The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-11-30
The Montana Situation.

The Legislature which met Saturday in
Montana is Democratic on joint ballot, it the
vote of Silver Bow county Is counted as cast.
When it was perceived, early in October, that
this would be the case, the Republican mana
gers procured eight affidavits alleging fraud
at Tunnel precinct, in that county. The aft-
dayits said that their authors had voted the
straight Republican ticket, whereas the count
showed only three Republican votes. On
this testimony the county eanvassers threw
out the Tunnel precinct returns. The Re
pubicans thus secured six out of the eleven
members of the Silver Bow delegation. If
the Tunnel precinct returns were counted
they would have but two, the Democrats
having nine. On examining the affidavits the
Democrats of Silver Bow found that three of
them were forgeries and. as for the rest, they
alleged, not, as was stated, that the atlantis
voted the straight Republican ticket, but that
they had voted for ''some' of the Republican
candidates. The affidavits had been doctored,
it seems, by the Republican managers to suit
themselves. Meanwhile the Democrats asked
for mandamus requiring the board to count
the returns of Tunnel precinct. The case
was set for November Z. In the interval the
question at issue came before the court in the
case of Mediation, Democratic candidate for
Judge. and after four days the court made IA
decision ordering the canvassing board to
count the vote of the disputed precinct and
make its return. In the trial Of the Mediation
case the charge of fraud was abandoned aud
the Republican claim was that the Tunnel
precinct returns were irregular in form, the
Judges of election and clerks having signed
10 the wrong places. The next step was an
appeal of the Republican members of the
county canvassing board from the court 5
/ decision-which, in effect, was in Mediation 5
favor-to the Supreme Court of the Territory.
McHatton it may be observed, has taken his
seat on the district bench at Butte. in defiance
of his Republican competitor. On the meet
ing of the state canyassing board the duly
certified vote of Silver Bow county, including
Tunnel precinct, was sent by the county clerk
to the board. together with the order Of the
court directing that precincts vote to be
counted. The board demanded the Original.
returns, which. II is held, it bad no right to
do When they were not forthcoming the
board. using private data, counted the Silver
/ Bow returns with the exception of Tunnel
precinct This il did at a meeting lasting not
over FIVE minutes, and adjourned sine die TO
/ prevent the serving Of maudamus by the
4 Democrats The board thought thus to
/ end the matter. notwithstanding the proceed
Z ings pending in the Supreme Court. The
state law directs clerks Of counties 20 issue
Z certificates Of election TO members OF the
[ Legislature, and the nine Democrats elected
I from Silver Bow hold such certificates. The
+ state board of canvassers, however. took upon
itself illegally, it Is held, to issue like certlh
Gates. favoring. Of course. only FIVE Of the
Silver Bow Democrats. There were, there
/ fore. Saturday at the capital of Montana a
Senate aud two Houses IN the former the
Democrats and Republicans are 10 equal
numbers, so that it Is ia the power Of the
Democrats TO cause deadlock and prevent
the election OF United States Senators II II Is
{ in their interest 10 do so. The Democratic
Senators, in pursuance ofthis deadlock policy,
ahsented themselves last Saturday aud Mon
day so that there was no quorum aIrd no
organization. Ii IL be trne, as stated, that q
Republican state Senator, disgusted with the
methods employed BY his party to secure
/ control OF the Legislature, viii vote With The
Democrats, the latter viii ultimately have a
majority in the Senate. In one oftbc two houses
the Republicans had a majority; in the other
the Democrats bad control. Gov. Tooie, being
a Democrat has declined TO recognize The
Republican House. The outcome Of the
deadlock. it is expected, viii be the appoint
ment By Gov. Toole, after the Adjournment
I OF the Legislature Of two Democratic United
States Senators. As the session Is limited by
{ law 10 ninety days, Montana will. therefore.
/ IL the situation remains unchanged, not be
represented in the Senate al Washington ;IiI
( some time 10 1890.