Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-09-18
ANOTHER PnAsE OF TEE POLITICAL
SITUATION.

| NNV n1nns mn - W. 9G u
SITUATION.
An examination of the map of Mon.
tana ought to convince even the oldest
inhabitants that the nominal division
Of the territory into the east and west
sides does not at this day answer the
purposes ola fair aud equitable divi-
sion even II such an arbitrary division
was In any way essential to political
organization and parcelling out of
political honors. Assuming that the
main divide of the Rocky. mountains
Is the base line from which east and
west are reckoned in this connection,
the improperly Of longer continuing
such distinction Is too patent to call
for any proof other than Its geograph-
ical position with reference to the
newer parts of the territory. Years
ago when this division was adopted It
may have been, and probably was,
equal with reference to population,
but since the completion of the North
ern Pacific railroad and the conse-
quent settlement of the extreme east.
ern and central portions of Montana,
this classification of the counties has
ceased TO have the meaning IL was
originally intended to convey. All
that portion of the territory lying east
of the one hundred and tenth degree
of longitude west from Green witch,
with possibly some slight exception,
has been settled up aud reclaimed
from the wilderness within less than
the last decade, and did not enter into
the thoughts Of the founders of the
political parties in Montana, IL indeed
their political vision extended ~ far
beyond the main divide as the longi.
tudinal point We have referred to. 1t
Is merely an accidental circumstance
that the counties east of this point, or
generally speaking, east of Gallatin.
are In the east side and when the dis.
tinction Is made 1t IL without signif-
cation SO far as those counties are con-
cerned. Such u division as the one
under discussion has ceased to mean
what was originally intended and
through circumstances has become a
misnomer. If the east and west sides.
as originally understood, should fail to
unite on q candidate i'm the cOnven-
ton the counties In the valley of the
Yellowstone river will hold the bal
ance of power and be able to dictate the
candidate. flour classification of the
counties Is correct the apportionnent
gives 10 the west side twenty -four del
egates, to the east side twenty-five
delegates and 10 eastern Montana en-
bracing Custer, Dawson and Yellow
stone counties, the remaining seven
delegates making the fifty-six dele
gates comprising the convention to
nominate delegate to Congress. II
will require twenty-nine votes to
nominate and neither the east nor
west side acting independently of the
other can nominate without the COM
bined votes of Dawson and Yellow
stone and at least one of the votes OF
Custer county or In other words the
votes of the Yellowstone valley. The
votes of eastern Montana thus have II
In their power to exert controlling
voice In the choice of candidate and
delegates to the territorial convention |
should be selected by our county con-
ventions who will use ever effort to
an eastern man. The OPP
portunity IL before us and we should
retain with an iron grasp the advant-
ages We may accidentally have from
an apportionment which the jour.
NAL has already demonstrated to be
as unfair Us the arbitrary division of
inc TERRITORY into east and west sides |
Is out OF date and unjust to the people
of eastern Montana. As we have
lately stated In these columns the
time IL not far remote when Lewis
and Clarke county will need the as.
sistsnce Of eastern Montana to main.
tain lis prestige, and any assistance
now rendered this part Of the terri
tory In It's effort TO secure the nolnina.
ton Of one of Its citizens for delegate, |
will not lie forgotten when some rival
city across the divide shall seek to
wrest the political asrendancy and
seat ofgovernment from the counties
on this side.