The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-19
POLITICAL GOSSIP.

yc0soAuoy WueH Ae Ieao lHE INDEPENDENT
What surprised him most was tho fact tina,
his being in the postmastership race is nov
public property. The friends of Jimmy
Walker were taken by storm and have raj
lied to his support. They include host Of
young and old republicans who now con-
slider Mr.. Morris strong competitor
There is trouble brewing in the ranks. II
has been settled for some time among the
influential republicans that the postmaster
ship should so to Mr.. Morris, but it is un.
derstood now that nothing more will be
done in the matter until after the cam
paign. The friends of both candidates are
confident of ultimate success. It is said
that Mr.. Carter has promised the friends Of
each contestant that their favorite shall get
the plum. With the accent on the prom
ise."
Marysville has been the scene Of two po-
litical meetings during the past week. In
each case miners composed the larger por-
ton of the audience. Miners, and espec-
tally the miners of Montana. are class of
intelligent men and in every cabin will be
found standard publications and one or
two of the more influential journals of the
east, besides the home papers. A stump
speaker will find it hard task to befool
them on proposition of political economy
or national affairs. Many of them are
foreign born and have experienced life on
both continents. 1t was such audiences as
these that Hon. T. H. Carter and Hon, Il.
B. Smith addressed during the week. Mr..
Carter made his first campaign speech
there. He was disappointment as an
orator, and one brawny-fisted miner in the
audience, who interrupted the congressman
at intervals by propounding questions on
the tariff and on the silver question, to the
surprise of everybody present. completely
worsted the usual oily-tongued ora
tor. He made total failure
in trying to answer some of the
questions, and 1t is said by gentleman
whose word cannot DO questioned and who
"took i'm the situation with great gusto,
that this miner made Mr.. Carter appear
ridiculous.
On the other hand, nearly the same audi
ence greeted Hon. Il. B. Smith. Mr.. Smith
also went through series of interrooa-
tories. If there is one thing more than an
other that Mr.. Smith delights in it is to an
swer an intelligent question at political
gathering. He realizes he is there to in
struct. "Mr. Smith fairly cut the fellow of
at the knees" is the way non-partisan
gentleman expressed the democratic states
mans ability in promptly answering every
question propounded. land he did it to the
satisfaction of not only the republican
miner who Intercepted him, but to all
present." This little indulgence of repartee
at the meeting worked the audience up to a
high degree of enthusiasm, and the meeting
was brilliant success.
There was one thing which troubled Mr.,
Carter at Marysville. II was the silver
question, and upon the subject he showed
great delicacy. He could not convince the
miners, who delve in the Drum Lummon
for the white metal, that silver is worth
more at price Of $l.09N per ounce, than
it the democratic party's standard of
$l.a9 per ounce was in vogue. Some of
those present say that Mr.. Carter's Marys-
vile meeting was by no means bowling
success, or ANYTHING like success.
Here is little incident of every day
nowadays life that illustrates the work
ings of the Mckinley bill: Yesterday, a
German proprietor Of lunch counter on
Upper Main street, and last fall red-hot
Carter man, dropped into u furnishing
goods house on Main street to make pur-
chase. The clerk, who was well acquainted
with his politics. inquired about Carter's
chances for reelection. "You don't take
me for fool to vote for Carter after the
price of sardines has gone mp three cents a
can, do you?" Waa his laConic answer az he
walked ont.