Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-13
THE MONTANA MIDDLE.
HOW tho situation That Led TO
the Election of Four Senators Came
About-The End No Ono OAn Fore

HELENA, Mon, Feb. 10.-Thomas o.
Power, the last Of Montane's four al
legged senators to leave for Washington,
has started on his journey to the cspitsl,
and all four of the contestants will ap-
pear before the Senate committee on
privileges and elections next Saturday.
The situation is probably the most COM
plicated that the committee ever had to
deal with. The Democratic contestants
will urge the Benate to investigate all
the circumstances from the beginning,
and if the Senate SO decides, curious
piece of political history will be told to
tine country.
The election of 1889 was remarkable
for the closeness Of the vote. The Demo-
Gratis elected their governor by 300 ma
jority and the Republicans the other state
officers by $50 to 400 majority. The state
senate was tie and on the face OF tho
returns the Democrats carried the house
by four majority. The Republicans be-
gan to look about for grounds for contest
and found that in Silver Bow county owe
precinct, a railroad camp, had polled 1853
Democratic and only 8 Republican votes.
They concluded that this looked like fraud
and, as the returns were slightly irregu-
lar in form, two of tho three Republican
the entire vote Of the precinct. The
effect was to defeat 6vc Democratic cam
didates for representatives who were
elected on the face of the returns. The
Democrats applied to Justice De Wolf Of
the territorial supreme court for writ of
mandsmus compelling tho osnvassers to
count the rejected vote. This was granted,
but before the physioal act of recounting
was done the state board Of oanvassers,
then in sssaion, counted the vote of the
state by counties.
This state board was composed Of the
territorial governor, secretary, and chief
Justice, all Republicans. 1t counted all
of the vote from Silver Bow 0xoept the
disputed precinct, and issued certificates
to the five Republicans from Silver Baw.
The Silver Bow csovassers, acting under
Judge De Wolfe's writ of mandamus,
| finally counted the vote of the disputed
precinct, and the comfy clerk Issued GER
| tificates to the five Democratic represen-
| tatiyes Thus tive sets of representatives
| lone with county clerks certificates and
| the other with state canvas6ing board
rtificates-tuyned up in Helena to claim
seats. The Republicans bad 20 members
| Of the house whose seats were not con
tested and .he Democrats "a, Each party
had five claimants for the disputed seats.
Neither side would give way and COLI
sion wGs imminent.
At this iunoture Governor Toolo iseued
supplemental proclamation designating
rooms in The court houss for the place OF
meeting and setting forth that those hav-
ing county clerks certificates would be
recognized as having prims facie right
to seats. The Republicans theSeuPon re-
fused to meet at the court houae, and
hiring a hall elsewhere In the city organ
izsd o House OF their own, with 81
members. TIE Democrats met and organ
lied with 80 members. The eight Demo
cratic senators fol several day refrsined
from taking the oath of Office 10 the
hope that the two houses would compro
mise and get together. The eight Re-
pubiicans were powerless to organize the
senate. The Democratic senators offered
to Join the Republicans on equal
terms and investigate the election
, In Silver Bow. The Democratic
house offered to name committee
of five to meet en- Gqual COMMITTEES OF the
house for like purpose. Both offers
, were refused by the Republicans, as were
: several similar propositions at different
, times. The Democratic house was recog-
/ nized by the governor in sending hi
, message to the legislature. The Demo
, cratic senators finally took the oath o
office, but decided that they would not
vote until the two houses got together
acknowledgement Richards, as Speaker
. Reed has since done, decided that ht
/ would count them in making up a quorum
, which the Republicans in that body
! lacked Thus q 80 called organization
was effected, and at the proper time
, joint session was held for electing United
States senator's.
! Tbs eight Republican senators Joined
1 the Republican house and elected San
ders and Power, the Democrats absent
i ing Themselves. The Democratic Hous
a and the Democratic senators few day
later, acting under advice from Demo
Gratis at Washington, also held an election
q and chose Maginnis and CLARK. Th
Democrats had all along contsnded thu
a elected United States senators so 90
carry on the fight at Washingtonto beta
advantage.
After the United States senators wer
elected Colonel Sanders had one of tn
Republican representatives from Silve
Bow, whose sent was in dispute, to brin
suit in the supreme court for salary an
, mileage. He got q decision reviewin
. the whole question as to which set {
/ certificates were valid. The court hel
that, while under tho territorial statute
= 1t was the duty of the county clerks
: issue certificates, yet SO the ordinance
= = the constitutional convention gave th
= state board OF cRnvasgers tho power
y count the votes of the counties, 1t in
i' plieilv rnys IL the RIGHT to issue c6rtif
! Gates. The court did not raise the que
. ticn as to whether the state board issue
certificates to the right men, but hel
:, that their possession gave their holder
, prima facie right to membership. II
/. on this decision that Colonel Sanders an
his colleague expect to be awarded seal
= in the United States Senate.
= The decision has not led to any chnuf
= In the situstion in Helena. Both hous,
y stand lust where they did. In the sens
Y the lieutenant governor has continued
- count Democrats who are present and
not vote to form quorum. Last wei
y his rulings were so fRrcical that seven
!, y the Democratic senators went on pie
sure trip out of the state, and the eight
~ was on his way out when arrested by
!, sheriff and brought back to Helena. III
y Republicans held him prisoner in Il
- senate chamber and ratified through bill
y with eight votes. The Democratic mer
y Der sat silent, bat was counted to make
~ quorum. No one can foresee the end
u the muddle.
;s THIRTR WERE DkOWSBD.
80 So
sinking OF a Tow Boat at Men
IS nnin Thirty Drowned Out OF