The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-16
THAT ssSrEALTH."

In its last issue the NeU North West de-
votes nearly a column Of its space to show
that the people of Deer Lodge were not
aware, previous to the day of election, that
the citizens of Butte were going to support a
county legislative ticket whose members were !
favorable to a division of the county. Instead
of advancing reasons in support of its oppo-
sjliun to a division, it lodges the question
Altogether and regales its readers with a re-
hash of its uufounded charges against the cit
liens of Butte. 1t seeks to carry the discus
sion of the county division outside the do
main of facts aud figures, and appears TO be
willing to rest its case on all appeal to the
passions or prejudices of q portion OF its
readers. We confess to a disappointment in
| the manner IN which it treats a subject that
demands the serious consideration of the
people of this county. We expected to see
an array of facts and figures which, if they
proved nothing, would at least indicate that
our valley contemporary opposed a division OF
the county upon grounds aside from purely
selfish ones. But in the absence OF any rea-
son why the county should not be divided we
are constrained to believe that its opposition
to the proposed measure proceeds from selfish
motives.
Our neighbor charges the people of Butte
with doing something by stealth; or, in other
words, that they have stolen something.
Stealth means stealing. Now, what have
they stolen? They ran a fusion legislative
ticket, and by so doing elected two republic
cans who are favorable to a division of the
county. But + does not follow because they
did this that thew stole Messrs. Pardee and
Bell. They only did that which the republic
caus could not alone do. They elected those
gentlemen in spite Of the efforts of Deer
Lodge City to defeat them. Certainly, our
republican contemporary should net object to
the election of Its partizans. 1t has not SO
many party friends elected to the lower house
as to be able to spare two of its ablest mem
bers, even though they were elected by Butte
democratic votes, or as our neighbsr would
slate it-by stealth.
As our cotemporary appears to find much
fault because some of the voters of Butte
supported a fusion ticket at the late election
without the previous knowledge of the citi-
zens of Deer Lodge, we propose to show that
some OF its most prominent citizens did know
that such a movement was contemplated and
would be carried out.
On Saturday evening previous to the cleo
ton Mr.. Mayhem met a resident of Butte in
Loeber's hall. Mr.. Mayhem called the gen.
tleman into a back room and asked him what
rro,,l1 l> Ja,o g., ,olot;n, 20 rot-,o n r,e;,r
ticket. He was told that it would be pretty
generally voted. Mr.. Mayhem tried to dis
suade the gentleman from such a course, and
when he found he could not he left him, as
the gentleman thought, rather angrily.
The next conversation that We are able TO
ceding the election, between DR.. Mitchell and
a prominent citizen of this city. We give it
as reported: DR.. Mitchell asked to sec a fus-
len ticket, l told him there was none that l
knew of. He asked me if there was not an
effort made to defeat him and several others.
l told him there was and that l would be
frank with him; that we wanted Butte men in
order to have the county divided. l asked
him if he was in favor Of a division. He
said he was not. l asked him if he was will
ing to vote for a bill to submit the question
to the voters of the county. He said lie was
not. And l then told him that we would try
to defeat him. l asked him who was his in
formant in relation to the fusion ticket. He
said no one in particular, that it was mlno
talk on the streets. He asked me if there
was an organization. / told him there was
none Ia my knowledge.
AnotE,r conversation with one CT Deer
Lodges citizens is reported as follows: Mr..
Irvine met me on the Sunday preceding the
election, at Mathews corner. He told me
that my friends in Deer Lodge could not
look one another in the face on account ofm
course in relation to the "~fusion" ticket. He
said if the matter was not fixed up within
twenty-four hours, that no Butte man would
receive a vote in Deer Ledge, Or something
to that effect. He asked me if there was an
, organization in Butte. I told him there was
not, and that ] had no power to compromise
: the matter. That the good citizens of Butte
J were the movers in the matter, and asked
him TO go with Inc to several, and ascertain
. for himself, which he refused to do.
On the Monday preceding the election
= Judge Knowles met a citizen of Butte at his
i office in this city. The Judge asked the gem
tieman concerning an organization in Butte
=, to defeat Deer Lodge men. lie was inform
r ed by the gentleman that there was no s,,ch
an organization that he knew of, bu, be
thought Butte would vote for men in favor If
a division.
4 Newiil give another evidence tha. the d.