Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-01
A GREAT YEAR
For the Exercise of the Proud
Prerogative of fAmerican
Citizenship.
Some Speculations on How the
Constitutional Convention May
Affect Office Holders.
CONCERNING ELECTIONS

CONCERNING ELECTIONS
And Changes Pending the Work Of the
Constitutional Conven On.
The present year should ,s one Of
unalloyed pleasure for the pA ,fessional
politician; in no previous one, and
probably In none to come. have we
been or will We be favored with as
many opportunities Of exercising the
elective franchise, which Is the proud
birthright Of every American citizen.
From spring ill fall will the excite
ment Of varied campaigns endure and
no less than four distinct opportuni-
ties are to be presented to the citizen
Of Miles City 10 cast his ballot.
Fint will come the school district
electisn 70 be held on the first Satur.
day In April; these elections are not
usually Of . very exciting nature,
but this year they will serve admir-
ably a. an introduction 10 the more
animated contest that are to follow.
Following closely on the heels Of the
school election, In fact only tive days
behind II, comes the municipal or city
election. Heretofore these elections
have by common consent been re-
moved from the sphere Of politics. and
with the exception Of an individual
Independent candidate now and then
there has been but one ticket In the
field; but there are indications that In
the coming election party lines will be
strictly drawn. The great change
that has come upon this common
wealth 10 the pest few days, whereby
10 10 soon 10 take on the robes and dig
nifty Of statehood, renders IL essential
that the opposing parties prepare
Themselves for the battle royal that D
to be wAged In the fall, and to this end
no opportunity for organization or dis.
cipline should be neglected; though
the municipal election bs merely q
skirmish, yet the preparation for and
participation In il under party ban
ners will unquestionably be beneficial
10 each party, and though the Offices
to be filled are far from being sine
cures, the glamour Of success ~ . rep
resentativs party candidate, will nc
doubt bring men 10 the front on each
side who would positively refuse "a
serve a. non-partisan candidates, fol
each party 10 looking for Its strongss,
and best material 10 be put to the from,
later on, and the candidates who show
up we'll In the preliminary skirnish will
undoubtedly be looked upon with favol
BY their party, and booked for futur,
service. And then to, n there 10 {
strict party election, there will be {
heap of satisfaction for the "outs'
holding the opposition party strictly
to account for all the shortcomings o
the administration, q pleasure whiol
has heretofore been denied us.
After the city election comes th,
election for delegates TO the constitu
tionAl convention required by the ad
mission bill to be held on the l4th da,
of May. In this election there are 8,
mAny new and strange provisions tina
II will require much Instruction from
recognized authorities before the ranl
and file of voters can become fAmilla
with them and vote intelligently. Il
the first place the admission bill arbi
trarily fixes the number of delegate
| In the convention at rs and % arb
trarily apportions them. 8 from eac
district without defining what q "di,
trict" is, more than that they shall
In proportion to the population. IL
the duty Of the governor, the chi,
ljustice, and the secretary OF the teri
tory to make the apportionment ,
districts, and we anticipate they wi
have . very pleasant time d,
ing IL. On basis Of figur,
made BY the Helena Herald and whic
seems 10 be correct, Custer count
will not be entitled to more than thr,
delegates In the convention. whsth,
lor not parry Affiliations win rule
the selection Of these delegates, is
matter yet TO be determined but
would that the framing Of . oonstit'
\ tion for tho people was . matter th
4 had little or no politics In u and th
b the endsaver should be made 10 ser
. the ablest and best men errespscti,
70 Of party. The manner Of voting
the consultation delegates 10 peculi
and new 10 US. II is what Is know
90 the neutrality-suspicious. systs
and II briefly explained as follow
There are three delegates 10 be elect
and while every voter has d
privilege Of casting three votes,
cannot vols for more than two del
+ sasss. II Smith, Jones and Robins