The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-13
CONVENTION GOSSIP.
Captain Couch Would Have Nothing 70 Do
with It

With It
BurrE, Sept. 12.-lSpecial. The absence
Of Captain Tom Couch from the conven-
tion aroused good deal Of discussion.
The party leaders talked about the matter
at odd moments and endeavored to formu-
late some scheme to bring him to tho fold.
They appointed committee to bring him
to the convention for the purpose Of shak-
ing hands with Mantle and calling every
thing square. But he was not that sort Of
. captain. He sent word that he would
have nothing to do with tho convention in
any way and hear he instructed his alter
nate TO ssy that he was democrat from
now on. This rumor came TO me from a
Mantle man and therefore may be taken
with grain OF allowance. The captain a
friends, however, tell me that he is very
sore over his treatment from the republican
party and particularly the Inter Mountain.
He proposes to have nothing TO do with the
leaders and will leave the party to take
care of itself. George Haldorn, one Of
COUGHS lieutenants. remarked that Mantle
would not let him walk on the same side of
the street. He says the fight between the
factions will grow hotter particularly when
the political snow storm that Couch pre-
diets comes.
Another man who thinks he was very
badly treated is Captain Lyons. After
years Of hard work for the republican
party he only asked to be elected delegate
to the state convention. He claims to have
carried his precinct In better shape than
could have been done by any other man.
He was left out by Ed Booth, who was on
the committee to choose delegates. The re-
suit was that Lyons says he notified Booth
to keep away from the convention and
Booth obeyed orders. Lyons also has It in
for Martin Luther Holland. He says he is
responsible for Hollands success and now
that his treachery has been shown Martin
Luther will be made to suffer when the right
time comes. 1t was, ON the other hand,
rumored that Lyons was not made dele
gate because it was thought he might make
too much noise in the convention.
Richards was about at times with the del
egates but he took no part in the consulta.
tions. His presence of course was utterly
ignored by the Mantle men and he seemed
to have no place. The Helena men and the
Mantle leaders did all the jobbing and Of
Richards was useful only when ruling
was wanted they had no use for him on
this occasion.
l was told by prominent though quiet
worker that if Carter's declination had
been positive A. G. Witter Of the rumI
house would have been nominated. He
seemed to have been overlooked in the list
of possible candidates and yet he would
have united all factions and represent the
west side at the same time. His leading
opponent might have been Hon. Charles s.
Hartman, of Bozeman. Hartman
seemed to attract very little attention for a
possible candidate. His appearance is not
particularly striking. A state officer made
a very good comparison when he remarked
that Hartman looked very much like the
patent medicine cut of the individual
''before taking" Hartman ls fair speaker
but no better in this respect than Witter.
Many delegates were about this morning
looking "for friend.' When one dele
gate went into Clark's bank to get check
cashed he found eight delegates in line
there for the same purpose. All were satis-
fed that it costs money to see the Butte
elephant, but then they argued that he ID
worth seeing. NJ. ]. H.