1t is daily becoming more evident that our
Republican brethren are at swords poiuts
with one another on tho question of holding
q territorial convention to appoint a delegate
to Chicago. The Grant men s.re clamorous
for a convention. They form a majority Of
the Republican party in this territory, but
they are firm in the conviction that the execu-
tive committee in Helena are prejudiced
against the third term idea, and that if the
matter be left to their discretion a Blaine
man will be selected to represent the party of
unity and brotherly love in this territory.
| Clearly his IS not as it should be. Vor pOpui
ro1 Del, and at this particular ~juncture it is
quite evident that the voice of God is for
Grant and a third term. But the voice
of the Helena Herald is not tuned to
the general sentiment. Our influential
contemporary is very decided in its
expressed preference for the Maine
statesman, and being an intelligent Journal is
quite aware that if a convention is called, the
Republican delegate will be very positively
instructed to vote for the hero of Appomat-
tox, instead of for the Plumed Knight who
sent a substitute to the war in 1861.
But the Herald editor ard his select coterie
of friends, who make ND the executive COM
mittee, are evidently determined that no con-
vention shall be called if it can possibly be
avoided and they are doing everything in their
power to prevent an expression Of the popular
will. They may succeed in this instance but
that such a course will cause them to suffer
very much in the estimation Of the people,
admits of no doubt.
Hear how a Jefferson correspondent of our
Helena contemporary, The Capital, under
date of March 10Th eAcorciates the committee
and voices the honest sentiments of the Adj
ministration party in this Territory. He
signs himself a True Republican, and writes
as follows:
After reviewing the pros and cons of the
case, with the view of gaining an idea of the
opinion ofthe Republicans of Montana, and
also of the members of the Territorial Cen
trail Committee outside of Lewis Il Clarke
county. as to the propriety of callinga COLI
vention for the purpose of selecting de egates
to send to the National Convention at Chica-
go-l must say that it is my opinion, and the
opinion of Republicans with whom l have
talked, that there is a strong tendency on the
part of certain prominent Republicans in and
out of the committee to assume a central
power for their own personal aggrandizement
which is in opposition to the fundamental
principles of the party under any circum-
stances.
Why not call a convention as heretofore,
and elect delegates, and at the same time try
the adoption of q rule authorizing the central
committee to select delegates and make nom
nations hereafter? This would be far more
satisfactory and would at the same time cause
the party to work more tremendously.
The Capital cordially echoes the idea of its
correspondent and takes the committee
severely to task for their proposed contempt
uous disregard of the peoples rights. Even
our particular friend of the Deer Lodge North
arest follows the advice of the Capital, and as
the gentleman is probably the most important
parsonage in this Territory, his views, second
handed though they may be, will undoubtedly
have great weight. That our Republican
friends may know what these views are, we
subjoin a few remarks on the subject taken
from his very excellent weekly periodical:
By conceding them a Convention no one
can be wronged; by refusing it the Commit
tee will be open to censure and a bad prece-
dent will be established. If ave were a mem
Der Of the Executive Committee we would IA
vor a Territorial Convention. The situation
requires it. The question should never be an
open one again. AS we have come to regard
it a convention for that purpose will always
be right.
The above, emanating from so distinguished
a source, should certainly operate as an ultl-
matum and restore harmony to the party, but
We are under serious apprehensions that the
breach will continue to widen and that the
result will be a contested delegation.