Great Falls tribune., 1888-09-15
WILLIAM A. CLARK.

William A. Clark, of Butte, the demo-
cratic standard bearer in the present cam
paign has been widely Know as success
full miner and banker who was always
readysto take hand in public enterprises
designed to promote the welfare of his
own county or of Montana at large. In
addition to this his speech at the conven-
tion slows him to be a sound practical
speaker, who will make his mark in con-
gress, where he will be regarded as one
of fthose solid men who are listened to
with respect by the entire house, espec-
tally when they speak on industrial inter
ests. His opening remarks in the speech
referred to were as follows:
Gentlemen of the convent and represen-
tatives of the great territory Of Montana:
lappear before you this evening in diff
ferent character than any that | could
have supposed this morning, or at any
previous time in my life should occu-
py did not expect to be candidate
for this office, as you well know. have
never sought any office at the hands of
the democratic party. have always
done what could in my humble way to
further the interests Of that party, Tap
plause and stood ready here today to
endorse tile nominee of this convention,
whoever he might be- and go out with him
into the campaign, as did two years ago
and help to elect him by a rousing major
ity. [great applause. But it seems it
was the intention, manifested here today
at this convention, that should be your
standard bearer IN this contest, and could
not resist the overwhelming appeals of
my friends to come out and take that
standard-and here l am. Applause, I
Casting aside that disposition / do now
accept it, |great enthusiasm and | say to
you that while this is an unsolicited honor
l Go not propose to relapse into inactivity
but intend to go out and make the fight
and carry the war into Africa, Trousing
cheers and will see, with your co-opera-
tion, which l believe from the manifesta-
tions that have been made here today, |
shall have. demonstrations of approyall
propose that the democratic party of
Montana shall be triumphant. [applause
and cries of "Good-good."
These telling sentences which speak the
Hioii VI ueteilHiiidtioH WHO mas Always
done what his hand found 10 do, with all
his might, were followed by references
to statehood that will carry joy into many
pioneers homesteads. He said:
This accomplished, if it would be the
wishes of the people of this territory to
thus honor me, | shall go to Washington
and represent every section of this terri
tory and every interest and every industry
OF It's people to the best Of my ability I
will labor tC the end that in the shortest
time possible this great territory, which
is great empire in itself, combining all
the elements of wealth and prosperity and
the most intelligent people for it's num-
bers to be found upon the face of the
earth, shall occupy position of state
mood In this great union. [Applause.]
am glad to see, and it is great satisfnct
ION to me. that there has been an interest
manifested in the primaries and in the
conventions OF this territory that is un-
paralleled in its history heretofore. We
see here in Silver Bow county men COM
ing up to the primaries, to the county
conventions and to the territorial conven-
fiOns with determination in their faces
and in tlieir eyes that democracy shall he
triumphant. Great applause.
This has never been heretofore to this
extent What does it mean? 1t means
that we are upon the eve of statehood, It
means that there is a possible crisis in
the history of the democratic party in
Montana, but that crisis will disanpeur
like thin smoke, and see every evidence
of it here in this assemblage to dav
This is critical period in the history Of
Montana in this respect, that we have an
piled for admission into the union. We w