The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-30
tn DIVISION QUESTION.

thiS COuuby ouOulu H0b pC uiViuCus we PFC
same that its last issue contains all that it
has to advance in opposition to the measure,
as nearly two columns of Its space is devoted
to 4 discussion of it. As we have already
shown that there was no organization in Butte
to run fusion tickets that a fusisn legisla-
tive ticket was supported by a few voters
here, irrespective Of party, who held that the
interests of Butte overshadowcd all political
preferences that may have been entertained !;
that the fasionists Of Deer Lodge City sunk
their partisan and voted with a view to
defeat the division measure that the vote
cast at that city shows a larger per cent. of
fusionists, compared to the whole number of
votes thrown, than Butte shows ; that Deer
Lodgers not only voted a fusion legislative
ticket, but carried their preferences still fur
Their, and voted almest solidly for Deer Lodge
men for local offices, regardless of party ties /;
that as We have shown these facts, we find
netting in our cstemporary's article on
"Diyision Treachery" to answer or to notice.
We would simply add that our Deer Lodge
friends will find that the North Vests
article is a 7eritable boomerang, which, being
aimed at Butte, will return to their bosoms
with ledeubled force for Deer Lodge is
guilty, if there be guilt, of all the political
crimes charged to Butte. We might go
further aud show that two years ago the
voters of Deer Lodge " chuckcd' their party
nominees and voted for their home men, and
that what the North Vest considers a crime
IN Butte: is practiced biennially at its own
doors. We might show this and much more,
but it would be of no use, so far as bringing
out all expression in regard to it from eur
valley cotem. 1t possesses the faculty of
lodging some issues only equslled by its
readiness to ignore others. But we will pass
from their consideration, and will leave our
cotemporary's charges of division Treach-
ery," "Fusion Traitors" "Stealing,'
" Stealth" etc., etc, to he passed upon and
settled by the fusionists Of Deer Lodge City
and their advocate and organ, the .Ne~
North West, as we conceive that they are the
parties much deeper in the mud than the
Butteitcs can possibly be in the mire.
In another article under the head of s'The
Division Is.ue,' our cctemporary evinces a
disposition to discuss the county division
question on the broader grounds of public
policy. We are glad to note the change.
While this is just what we have wished to do
all along, we fear our now good-natured
cotem. will meet with some embarrassment
simply from the fact that it really can have
nothing to say against the division. One of
the reasons which it advances in opposition to
the measure, il that: "The time consumed in
travelling, and the inconvenience thereof, will
doubtless soon be reduced to a couple of
hours, by the extension of the railroad
here" This we look upon merely as a
specimen of Deer Lodge humor, and not as a
real reason why the county should not be
divided. 1t must certainly occur to the
mind Of our worthy cotem. that the Butte
people are very much like other people, in so
far that, like them, they prefer to transact
their county business at home, rather than
ride a couple of hours by rail to do it. As to
the pleasure Of the trip, they are willing to
forego it, or let it out to those who have the
money to squander on unnecessary travelling.
We would simply remark that we dent think
that the railroad bait will catch many
gudgeons.
In regard to two terms of court being held
here to compensate the Butte people for their
outlay of time and money, to which they are
now subjected in transacting their county
business, it has about the same force as the
one mentioned above. An attempt was once
p,ada fo o,n Ill, I'D L.t -l~.
the application was preferred denied it. We
have no assurance that it would be granted
now, or at any time hereafter. Butte cannot
afford to await congressional legislationto give
her that to which she is entitled and which
she should obtain by territorial legislative
enactment. But for the sake of presenting
the case in the light in which the North Vest
would have us view it, We will leaye out of
the discussion the uncertainty of obtaining
the boon for which We once begged and were
refused, and admit that semi-annual terms of
court may be held here. In this event the
needs of the people of Butte would not be
satisfied. The records OF the county would
still be forty miles away, and access 10 them
can be gained only bv an uncalled for outlay
Of time and money. Every location notice,
every mortgage, every deed or conveyance Of
any character that should be recorded must
be taken from here to Deer Lodge. Every
prisoner, at a cost to the county of $50 each,
must be taken there. All the county bust
ness, except such as would be disposed of
before the TWO terms of court which we may
have, must as formerly necessitate a trip of
forty miles and back to transact it. Aside
from all these there are innumerable incon-
veniences which tie people of a district con-
tanning over two thousand voters, and situated
forty or fifty miles from the county seat,