Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-11
The Doings Of the Democratic
Special Convention in
Caucus.
Democratic Members Want /;
Full and Impartial Investi-
cation Of the Affair.
Republican Committee Refuses
to Come Up to Their Pre-
vious Agreement.
From sundsys Daily.

III HELENA, Dec. 7.-[Hpecial to th,
Miner.l-It has been publicly statet
through the press and otherwise that Ger
tain members Of the state legislature wer,
anxious to compromise with other per
sons also claimants to seats in that body
and such reports being generally warped
and an injustice to MS, the undersigned
would respectfully submit the following
statement for the benefit Of the public and
that our constituents may know that we
are not obstructionists but we're willing to
bring about q settlement of the present
difficulty ON any fair and honorable basis.
i To the end that something definite
might come out Of it, and in difference to
the assurance Of members Of our body
that certain Republicans were acting in
good faith and were willing to act fairly in
bringing about . settlement, . resolution
was offered and passed in our caucus on
the afternoon Of the 4th inst. which read
as follows:
WHEREAS, II is the desire OF the mem.
bsrs OF this body to investigate fully the
question Of fraud at Precinct 81; and
WHEREAS, It has came to the knowledge
OF various members Of this body that it is
the wish and desire OF other legally ele cted
though not qualified members OF the house
OF representatives Of the first legislative
assembly Of the state Of Montana to CO.
Operate with rs in such investigation; now
thereupenbe it
RESOLVED. That the following named
members to wit: Elizur Beach, Peter
Boern. J. G. Twohy, G. K. Hardenbrook
and D. P. McElwee be appointed by the
chair to consult with committee from the
Republican members and devise plan Of
investigation and to report to this
caucus at the earliest possible moment
armed with the caucus permission and a
knowledge OF the justice Of their cause. the |
above named committee repaired to q con. |
venient room on the West side where they |
found in waiting the following named |
gentlemen: "a. G. Witter, D. A. Corey, ].
NJ. Boardman. G. N. Eaton and F. Harring- |
ton, who we're willing to Discuss the situa-
ton rom Republican standpoint"
After lengthy and free discussion OF the
deplorable state Of affairs as now existing,
it was admitted that full investigation OF
the "Tunnel" precinct, about which so
much has been said, would or should
either dispel or confirm the allegations OF
fraud which have been made in regard
to the manner OF conducting the elec-
tion held at that place on Oct. LIST.
The meeting and dissensions was quite
friendly and drew forth from several Re-
publican members the expression that they
were themselves not in possession OF the
facts, but that they understood that fraud
had been practiced at Precinct "a, and
that they were all anxious to have full
and complete investigation. The Demo-
Gratis present. on the other hand, were just
az free to claim that il it were shown that
their five men from Silver Bow were not
righ fully holding their seats they would be
ready and willing to unseat them, end that |
not only the committee, but all the Demo- |
cratic mem bers courted the fullest investi. |
cation. After considerable friendly talk it |
was decided by the joint caucus committee |
that as there was no regularly organized |
body which both sides were willing to recog- |
nize they would endeavor to do the best
they could under the circumstances, and it |
was agreed that each contesting body in |
their caucus should name eight OF their |
members who were known to be conserva-
tive and fair, and that the other side
might in each case reject three OF such
eight, leaving joint committee OF ten
five from each party-who were to take
such measures as they thought best to
bring about the fullest investigation OF the
election held at the disputed precinct. As
the proceedings 80 far were to certain ex-
tent preliminary and subject to confirma-
ton or rejection by the respective parties
in their caucuses, no definite plans OF pro-
cedure were fully agreed upon, but 1t was
,boueht best and concurred in that it
would be well to have q notary public and
stsnographer accompany the Investigation
committee, so that the full proceedings
might be given to the public in an impartial
manner.
It was further agreed that the searcn ior
evidence was to be 80 thorough and com.
plete that any fair-minded man would be
able to easily judge which party to this
controversy has right on it's side.
Having agreed thus far as TO prelim'
inaries the two committees returned
to their respective bodies with the
understanding that they report
progress, receive instructions and meet
asain at IL a. M, on Friday, the 9Th
inst.
The full Democratic house met in caucus
at 7 O'Clock p. M, Thursday evening. and
after full discussion Of the report Of the
committee, decided to meet the other party
iully hall way in any honorable and fair ar
ranuement which would tend to bring
about q settlement OF the present diff
culty. Eight men were chosen who would
be acceptable to act on the final or investi-
eating COMMITTEES, none OF which were from
silver Bow county. as agreed upon.
The Democratic conference committee
vas fully empowered to bind their party to
| any fair agreement that might be proposed
n good faith by the Republican members,
and it was understood that no concessions
| vould be asked that could not be freely