The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-24
THE RuMP HOUSE.
What the HPublieans Did nj sanders
Main Street Meeting.

Main Street Meeting.
Shortly before noon there was s.nall
group Of republicans before the main ell
trance Of the Iron Front building on lower
Main street discussing the situation. After
some inquiry il WAS ascertaincd that the
alleged lower house of the Legislature was
about to he organized. People soon began
tn tramp up the stairs through a long hall.
out 10 the rear of the building. aud then
into long bare room. Here there were
about thirty men roaming about, talk
ing IN groups and endeayoring To keep
warm. II was cherries scene. In one
corner stood n stepladder, the floor wis
strewn with chips and shavings-just AS the
carpenters had left it-and the windows
were bedaubed with lime, while the large
door squenked a doleful acoompani-
ment 90 the chill wind that blew in
and mnde the spectators crowd together.
A stove WAS soon brought in and set up.
while several members rustled around for
| chairs and other furniture. raid was
made on a family living near by. and a
kitchen inble-its top glistening with
grease-aecured. This WIS carried i'm the
room and placed nj one end Ia do duty as
| the speakers desk.
Most Of the visitors NJ the side show
| were republican county officials. the only
prominent absentcos being sheriff Jofi.ris
and County Clerk Tooker. Hershfcld was
there. with his adviser. Bernard. Seligman
WIS there, too, well wrapped up, endenyor-
ing TO look cheerful and 30 give the impress
| sion thnt the gathering about tn be- called
| ~ order WIS one branch of the legislature
| of Montana. number of men went down
| Ia the room early, hut nftor looking in and
| seeing what miserable placo had been
| selected for the meeting. went up town
before anything was done. y. ID. Weed.
district attorney, give directions Hs to the
best way to put up nn $s-dollar sheet-iron
| stove a. get the most warmth ont Of IL. and
Marshal Irwin of Butte kept an eye on tne
| members who were rustling for stove wood,
90 see that they did not thoughtlessly 90 up
| to The court house, where the house WIZ
| about Ia convene. Tom Power did not ar
rive very curly, M he had been dcputizcd 10
keep watch ON the court house proceed
ings.
ly the time noon had arrived enough
chairs and tables were obtained to supply
the members
preliminary rap on the table admon.
ishrd members and unlookers 10 take off
their hats. All Eyes were on Auditor Kim
ney, who stood hehnd the table. Tho dim
light of November sun struggled through
the dirty window panoH and lit up the faces
of the members, ''Sicklod o'er With the pale
cast uf thought
Mr.. Kenncy rnpped again aud sad:
"Gouilpmen Of the first house of repre-
sentntiyes of the state of Montana loud
applausel. by section 1,j29 of the fifth di-
vision of the general laws, IL is my duty 10
call You ~ order; and | now do 80. | have
q certificate showing the following persons
were elected members Of this house." He
then rcnd list containing the names Of
those to whom the state canvnssing board
had issued certificates.
ID. A. Cory WIS then made secretary pro
tom.
Mr., kennoy informed the members that
for all the purposes of organization the
names Of those gentlemen which had been
called would he recognized as members
This brought forth some loud applause. |
The state auditor then inquired II Chief
Justice Blake WIS in the room. The
Judge walked up the nsle amid n |
storm ~ applause, and as soon m ne cOuldhe
heard. requested the mombcrs 10 stand up
md be sworn. He pulled from his over
coat pocket q roll of legal cap. and, with |
one hand uprnised, administered the fol- |
lowing oath to the members; IL do sUleinny |
swonr that ! will support, protect and de- |
fend the constitution Of the United States |
and the constitution Of the state of Mon
fana. and that will discharge the duties |
Of my Office with fidelity. and that l have
not paid or contributed. or promised to pay |
or contribute, either directly or indirectly, |
amy money or other valuable thug, TO pro- |
cure my nomination or election, except for |
necessary or proper expenses, expressly |
authorized by lnN, md that | have not !
knowingly violated any election law of this |
state, or procured II TO be done by |
others IN my behalf; that | will not |
knowingly receive, directly or in
directly, any money or other valuable
thing for the performance OF non performs
nnce Of any act or duty pertaining 60 my |
Office ns member of the house Of repre-
sentatiyes Of the first legislative assembly
of the stntc of Montana, other than the
compensation allowed 10y law So help me
God"
Another loud burst Of applause mingled
with cheers then came from the crowd in
the renr Of the hall.
The Judge pui the roll of legal cap on the
table, which had been covered with paper to |
keep things from slipping of Of It, and
asked the members 10 step up aud subscribe
10 the oath. There WIS Il hitch III the pro-
coedlngs for minute. The worthy auditor |
hRd overlooked such small thing as pen,
A Denver newspaper man who sat neaI by
kindly supplied one, while another member
Of the fraternity rendered the use of q small
piece of blotting paper which he happ, ned
to have in his note book, ~ dry up the ink
After all signed f.. IL. Goodman, of
Meagher county, moved that the house pro
coed 10 permanent organization. just as
ID. A. Cory, Of Lewis and Clarke, got up and
placed A. G. Witter, Of Bcayerhead county
III nomination for speaker, a handsomely
dressed lady chme up the middle aisle carry
ing large bouquet of natural flowers, which
she placed on the speaker table. She then
turned 10 the members and said the floral
offering was for the first house of represen-
tatives of the state of Montana. As she re-
tired from the floor loud olapping of hands
greeted her IL was like gleam of sun