The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-12
Jhe LATEST MOVE

Under ordinary circumstances yes
terdny's performances In Helena would
rate IAN u passing pleasantly. n group
Of men who do NOT make "a quorum. An
suming Ia speak for u senate that 10
newer been organized and associated
with ~ lower house wl,er the majority
in made up of members neve elected
bv the people. sends out M alleged
sergeant ut arms whose authority for
the work assigned him IN no more sub
stantial than that Of any unwaslcd
tramp.
The policy of the republicans IL boy
ish, yet u rascally purpose il bchi nd IL.
The inspiration for yesterdays ma We
mcnt came all the way from the ma
tional capital where In certain circles
the notion prevails that IL the party's
managers can push Ia completion any
plan. however absurd ar dishonest, the
federal senate will take care of the rest,
never thinking ar caring what the wish
Of the people at this state may be:
Montana republicans putting them
selves meanwhile in position. il need
hc. Ia reach u compromise on the qucs-
ton Of senator's. Whatever else they
do, the representatives of Monta ma
democracy must never agree to u divis
ION of hOnOrs an this question. IL must
be two senators ar none.
The reasons for this are apparent.
More than once the STANDARD has
pointed out the fact that Helena is
constantly diverting attention from h
real issue by making prominent this
senatorial fight which is relatively of
insignificant Ia the people Of
the state. The wranglc over senatorial
honors concerns only u group of greedy
aspirants Ia whom the people are in no
sense indebted and Whose assumption
at personal lain or peculiar merit
is entirely ~gratuitous. The aim at
these men is to score u personal triumph,
to rise Ia power out If the confusion
and IL WAS toward accomplishing that
end that W. r. Sanders, eN-t;overnor
White. the Silver Row canvassing board
and their associates deliberately planned
fraud and secured ~ dishonest count.
All this selfish scheming has nothing
whatever to do with the question that
disturhs the people. Their anxiety il
to know whether one man ran Ito the
voting for an entire community.
whether majorities honestly scored are
to count. whether popular elections are
u fraud and u farce. whether. in its first
general vote. Montana proposes Ia es-
tablish u precedent that will hereafter
permit whole precincts tn I've tossed this
way ar that. as best suits the purpose
Of any little band of conspirators.
Make the rejection Of the tunnel pre-
cinct u precedent. and coming elections
will find many u polling place in this
state the object of easy dicker and the
instrument for defying the popular
will and il wont take millionaires to
do il either.
The people to know whether
these things are to he. and the out
come is Of more a Ia them than
~ seats in the feder senate. In this
view of the situation. compromise is
worse than ahJect surrender. Compro.
mise means confusion for the present
peril for the future. and endless barter
over every subject that i'm the futur,
may come mp for Legislative action.
II is probable that yesterdays non.
sense will Ice h basis of al effort a.
give illegitimate birth tn TIVE rcpubli
can senators. That il the conspiracy
aim n end. IL is an episode in
which the people have small interest.