The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-26
APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.

The democratic members of the house
of representatives adopted a mastery APP
peal to the people at the close OF the ses-
sion. Its terms recall the firm modera-
ton of the Declaration of Independence.
1t begins as follows:
We, the members of the house of rep
resentatives of Montana, convened at the
court house at Helena, capita! Of the
state, pursuant to the proclamation of the
governor, having been in session the full
period of 80 days fixed by the constitu.
ton; having in vain appealed to the
judgment and sense of justice OF the re-
publican absentees to meet with US and
enact the laws essential to the mainten-
ance of the state government, and know
ing full well that we have offered every
inducement for Il reasonable adjustment
Of the Legislative situation without sacri-
ficing any of the rights OF our constitu-
ents, now confidently appeal to the PEG
pie, the source of all lawful power, and
made the following statements in vindl-
cation of our position.
The address then outlines tersely the
circumstances of the Silver Bow plot,
which was the real cause of the unproft-
able session that has just ended. The
address says:
1t is not disputed that at the election
held Oct. l, 1889, twenty-nine members.
constituting the present house, received
a majority of all the votes cast and the 25
absentees likewise received such. majority;
that five persons in Silver Bow county,
who were not elected, but claim their
right to act simply by holding certificates
of the governor of the territory, being as
ISOLATED with the said ~absentees, consti-
tuted themselves a pretended house of
representatives and acting with one-half
of the senate composed of the republican
members thereof presided over by the re-
publican lieutenant governor for the per-
iod of 80 days have by every arbitrary
and unlawful exercise of power enieav-
ored to coerce the lawful house of repre-
sentatives and the democratic half of the
senate into a recognition of their author
iIy to act and by every means in their
power, by usurpatiOn of authority, have
impeded and o structed all efforts of the
riehtfully elected body to legislate for
the benefit of the state; that these condi-
lions have been the direct result of the
action of the republican commissioners
of Silver Bow county in rejecting the
votes of ia citizens cast at precinct "a
of said county, and the subsequent act OF
the territorial canvassing board who, ig
noring the judicial examination and order
IF the court of SILVER bow county, direct
ing said commissioners to count said vote
and issue certificates to those elected by
the vote cast and with full knowledge OF
such action of said court and following
out the unlawful act Of Jack and Hall by
persisting in their unlawful and revolu-
iionarY designs, also struck out the votes
of precinct "a, thus DISTINGUISHING direct
ly ia citizens of Montana and indirectly
overthrowing the will of the majority Of
all the citizens of our state.
The address concludes with Il clear.
bri f explanation of the position assumed
by the democratic representatives and
senators, who to their immortal honor
could not be coerced or cajoled into any
dishonorable compromise. They say:
We have by all the means in our pow.
er, assisted by The democratic half of the
senate, resisted this assumption of power
by these returning boards and the subse-
quent revolutionary actions of the pre-
tended house of representatives. and the
republican half of the senate, aided by
the INSCRIPTIONS rulings of the republl-
can lieutenant governor: and have by our
efforts succeeded finally in checking this
tide OF revolution, and, therefore, conf
IDENTIFY appeal to all good citizens to sup.
port us in the contest waged for the pro-
lection of the ballot and an honest count
of the peoples votes.
We recommend t the Just consideration
of all the noble fight made by our dem.
ocratic senators in this prolonged contest,
fully convinced that the great personal
efforts made by each of them in combat
ting the unlicensed and Outrageous act of
the lieutenant governor and the repuIli-
can minority will be recognized by and
receive the heartfelt approval of all true
and loyal citizens notwithstanding the
garbled and partisan records of the min.
GRITTY of that body.
With confidence in the justice of our
cause, in the ultimate victory of the peO-
pie ovel dishonest returning and canvass
ing al, horities, in the final overthrow of
the republican conspiracy and the defeat
VI All cir fraudulent attempts to set at
naught the pcope' IS will as expressed by
the ballot, we rest assured that the YER
dict OF all who are in favor of the demo.
cratic doctrine OF the majority govern
ing will hereafter and forever be with us.
Resolved, That a committee of three be
appointed, whose duty it shall he to col
lect and publish with the appeal all facts
concerning the republican frauds at
tempted and consummated relating %
the present legislative assembly and its
organization.
The above address should be read by
all who would know the actual facts of
the Legislative conflict. The United
senate will find in it ample war
rant for awarding the contested seats to
and Maginnis.