The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-05

r. C. Power and United States Mar
shall Botkin Give Their Views Abou
the Questions Now Interest
ing the People of
Territory. 4
pioneer Press. /

IT1OucCI AiCoSsI va
T. C. Power, of Helena, Montana, a
we'll known representative OF the uoluen
territory, was at the Merchants yesterday
on his way east, to Ottawa, Canaua' anu
Washington. and had a short conversa-
ton with q Pioneer Press reporter. he
said everything in Montana is looking
well all along the line of the Northern
Pacific. Merchants got o~verstocked last
year, expecting q large winter Irade
and are consequently overloaded, ana
this has made money scarce, but the
Northern Pacific is now settling all
their accounts and everything IS loosen
ing up and looking better. This has
been y severe winter in Montana IN
spots; that is to say, in some parts OF
the territory there has been very deep
snow. Otherwise the weather has Deen
pleasant and uniform, with only three
or four days under q or % degrees below
zero. The mining prospects never were
better.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr.. Power was q prominent
of the late constitutional convention.
He is republican in politics, but gives
the democrats credit for treating tnelf
opponents courteously and fairly. he
saws: "Although the democrats
prised about two-thirds OF the conven-
ton and elected II OF their party as
president, the republicans were given
about one-half the offices and places on
all imnortant committees. But for the
ultra zeal of one of the younger repub-
lican members, who succeeded in having
a caucus called, thus giving an excuse
for drawing party lines, a republican
would have been named for president.
There was no demonstration OF partisan
ship. and all worked amicably together.
The instrument has been we'll received
bv the people, and have no doubt 1t Will
be ratified in November. The only OPP
position so far manifested is from the
stockmen, who are inclined to show dls-
APPRECIATION because OF the clause re-
garding mining interests. The mining
clause was a compromise measure, aad
really was the only thing like a Stun
bling block in the convention. Inc
stockmen insisted that the money de-
rived from the sale of a mine should be
subject to taxation, but the ~conVentlon
fixed it so chat the machinery and TX
lures, the value of the surface land ana
the net income derived from the mine
should only be taxed. The stockmen,
however, will not carry their opposition
far enough to endanger the fate OF the
constitution at the election. Aside from
this, there is a unanimity of opinion IN
it's favor, the question OF politics not
being considered in connection with 1T.
ADMISSION AMI POLITICS.
I do not believe Montana stands any
chance for admission as a state for at
least two years, if congress establishes
the rule that 166, 900 population is a nee
essary requisite. At present the popu-
lation of the territory does not exceed
4 5000. immigration is coming IN very
rapidly, though, and inside OF two years
[ think 166, 900 people will be located
there. T haven't much faith that Mon
tana WilIsbe admitted at the present
session Tof congress, though, even II
the 1876, 900 rule is not enforced. Ii Da-
kota goes in (which [ do not consider
likely, then there will be a good chance
for Montana, as the democrat congress
will insist upon a political offset. Mon
tana, though, cannot be counted upon
as reliably democratic. At the last cleo
ton for delegate, Botkin (rep.) undoubt-
edly received a majority Of the BONA fide
vote, but Maginnis (dem.) was able to
show a majority by importing large
crowds of railroad Iaborers, engaged in
constructing the Northern Pacific road.
This element will not be present in
the next contest, and the republicans
will stand a fair chance for victory.
There is little disposition among the
people to discuss politics, and the polltl-
cal future cannot be predicted. So far
as plans for United States senators and
a governor are concerned, there is abso-
lutely no talk whatever about it-there
being a united desire to look after the
material.interests Of the territory, and
leave state matters to come up hereafter,
i'll their proper time. But little is heard,
even. about the nomination for delegate.
Maginnis has declared his Intention not
to stand again as a candidate but, as
he said the same thing before and then
made the race, but little confidence can
be placed in his words. In the event OF
Maginnis being renominated, ex-Mar-
shall Botkin will probably be put for
ward again by the republicans, II he can
be induced to accept the nomination.
Maginnis out OF the way, the most
prominent and available democratic
timber is conceded to be Joseph k.Ioole,
of Helena, or w. A. Clark, of Butte.
The latter was president Of the constitu-
tional convention, and is a wealthy
banker, heavily interested in mines.
The appointment Of ex-Congressman
Coburn, of Indiana, on the supreme
bench of the territory, gives general sat
isfaction. Legal business was getting
in a tangle, and the new judge is looked
upon as competent to straighten it out
and clear up the docket satisfactorily.
The administration Of Gov. Schuyler
Crosby is warmly commended by the
people, and he is looked upon as an able
and industrious executive
MARSHAL BOTKIN.
This gentleman stopped at the Mer-
chants yesterday, on his return from