The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-10-20
SANDERS sALIVATED!

~ n a.
sam Word Shows How He Tried to
steal into Congress in 1864.
A. interesting Story, the Proof of Which
viii be Forthcoming if it is Wanted.
In the course of rafting speech at the
Ia democratic barbecue Mr.. Word said !:
This is notthe first time this distinguish
\ Gentleman has run for congress i'm this
territory. happen to be one Of those
Who came to this country in 1868, and
though young man then, I was close
observer of passing events, and 1 remem-
her that he ran for congress against Sam
nel Mclean in the fall of 1864. Notwith-
sanding that the honest votes of the peo-
HE Of this territory at that time recorded
nearly 1900 majority against him, his polit-
;cal methods were such that he imagined
that he was still elected to congress, andI
have been told-why, now, look; if / say
this over again, imagine that Brother
Mills down here will get hold Of itand tell
Sanders, and Sanders will very solemnly
get up and denounce me as an Ananias in
this territory, [Laughter.l But now let
me give him another opportunity, and let
me say that the proofs are at hand, and let
them deny it. [Cheers.l Mr.. Sanders
friends at least did send down to Fort Union
for 1000 fraudulent votes inorder to over
come the l,5O0 majority of Sam Mclean
and tried to ring them in and throttle the
voice of the people of this territory and
seat himself i'm congress. Voice He'll
never do it. / have never, since then,
had any confidence in the political methods
If Brother Sanders, although we have al
\ ways been in our friendship and social in
tercourse pleasant and agreeable. But
\ there are men living who can prove what
ever / say here to-day, and il am called
upon in the future at any time by thuse
I who wish to know the truth of this matter,
Y Or by the distinguished gentleman himself,
J they need not be surprised ;fthe proofs are
Il Thrown In their teeth that will make them
9remble, and they will never venture to
AcOntradict it again. [Cheers.] Now let
me give you brief history of that matter,
apntemen. as it occurred. 1t is q little
thing of the past, and mind you, don't
30fer 1t now as amy particular reflection
upon anybody, but will tell it to you as
Halttle piece Of Montana history. Now,
this was not done by Col. Sanders-why,
3dcourse not; he had nothing to do with
8t; it was somebody else. Perhaps, if you
Aask, it was John Potter-well, they spent
s65O in order to get fraudulent votes from
AFt. Union, that they might throttle the
Poice of the people Of this territory. Go
and ask John Potter down in Gallatin
county, who it was; go and ask him who
twas that paid the $3.50 expenses incurred
7by him at that time, and he will tell you it
was Matt Carroll, and he lives over here
1a Helena; and these expenses We're paid
4ty Mr.. Sanders friends in Virginia City
#atthat time. Ever since then, say, gem
Aaemen, that I have lost confidence in the
POLITICAL methods of my friend Sanders,
aanl have always been prepared for most
Anythipg that would deprive the people of
what IL their just and honest rights, and
promote the aspirations and ambitions of
mis- distinguished gentleman.
At that time, it was afterWard proved,
Gentlemen, that at Fort Union there were
@esS thar two hundred souls, counting the
atW soldiers that were there, the squaws
md half breeds and everybody else, and
7Omake up the two hundred solid they
@ould have to had enumerated the gray
Aacks that inhabited that old fort. And
7et when my friend Potter got down to
8ort Benton his courage failed him; he
card Of some Indians down on the Marlas
nd on that other stream, Milk river, and
II hired Charley Carson and Tom Riley
ogo down after them. They heard OF
#ae Indians and came back without any
Aete. But the vote shortly afterwards
as certified in due shape, forwarded from
lFginia City to Bannack where the un-
cot his nephew, who was at that time
GOVERNOR OF THIS TERRITORY, LIVED;
81 la he was asked to count for him those
VVO votes that had been manufactured
these political tricksters-no, political
'cks My friend has seen proper since
mas been nominated for congress to dub
own partner there, who is a very
yer gentleman, and my humble self as
9ltlcal hacks. Laughter Now don't
wv really, what political hack is.
sSe had SO little to dc with politics for
iast six or eight years that it slipped
memory; but it occurs TO me that
rs must have been some political hacks
y 'lfglnia City that got up that vote and
auned it to Gov. Edgerton. Now let