Great Falls tribune., 1889-12-11
THE DEMOCRATIC OFFER.

Fisher, Hedges, Rutherford, Thompson
and Babcock, republican senators OF the
first Legislative assembly Of the state OF
Montana:
Gentlemen-We assume that in com
mon with the rest Of our fellow citizens
and the people of the country at large,
YOU fully understand the reason why we,
The democratic senators-elect to the frst
Legislative assembly of tile state OF Mon
tana have not Joined with you IN an OF,
ganization of the body to which we ana
you were duly elected.
We have held and still hold that the
republican members-elect OF the co-oro1-
nate branch of the legislature in refusing
to comply with the governors proelamaee q
ton designating the time and place OF
meeting for that body. and in organizing
as separate body to which they admit
ted members not elected either in law OF
in equity, was revolutionary III Its char.
acter and in defiance of constitutional
authority. .f..
Believing that the meeting of the sen
ate under such circumstances, with dit
ference of opinion among its members as
to which of the two bodies claiming to be
the coordinate branch of the legislature
should be recognized, We have pursued
the only urse.Which we believed would
tend to the preservation Of peace and the
avoidance of further disorder and contu-
sion, and refrained from joining with you
| in the organization of the senate.
Recognizing, however, that there may
be those among your members or among
your constituents who may have honest
doubts as to the fairness and integrity OF
the election at precinct "a in Silver Bow
county, over which all the unfortunate
existing differences have arisen, and wish
ing in common with all law-abidlng citl-
zens to do everything in our power to
bring about speedy and honorable ad-
iustment Of the controversy which is SO
detrimental to our business interests and
damaging to the name Of our state, we re-
spectfully invite you to join us in full,
fair and searching inquiry into the man
ner in which the election was conducted
at said precinct "a, with view to throw
ing out every vote found to have been
fraudulently cast thereat.
If you will select three out of the eight
democratic senators for that purpose we
will in /. like manner, select three of the
: republican senators to JON in such inves
tigation.
! We pledge you on our part to make
such inquiry as thorough and complete
!, as you may desire.
! In our opinion in such investigation al
0 technicalities should be avoided, cour
!. proceedings, newspaper comments ane
= canvassing board decisions, Lassed over
: and the inquiry directed solely to th'
9 question of fraud at said precinct, with
+ view to throwing out every fraudulen
d ballot, and the ascertainment OF the true
result of said election.
. Hoping that you may agree with ns
AZ ~, Is fi1rr
It of a fair and honorable settlement OF th'
1t differences between our respective parties
; we remain yours with great respect
:. JOSEPH A. BAKER, g. W. HOFFMAN,
w. M. THORNTON, r. q. Redd,
Is WIN. PARBERRY, G. j. MCNAMARA,
9. y. HENNEssY, w. S. BECKER.
h The republican senators had not &C
e cepted this liberal offer up to noon today
a The comments of the Journal and Herald
e indicate that they will not. Nevertheless
we are glad the democrats made it. Ii
: the first place it goes to the root of thu
b present strife for republicans must admi
s that if the vote at Precinct "a was fair
: free and honest, they have not a leg t.
}, stand on, and all the subsequent proceed
g lQRS on 6lLueF Slub are VI Ao aSCouu1'
a Of course, all kinds of objections cal
: be raised. The Herald, for instance
e wants an Official inquiry, but it know
+ full we'll that no legislative inquiry cal
d be held under the present circumstances
J, These circumstances are exceptiona
s and extraordinary They call for excep
n tional remedies In making the abov
e offer the democrats have gone as far a
c they ought be expected to go. We bt
lieve that fair minded republicans wi
l. think SO. ..---.-
IN In France or England parliamentar
a. dead Jock is generally followed by dl
oe solution Of parliament We believe th
re if this proposal fails, the democrats woul
n, be willing to go to the people on t.
es issue, which the republican bolters hay
lis raiseds Governor Toole cannot order
nd general election, but if all the memte
ss- of the senate and house resign he cou
Its order eecti Jns in each county, Whit
nd would amount to same thing. But II
o. offer printed above is SO fair, 80 genero1
les and so comprehensive that the democra
ed can afford to abide by it and not impo
on the state the cost OF a general electlt
I'd unless the people emphatically demand