The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-20
HARMONY IN SILVER BOW.
How Lee Mantle Was Done Up In tn
Republican Convention.

Republican Convention.
| BUTTE, Aug. I9.-[Special 10 the indie
pendent An is not plain sailing in the
republican camp of Silver Bow county,
and tIls was forcibly illustrated at the
primaries at the eleventh hour of Saturday
night. A little scene was enacted which
bids fair to prove as serious to republican
success as did the bad break In the cOnven-
ton just previous 10 the last municipal
election, when the friends OF J. Z. Rick
ards received such a snub. The man who
WAS particularly snubbed on that occasion
was A. T. Bray. He placed Mr Richards
In nomination for mayor. when one of the
ring delegates moved a recess, which was
taken. This was for the purpose Of hold
ing q caucus at which Bray was whipped
into the traces. When the convention re-
assembled nothing more was heard OF
Richards, and Bray laid low. He was
promised the position of postmaster for
his fine work as treasurer Of the county
committee last fall, and il stood him In
hand 10 obey orders. He hasn't got the
postOfhce yet and is not likely 70,
but the promise will undoubtedly
be renewed the coming campaign.
Bray has 3 large following among
the English voters, aud it was noticeable
that he was not an enthusiast during the
city election. Richards friends rebuked
the insult heaped upon him at the next
election by electing him to the cOnstitu-
tiOnal convention.
At Saturdays convention q new and
heretofore disinterested republican lOomed
up as power in politics. This was Capt
Couch, superintendent Of the Boston and
Montana company. which supports the
town Of Mesderyille and gives employment
70 nearly as many men as the Anaconda
company. Couch secured control OF the pri-
maries, and IL is rumOred he is desirOus
of going 10 the state senate as a
starter. He does not love Lee
Mantle and il was to rebuke him that the
captain took such an active interest In the
primaries. His plans were cleveTly laid
and were carried out with the assistance
Of ex-MayOr Hamilton and JnO. A. Can
nou. Mantle had friends in the conven-
tion, but they were pledged to COUGHS
scheme, and stood by him as long as they
could. A committee on resolutions was
appointed and Mr.. Mantle was made chair
man of that committee, but the conven-
ton never called for the committees re-
port, and some that did call for it were
ruled out of order; the result was that the
delegates to Anaconda will go with
out knowing the sense of the
convention as TO who they shall
favor for state Offices and representative In
congress. For the first time in the history
of republican politics in this county, Lee
Mantle was not elected as q delegate 70 a
territorial convention. OF course Mr Man
tie was sensitive of the rebuke, and Couch
smiled in his sleeve. This was more than
his friends could stand. and at last, Just
before adjournment, County Commissioner |
Jack got up and made a speech. He said |
his personal regard for Mr.. Mantle counted |
for nothing at this time, but he challenged |
any man in the convention to say that Mr..
Mantle was not republican from the back
bone; the most loyal and earnest worker
the party ever had in the county
and but for whose executive ability the
party would not have scored the victories
it had Of recent years. He eulOgized Mr..
Mantle, and under the influence of Mr..
Jacks forcible language enthusiasm for
Mantle Increased and on motion Of Dewitt !
he was substitutee for John A. Cannon as
q delegate by acelsmRtion. But Mr.. Man |
tie is not man 10 accept such an honor |
and Informed the convention that be re- |
fused to be delegate but appreciated tie |
compliment The Couch brigade lacked /
the courage OF their convictions, but |
nevertheless the breach is there ana
It is daily widening. Mantle will |
not permit himself TO be thrown |
'outside the bresstwOrks," but from this |
time on il Will be battle TO the political |
death between Couch and Mantle.
The democrats srs fully alive TO the sit
uatiOn and are calmly reviewing IT, The /
secret of republican success here is OF gani-
zation, and in this the democrats have
Deen deficient They Will Organize, how
ever, and organize quick. They will start
clubs In every ward and adjacent village /
and will not waste time commenting on
the strength OF weakness of the enemy. The
INDEPENDENT sounded the keynote of the
situation when il recently said editOrially
that "The first duty OF democrats is % or
ganize and the second is 10 organize and
the third is 70 organize" The outlook for
success here is brighter than
in many years