Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-16
4 SCRAP OF HISTORY.

A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
The remarks of Hon. Samuel Word at
Race Track yesterday recalled to the re-
collection of many old time citizens of
Montana the ineidentth attended the First
Congressional race in this territory. The
Territory was known to be Democratic,
and the most ardent of Mr.. San.
ders' f,iends had little hopes Of his
success against Col. Mclean who was his
opponents. Evidently from the events
that followed Mr.. Sanders himself had
little hope OF success from an honest vote.
Word said, among other things: "Gov.
Edgerton, who wal the uncle OF Col. San
ders, was under the law then existing the
| after the election it was ascertained that
Mclean had from 1900 to 1 800 majority
with Fort Unior to heal from. It was
necessary to have the Fort Union vote or
Sanders was gone. Much talk was had
about, and mich stress laid upon the vote
from Fort Union. and Notwithstanding the
honest vote OF the people of this Territory
at that time recorded nearly l 500 major
ity against him, his political ambitions and
political methods were such that he imag-
ined he was still elected to Congress. He
and his friends sent to Fort Union for
enough votes to overcome McLean's ma.
jority. If I tell this again l fear that
Brother Mills (who by the way ia one oil
the best editors in Montana) will get hold
OF it and tell Sanders, and Sanders will,
with his characteristic cheek, very solemn
" rise and denounce me as an Ananias.
Let him do B.. If what l say is not true
he should deny it. Parties we're sent in the
direction OF Fort Union to bring up the
| vote.
I have never since then had any con-
6de: &c in or sympathy with the political
] methods OF Mr.. Sanders. He would say
anything and do most anything to get to
Congress. There are many men who will
verify what 1 say-many who can bear tes.
timony to the truth OF this event-I mean
nothing personal in calling attention to this
matter, but would refer to it as a part of the
political history OF Montana. My personal
relations with Col. Sanders are pleasant.
Some one must be sent for the Fort
Union vote. A messenger was sent. Who
was it? Ask John Potter. Ask him who
was his companion. l will not now men,
ton his name. Certain expenses were in.
Cured on this trip to get fraudulent votes
enough to throttle the voice OF the people
and defeat their choice for Congress. Go
down into Gallatin County and ask Potter
who paid those expenses, amounting to
about $3.50. He will tell you it was Matt
Carroll, who now lives in Helena, and that
Mr.. Carroll was reimbursed by Mr.. San
ders' friends in Virginia City. Since then l
have been prepared formost anything from
this distinguished gentleman that would
promote his aspirations and gcatify his
ambitions:
At that time, as vas afterwards ascer-
tanned. there were less than 200 souls at
Fort Union, counting squaws, %half.breeds
and all else.
\ II 4 =
My friend Potter weakened somewhat at
Sun River, but when he reached Fort Ben
ton his courage failed him entirely. He
heard there were Indians on the Marias, so
be hired Charley Carson and Tom Riley to
60 down after the alleged vote. They start
ed. got to Milk River, and they too became
frightened and returned to Fort Benton
without any vote from Fort Union. The
messengers returned to Virginia City with.
out any vote, though it was announced
that they had brought it in.
The uncle OF his nephew, Governor Edger.
ton, resided at Bannack and a vote was
cooked upat Virginia City. certified to in due
form and sent to Bannack to be counted
This vote numbered, as appeared from the
false and fraudulent IT turns, about 1000
giving a majority to Sanders over Mclean
if counted. of over 500.
n u 4 Il =;
There are men here now in the sound o
my voice who know of that base and COW
ardly fraud then attempted on the peopl,
OF this Territory. Let it. be said to tn,
credit OF James Tufts and N. j. Davis, tn,
former of whom is dead and the latter {
citizen OF Virginia City, that they did mucl
to prevent the consummation of THAT fraud
They were both candidates on the sam,
ticket with Mr.. Sanders for Legislativ,
Donors. Thew were honest and upright
citizens and always prominent in the Re
publican party. When approached BY
Governor Edgerton and informed that tn,
Fort Union VITA rof,rroI n 1:-, o1onIoI
them to the legislature as well as Sanders
to Congress, they at once openly denounced
the fraud and refused to accept of an cleo
tion by such fraudulent means. This anc
other influences to which l will not now
refer brought the Governor up on a short
turn and the result was that Mclean re
ceived the certificate OF election, much to
the chagrin and disappointment OF Col
Sanders, who had prepared his household
for a two-years visit to Washington"
This is a scrap of the political history o.
Montana that is 'preserved-not in the
archives Of the Montana Historical Society
OF which Col. Sanders has been go long
p~resident-but in the memory OF those
who witnessed the attempted outrage upon
a free people and who then felt and still
feel an indignation which time has not
Modified. Twice since then has Col. San.
ders felt the weight OF the o%ld.timers' dis
pleasure at the polls, and for the
third time they stand ready to Join
again to rebuke that attempt to
prevent the will of the people OF Montana.
This scrap of history is the Nemesis that
will follow Col. Sanders to the polls next
November and deal to him for the fourth
time that retributive justice which will
assert itself in spite OF all efforts to destroy
is power.
MIR. CLARK'S SPEECH.
The speech OF the Hon. w. A. Clark at
the barbecue Wednesday ranks among the