The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-11-12
REMARKABLE

rottenness of some of the precincts were
scurrying around this morning and hur-
rying up the action of the local canvass
ing board. The law requires that the
district judge shall be a member of the
canvassing board. Judge Benton, how
eyer, was not asked to become a member.
Mr.. Wegner and J. P. Dyas, both demo-
caats, were put on the board. The votes
were hurriedly counted, when the poll
book of North Great Falls was reached
it was found to be cut open, showing
plainly that it had been tempered with.
This is a precinct which is rotten
throughout. As has been decided, how
ever, by the supreme court, the local
board has very little to do with the mat
ter, which will now go up to the state
board.-Leader.
The esteemed Leader is as cruel to its
political friends as to its enemies. The
above most remarkable combination of
f%alsehoods and ~mendacity proves it in IL
most decided manner.
In the first place the democratic
bosses" had nothing whatever to do with
the calling of the returning board to-
gether or with It's actions in any partlcu-.
lar. On Saturday, when the returns
had all been received, County Clerk
Crosby, a republican, informed the
resident commissioners, Messrs. Hawkins
and Wegner, of the fact and said they h d
better canvass the votes Monday morn
ing. TITS was agreed upon. There was
no hurry or 'skurrying around' about it.
The entire matter was in the hands of re-
publicans and they fixed the time.
Now as to the organization of the
board. Commissioners Hawkins and
Wegner were present. On motion of
Mr.. Wegner (democrat) Judge Race
(republicanJ was invited to be the
third member of the canvassing
board. He could not be reached
by telephone and Mr.. Wegner
went after him in person. Judge Race
appeared and stated that as he was a can
didate or the ticket he would not serve.
Judge Dyas being the only other magis-
trate in the city, he was asked to serve
and did so. Was there any effort in this
proceeding to make it a partisan affair?
Nobody but the ~disgruntled manager of
the Leader will say there was.
TIE law does O require the district
judge to be a member of the canvassing
board and Judge Benton so stated before
he wen to Fort Benton to hold court.
"The votes were hurriedly counted"
There was but little counting to do, as
the number of candidates was small. and
the work was done carefully and accur-
ately.
The most remarkable statement
is that 'the poll book of North Great
Falls was found to be cut open, showing
plainly that it had been tempered with
The members of the board say these re-
turns were not "cut open" They We're
opened, found to be regular in every re-
spect and were at once counted. Now as
to being "tampered with These re-
turns were delivered in person to tue
county clerk by Judge Kellison, a repub-
ilcan and one of the election clerks at
North Great Falls. The county clerk put
them at once in his vault and no other per-
son has had an opportunity to touch them.
Ii they were "tampered with Clerk
Crosby or Judge kellison, both republi-
cans and warm friends of the republican
candidate for senator, must have done
the work. There is no avoiding this, for
no other person touched them until they
were produced before the canvassing
board yesterday. The TRIBUNE does not
believe that either of these men would
do an act of this kind and we insist that
1t is not just that the Leader should thus
put the brand Of vlllainy upon them.
Spare US from a fool newspaper friend,
should be the prayer of these gentlemen.
The election at North Great Falls was
as fairly and properly conducted as in
any precinct in Montana. The law was
complied with, and no specific
statement TO the contrary has yet been
made by any one present. On the con-
trary, Judge Kellison, one of the officers
the election board, an ardent repub-
lican and a gentleman of honor and in
says there were no Irregularities
and that the election was fairly and
properly conducted. This is the evi
dence of all other voters of that precinct
with whom we have conversed.
The Leader, We know, is sorely dis
tressed over the result of the election, but
it should not make such a public exposi-
ton of the fact; especially it should not
humiliate and seek to disgrace its politi-
cal friends. 1t has been beaten fairly and
flor which that paper and its
manager is largely responsibility and we
see no course open for it now but to take
its medicine as gracefully as possible.