Fergus County argus., 1889-10-24
THE SILVER BOW MUpDLE.


The throwing ont OF precinct - in
| silver Bow county, has occasioned n
bitter newspaper controversy ON the
part of the partisan press. 1t is but
natural, also, that the readers of these
papers should he biased according { q
their political faith. But there j. no
more patient and discreet than the
politicians and their mouthpieces. II
IL a good time To bc temperate. u is
q time when truth moves slow ana
falsehood ilieS on swIftest wings. Let
the people show their fitness for state
hood by teaching the politicians les
son in prudence and honesty. Let
them demand nothing but what is
lust and right. remembering that there
are alwaystwo sides I o every question.
The Republican side of this question
is about as follows: That at the re-
cent election. IN Precinct "a. Silver
Bow county. three Judges conducted
the election inst cad of five. as required
by law; when the polls closed the
doors were locked and the windows
were covered with paper; the clerks
were excluded and did not sign the
returns as required by law; that the
returns showed three republican votes.
whereas eight men have made afIida-
Wits that they voted the Republican
ticket.
On the above grounds the canvass
ing board threw out the precinct, and
with il los democratic majority,
thereby electing five republican repre-
sentatives and several county officers.
The Democrats deny a part OF the
allegations made in reference to the
manner OF conducting the election.
The election was held in tent, in
which the Judges remained until the
chilly night air drove them to warmer
quarters. They claim there was no
paper over the windows and that no
one was excluded, except one man for
drunkenness. They chiefly deny the
right of the returnin. board to throw
out the precinct; that it's functions
were purely clerical. and that it was
the duty OF the board to make the
returns as it found them. They charge
the Republicans with an attempt Ia
steal the legislature.
As soon a. the decision OF the can
eassing board was given, "a writ oi
manslamus was ISSUED. thus throwing
{ he matter into the courts. The cas-.
will come up before Judge Dew ollie for
a decision ON November 9Th, though
it is hardly probable the matter will
end there. 1t is to be hoped the
powers of "A ret turning board will bs
! fully determined before n final decis-
ION is reached, aS able lawyers now
entertain decidedly opposite opinions.
How long the admission oi Montana
will he delayed is IA question. The sit
uation is somewhat complicated. The
Great Falls Leader. a Republican
paper, speaking on this point says:
The action of the returning board
is final until it il overturned by "A com
petent court OF last resort. The leg.
islature il self is the rightful authority v
to determine the election and qualiti
cation OF its members Congress itself
has not presumed to invade this
right. We say, let the legisls, ar,
assemble as constituted under tn,
provisions of the e"....Iiing act and il
there are contested seats let them he
deter llped in the manner and form
/ Tpsascribed by law and time immemo
rial precedent
Whether this course will be pursued
or whether Montana will stay out in
the cold until the -cOurts have rendered
a final decision in the ease of precinct
"a. is not clear at present. Develop
ments in the situation will be watched
with much interest in the next lew
days. One thing seems certain, and
that is, Montana will he the last
Territory admitted.