The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-29

Judge KNOWLES htmoelH Amply FOL
lowed the w~ell-deined precedent Of
many older sections Of h United
States.
Fair-minded men will see how these
DEGREES Of the court ft average public
opinion. Under the rulings Of h Sill
yer bow board, the within Of one man
turns the politics Of Montana, settles
the states representation i'm the federal
senate, involves the state and its pOliti-
cal factions In the needless expenditure
of hundreds Of thousands of dollars,
checks the organization of he courts,
fixes the political complexion Of the
states legislative department, and dis
regards sacred rights of suffrage which
most American communities maintain.
AS against individual arrogance, at any
hazard and defend at n cost.
Here is an invasion Of popular rights
which WILDER +. Sanders would never
have tolerated but that political ambi-
ton smOthered his better Instincts: n
travesty on all that reputable courts
have maintained in support of
which Judge Knowles would hard
~ have arrayed himself but
that the craving for office ST
fenced the promptings Of what should
he with him professional pride; an Of
fetal breach which Mr.. Jack must
deeply regret whenever he In brought
face to face with many an old friend on
the streets of Butte.
It cannot be hat Montana proposes
to establish i'll -omened precedent in the
face of all that well established law has
decreed. It is not possible that the
Silver Bow returning board acted i'm
ignorance Of the time-honored precepts
of law by which it's course ought to
have beer guided. This much being
admitted, the theft of the tunnel pre-
cinct. prompted rs it was by personal
and political motives, must ever stand
as n crime against Montana and her
people. II that crime could be expi-
ated by simply permitting h bill
ran leaders to complete their plot i'm
the theft of two seats in the federal
senate the mischief would be of small
account indeed. hut if the action of the
Silver Bow board in to stand, every pre-
cinct in Montana is hereafter at the
mercy of political b~rigands. the state
excerpts itself from the judicial rulings
that everywhere have thrown whole
some safeguards about the ballot. and
every citizen yields civil and political
rights which. hitherto. v never been
surrendered by the people of any intelli-
gent American community. 1t must
be that republicans and democrats in
this new commonwealth are patriotic
enough tn rise % craftsmanship and
unite their voices in earnest and effect
i've protest against this threatened evil.
Jhe REAL ISSUE.
Personal Interests dear to the heart
Of the Inter Mountain prompt it's Sc
we're words i'm criticism of people in it's
own political household. Personal am
billions, that come up toward n new
year i'm pitiable plight, account for the
bitterness of its utterances on its news
page and printed under Helena date.
Some of the republicans operating i'm
the lobby at Helena are a bad lot, il the
public is disposed to take the Inter
Mountains word for it. We are told
that the 'Question of political princi-
pies and convictions" never enters into
the plans of these men: hat cOnsidera-
tions Involving geographical location,
population, wealth. and proper political
balance cut no figure with them" and
that their war cry is, anything to beat
Silver Bow"
All of which we believe tn be arrant
nonsense. With fit candidates in the
field, the republicans at Helena could
not leave the west side ont of account
in any of their plans. If such men as
Judge Knowles or Mr.. Sergeant were
put i'm the field. with proper assurance
that they were not to be back-capped
by some presuming snipe in Butte pol
itics. the west side would command
recognition at Helena i'm five minutes
and every republican in Montana
knows it.
The Inter Mountain is not frank 1t
must be aware that the west side re-
publicans who are earnestly at work at
Helena to ecure the caucus nomina-
ton of two good candidates frankly
admit their preference for two east-side
men rather thai that the individual
who has presumed to present himself
as the choice of the republicans this
side of the ang should carry off the
honor. That is to say these gentlemen
are fighting Mr.. Lee Mantle tooth and
nail. They would prefer to let both
senatorial nominations go to Helena
rather than have u nomination made
which they openly declare would be
disreputable.
That's the situation; let the republi-
cans fight il out. There are people who
hold that the tunnel precinct conspir-
acy would reach an eminently fitting
climnv i'm the splpctiOn nf Mr. Manila