St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-16
SORTING OVER PLUMS
The Various Offices Which
Montana Republicans Will
Seek to Parcel Out,
And a Pretty Complete List
Of Those Who Will Ask
Party Favors.
It VIII BE Difficult to Please
All Sections of the Great
Territory.
The Fine Italian Hand Of Rus
sell B. Harrison Is Al
ready Seen.

Special to the Globe
HELENA, Mont, Aug. 15.-The Re-
publican convention 10 nominate state
officers and a representative in congress
assemblies Thursday OF next week at
Anaconda, and the Democratic conven-
ton meets at the same place the sue
ceeding Monday, the Goth inst. These
events are exciting great deal of in
terest and speculation, as upon their
action will largely depend the political
complexion of the state of Montana
for years to come. The prestige of
a victory at the first state election will
90 far toward influencing succeeding
elections. And besides the prizes to be
contested for on Oct. l, there are the
senatorshipS, which will excite quite as
much rivalry as all of the state offices
combined. The situation, as l have
found it after several weeks of close
observation, is very interesting. The
election last fall, which will naturally
be taken AS the basis of computations,
was subject TO peculiar conditions,
which had not previously existed, and
which eXis: now, if at all, in greatly
modified form. 1t is undeniable that
there was not in 1888 that
UNITY IN DEMOCRAI1C RANhS
which is an essential of success. Apart
from this, certain of the wOuld-be Dem
Ocratic leaders permitted themselves to
be drawn into discussion upon matters
which should not have been permitted
to enter at all into the canvass-sub-
jects more personal to themselves than
vital to the party, but which were
adrOitly turned to account by the Re-
publicans. The party lacked OrganiZa-
ton, too, while the Republicans were
more thoroughly combined than they
had ever been before. Their nominee for
congress deyeloved great strength.
particularly as a campaign hand-Shaker
and baby kiSSer, and succeeded in en-
listing in his support elements that had
hitherto acted with the Democratic
party. 1t is more than questionable if
even Mr.. Carter could have the same
success in a second election. Much was
made of the failure of the last congress
to pass an admission bill, and this, with
out doubt, cost the party many votes at
the election of last fall, which the ac-
tiOn of congress in its last session has
probably reclaimed. Besides, the
MEDDLING OF RUSSELL B. HARRISON
in the distribution of federal patronage
in Montana has left ranking sores in
the party, which it will be difficult to
heal, especially when, as appears likely
to be the case, l.. H. HerShfield, who
led the party to victory last fall, is sent
to the rear because he aSpired to the
territorial governorshiD without the
royal sanction. The phenomenal sue
cess of Thomas II. Carter, delegate
elect, has made him, by general
consent the leading, if not the only,
aSpirant for the congressional nomina-
In Sc
most formidable rival is F. T.. Sargent,
of Butte. Mr.. Carter's prominence in
this regard seriously interfereS with the
ambition of another Helena gentleman
who would like to be governor. 1t is
conceded (outside this city that Helena
cannot have all the offices, and as Car
ter is to be the nominee for representa-
tive, Thomas z. Power will probably
have to submit to some one west of the
range walking away with the guberna-
tor al prize. Democrats will regret this,
for they regard Mr.. Power as less
formidable candidate than Judge
Knowles, of Butte, whom the
MANTLE-WARREN COMBINE
would like to see nominated for gov
ernor, in order that he may not be
rival of Lee Mantle for the United
States senatorship. Judge Knowles Is
ton, but can scarcely be said to have
distinguished himself in that body, ex-
cept as bitter opponent of Helena in
the fight over the location of the capital,
which has just closed. He was nomi-
mated for delegate to congress by
the Republicans in 1884, and would
have been elected had he held his own
with other nominees of his party in
Helena, which fact may have had
something to do with his recently dis.
played hostility to this city. His course
in the last fortnight has not been such
as to strengthen him in the eyes OF east
slders. The present governor of the
territory. B. F. White, of Dillon, has
been gently whispered as an available
man for governor of the state. His fol-
lowing, however. is small, although he
has been a fairly good executive. Lee
Mantle, whom have just mentioned as
scheming for the United States senator
ship, is a comparatively young man
not over forty-smooth of face and
tongue, but notslacking in either the
power or the will to crush foe when
occasion seems to warrant. He has
been twice or thrice elected to the ter
ritorial legislature, and at the last ses-
sion of that body was
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
He has risen to his present prominence
from rather humble beginning-So
humble that perhaps he would not thank
me to go into particulars. While he is
fair speaker, his attainmentS are not
such that his election to the senate
would reflect as great credit upon the
new state as is desirable. Mr.. Mantle
and his business and political partner,
Charles S. Warren, have not the pulp
in Rutte that thew formerly held as was
shown both at the municipal election last
spring, and at the election of delegates
to the constitutional convention in MAY.
A senator will probably be chosen from
the East side, and for that position the
name most frequently mentioned is
Col. Wilbur f. Sanders, but it has been
the fate of this gentleman to be often
mentioned, and seldom chosen. He
has host of admirers and a squad of
friends-in politics. 1t would not be
surprising if, in spite Of the fact that
Sanders is
THE OLD WAR HORSE.
of his party, he should be outrun in the
race for the senatorship by some less
tried and less mettleSOme Steed. 1t is
the fortune of men of Col. Sanders
ability to be made the target of envy's
shafts. In bertain contingencies it is
not unlikely that It. Ii. Carter may
spring up as rival of Col. Sanders for
United States senator. The principal
offices being thus disposed of, it is to be
noted that only Helena and Butte have
been given any share in the loaves and
fishes. There remain, however, the
lieutenant goVernOrShip and the offices
of secretary, treasurer. attorney general
and auditor. A pact which can scarcely