The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-14
Those Comments.

DEAR SrR:-Feeling that some editorial
comments in the Weekly CHRONICLE 81
the 7th inst, do me injustice, / ask that |
you publish the following:
The CHRONICLE says, "A delegation
from an outside county listened to a
small fraction here and put up another
Gallatin county man to contest for the
prize from Eastern Montana, and there
by defeating both, and again, those who
were defeated here exercising an influ-
ence they had with delegates elsewhere
than in Gallatin county so worked upon
members outside as to create the impress
sion that they had been slaughtered I'M
fairly and by this means brought their
man before the convention
"They have used the knife but they
will awaken to the realization that the
scalpel will be used in return" When
you say another Gallatin county man,
and brought their man before the conven-
ton assume that you refer to myself and
that it would be natural for any one who
should believe your statements to be
true, to believe that was one of those
who were beaten here or that l had a
hand in Exercising influence with dele
gates elsewhere" etc.
During the early part Of last January I
was in Madison county where met gen
tlemen of my acquaintance who, during
my sojourn with them congratulated me
upen the growth and development of
Eastern Montana, predicting that the
expansion of the area of settlement. and
the increase of population would have
salutary effect upon our public and COM
mon interests. Some of these gentlemen
expressed a desire to manifest their
kindly sentiments towards Gallatin and
the country east by favorable express
sion when opportunity should offer. by
dividing with our people the honors
which have heretofore been accorded to
the more populous and wealthy counties,
and assured me that this sentiment was
quite general in all the older counties,
outside of Gallatin, and some were kind
enough to express the hope that in the
course of events in the future l should
meet with some public expression, of
appreciation of the manner in which l
had on occasions unfalteringly "stood
by the guns" when the public welfare
demanded it.
| During the month of March I received
letters from different sources asking me
if it would be agreeable to me to appear
before the Territorial Convention as a
candidate for delegate to the National
Convention, provided Territorial con-
vention was called. invariably declin-
ed for the reason that 1 did not feel able
to bear the expense. was never asked
at any time to be a candidate by any
Gallatin county man; but l have had
great many Gallatin men say they should
be glad to see me 60, and never was ap-
pointed by any of my friends outside Of
Gallatin.
Since the last week in March, l never
heard of Mr.. Eaton as candidate, until
either the 10Th of April or the 10Th o.
June, am not sure which. l have never
taken any part in any conspiracy agains'
Mr.. Eaton, neither do l believe there
ever was any such conspiracy; neithel
have l been the tool of any man or com
bination of men, If there were any "wh'
were defeated here" don't know whit
they were. l never knew OF but on
other Gallatin aspirant, aside from Nh
Eaton, and it he had any supporters ex
cept himself never heard Of it.
Ny supporters were. actuated by al
honest desire to accord an honor to Fast
ern Montana, and sincerely regret tina
they did not meet with any more cordia
cooperation, but they were voting TO
"principles and not men" and if Nj
Eaton had declared for Edmunds whel
r first interviewed bv the Madison delega
!, ton, and by so doing had not lost in an
a other direction. should not have bee
!, nominated and Mr.. Eaton wonld hav
, been elected, on the first ballot.
If the Gallatin delegation had bee
0 working to secure delegate from Eas'
4 ern Montana, instead Of being carrie
= away by an infatuated desire to COME
: honor upon Mr.. Eaton, thew had it i
i their power to do so at any moment, BIT
It when they we're approached on the sui
e iect, their answer was no. Let 1t &c any
n where and to any one in preference t
y Coll Edwards My friends were tol
= that "they had no right to nominal
d me-" 1t was clear case Of the "tail try
p ing to wag the dog" that beat Easter
l Montana out of delegate to the Nation
:, Convention.
a This statement now exhonorates me
e all the insinuAtions against me, excel
=, the one of having friends all over tn
Territory, which shall not deny.
I desire to say one word about tn
'sralpel," to which you refer I expe
it is a terrible instrument. don't ha,
any idea how it might look under ce
brt 7 ,oox.or ho6 CON,