The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-17
AN APPEAL TO REPUBLICANS,

field, III
AN APPEAL TO REPUBLICANS.
The convention that placed in nomi
nation the Hon. William Writ Dixon for
representative in congress was more
than democratic convention. 1t was
peoples convention. In it's declaration
of principles it gave utterance to not
one word that can give offense to any
honest and sincere republican. Thous-
ands Of republicans in the long and bit
ter struggle that followed the election
Of one year ago did not approve Of
the practices of Sanders and Power and
the other men who sought self advance
ment by methods that we're more than
questionable. 1t was with solicitude
and misgivings for the future welfare of
the state that thoughtful republic ans
saw the presidents and practises of
years set aside that temporary partisan
ends might be gained. There is not
republican Of intelligence in the state
to-day who does not know that the new
Interpretation put upon the powers of
canvassing boards in the case of Hall
and Jack is deadly menace to popular
government. That distinguished jurist
and republican leader, Judge Hiram
Knowles, in decision we have repeat
eddy quoted, wisely laid down the limi-
tatlons within which canvassing boards
may safely act. Their duties, he de-
clared, are simply clerical they cannot
reject votes; they must foot up the re-
turns sent to them by judges of election
and declare the result.
Defeated politicians ambitious for
senatorial honors caused this safe and
wise ruling to be set aside last winter
and boldly set up in it's place the die
tum that canvassing boards can reject
votes ad libitum until they achieve a
result that pleases majority of their
number. Does any intelligent repub-
lican believe the Silver Bow case safe
precedent? This year the commission
ers of that county are democrats. They
will very likely designate canvassing
board majority Of whose members
shall be democrats. Suppose the vote
is very close; that the election of Carter
is determined by the majority at sin
gle precinct in that county, contin-
gency not at all improbable. Suppose
that some technical irregularity appears
in the tally sheet sent in by the judges
at that precinct-nothing affecting the
;~knrrs%xy - TIM hut ~
in no way altering the true result. Are
our republican friends willing that the
county canvassing board shall throw out
the entire vote at that precinct, dis.
franchising every voter thereat, and Ger
tlfy to result that will seat Mr.. Dixon
in the congress of the United States?
We do not believe it. We do not believe
there is one of them who in his heart
does not feel that precedent that
clothes canvassing board-a political
body formed by partisans-with such
absolute powers will be the deathblow
to our institutions if it is steadily fol-
lowed. This year the democrats will
have control Of the canvass in Silver
Bow, Deer Lodge, Lewis and Clarke and
other populous counties. Do our repub
lican friends want them to assume the
powers arrogated by the Silver Bow can
vassers last October? Do they think i
just, or wise, or prudent, to let the pre-
cedent of last year become established
Are they prepared to see hundreds o
republican votes thrown out because
democratic canvassing boards do mo-
choose to count them?
Yet if such republicans support thei
own candidate and platform this yea
they vote for that very thing.
A vote for Judge Dixon, besides beins
a vote for the ablest and best fitted can
didate for congress, is vote for an hon
est ballot and an honest count; vote
for wise constitutional limitations on tn,
powers of returning boards which shall
require them to add the returns laie
before them and certify the result.
The line between the two parties il
sharply drawn. The republican plat
form expressly defends the action of tn,
Silver Bow canvassers last year AM
sAioAho olloul LII oeV phrase LOT incl
work. The democratic platform on thu
other hand declares:
Whatever defrauds or depriyes the peopl
of the result of their final decision es
pressed through the ballot box strikes dow
their most cherished privilege, weak
ems their confidence in, and conse
quently impairs their attachment
our form of government, and must en-
in the subyersion of their rights and in tb
use of force and fraud as the source of D,
litical power.
At the first and only general election bel
il the state of Montana, in the month {
October last. majority of the board
commissioners IN the county of Silver Bow
on prete1ts the most flimsy, and whie
found sanction neither in reason, preceder
or Law, rejected the entire vote of Precin,
81. at which TIA votes were cast. By tn
act they deprived all the voters at that mr.
cinct of their right of suffrage, and in il
consequences and by fraud final
defeated majority of the vote