Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-11

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we're already awaiting them.
Instead Of Mr.. Witter, wEo was presel
ON the preceding day, Mr.. B. N. Howey,
Lewis and Clark. was ON deck as spoke
man. Mr.. Howey came quickly to Il
point and informed those present that Y
Republican body, in caucus, bad decide
to reject the arrangements agreed to on ii
previous day BY tbe committee Of eonie
fence, but that they had proposition I
make and with dus gravity and TO the 4
finite disgust Of the Democrats present, b
proposed the following solution which, eoI
sidering the circumstances has, for cold
blooded audacity, no parallel in politics
history. Judge Howey said that bis part
were willing to investigate matters at Prt
Icinct 81. but inasmuch as there seemed t.
be no regularly organized house from whicl
q committee could be appointed that woult
be legally equipped iorinvestigation.he pro
posed that twenty-iour Democrats ioiI
| with twenty-five Republicans in organisinl
the house and that then q desirable com
mittee for investigation might be zap
pointed. It was also included in the Re
publican proposition, through their spskes
man, and was to be part Of the agreement
that the senate be organized at once. We
believe 1t is unnecessary to say that such O
proposition was refused and thereby the
state and the world spared the spectacle
OF another electoral commission which
would have been, il left to party managers,
as it has bean 30 far as surely twenty-five
to twenty-four as it was eight to seven in
1875.
The undersigned have, up to this time,
given plain statement Of the facts regard
ing those meetings without coloring and al.
most without comment. but as wewish the
people should have clear understanding
Of this matter We now propose to
explain our motives for engaging in the
conference. and as lar as we are able to
show why the Republicans were not in
earnest and were only striving for some
undue advantage. 1t will be generally un.
derstood that the present controversy
hinges on the validity OF the votes cast at
the ''Tunnel precinct" and though each
and every member OF the Democratic house
believes and is satisfied that the election
there was as fair and honest as any pre-.
cinct In the state. There were those
amongst us who were willing to permit and
to aid as far as in their powe-, the Repub-
lican claimants to satisfy themselves that
fraud was not practiced there, and anxious
to prove to the people in general that the
oft repeated el ,lm was without foundation
in fact.
The Republicans were loud in their de-
mands for an investigation, but 10 q be-
hold as soon as the way is open for such
they turn their backs on it at once and we
will let the people and the world judge why
the Republicans must necessarily rest
their claims Of having elected a majority OF
the legislature on what happened at Pre-
cinct "a. Now,if, as they allege, fraud was
practiced there, why are they un silling to |
show it up and establish the fact? Every
will admit that they have |
not already done SO. and will it not now |
dawn upon the minds OF the thinking pub
ic, irrespective OF party affiliations, that /
nose CONTESTANTS really have no cause; /
hat their claim is a myth, and that they
are being held together through trickery
md the manipulations Of professional
political tricksters.
The Democrats had nothing to gain by
IN Investigation; they have already estab.
ished their case and claim their seats from
having received majority OF the votes
,ast in their respective districts.
This fact is known beyond doubt.
And we claim and demand the support
II all right minded people in the stand
which We have taken and expect to uphold
low and for all time.
The result Of all these conference meetings /
we're not intended for the public but we
nave been SO misrepresented in the matter
that we now CO slider it our duty to give to
;he people true statement Of the facts
md feel sure that our course will me-. t with
general favor.
We are not here as the willing tools OF
party or "Prince" nor is our organization
The result of returning board Vaccinations.
We are here fortified with law and justice |
10 the represents tives Of the people who |
have elected rs by their votes, and We pro. |
pose to defend their rights to SO choose us. |
ELIzuR BEACH:
PETER BREEN,
J.C. TwoHY,
@. K. HARDENBRooK,
D. P. MCELwEE.