Fergus County argus., 1890-10-30
PRECINCT "a.

PRECINCT -.
Our brother of the Democrat essays
to explain the inexplicsble, and tell
how it might have happened. With all
the assurance Of youthful inexperience
he explains that the poll lists were
made up from the check lists after the
polls closed, because the judges did not
know that poll lists were required until
after the voting ended. How charm
ingly that explains everything. It
shows just what the clerks had to do
with the election-they were there for
the purpose Of looking ON and drawing
their pay. 1t explains why the win
dows were tightly screened during the
count, and everybody but the ignorant
Judges excluded from the room where
the counting was done-the judges did
not want to have their ignorance ex-
posed. 1t explains how the signatures
of the clerks happen to he in the hand
writing Of one Of the judges. 1t ex-
plains the alphabetical arrangement Of
the voters. 1t shows clearly why every
person engaged in the affair, including
the voters, were spirited away, in the
night time, by the innocent and out
ragged Democracy. The only thing that
looks strange is that this most rational
explanation should have been so long
in getting out, and that it should he
reserved for q tenderfoot, who never
heard of Montana until this campaign
opened, to make all the mystery con-
corning Precinct "a AS ''clear as mud"
Verify, the Moses Of Montana Democ-
racy is at hand to lead the hosts of the
free trade god out Of their political
bondage.
In apparent good faith he asks for
information on one or two subjects,
and it pleases us to be able to give the
information desired.
He asks about Meaderville precinct
Well, brother, Meadervillc is in an en-
tirely different situation. There was
nothing similar between that precinct
and Precinct 81. 1t is true, a few
names in the poll book from that place
were in alphabetical order. 1t hap
pcned thus: During the noon hour a
part Of one shift Of men went TO the
polls in body, and in order to expe-
dite matters, so that they might return
to their work, their names were called
from the check lists. where they ap-
peared alphabetically, and as their
names were called they went and voted
Again, he asks, "lf fraud was COM
mitted, why did not the Republican
party attempt to prove il before court
Of law. Why did they not bring to
the bar Of justice these two judges Of
election" &c. Very well asked. II is
quite natural that one who has been in
the state SO short u time should ask
this very pertinent question, which we
are pleased to answer. In the first
place the case was triable in Silver
Bow county. The election Of II judge
i'm that district depended upon the vote
in Precinct "a. Both the Republican
and Democratic candidates claimed to
he elected. For long time the courts
were at a standstill in that county,
when both candidates resigned all
claims to the judgship. With wonder
ful impartiality and good sense, and
which should put him upon level with
Solomon as a wise ruler, Gov. TOole
Immediately appointed Mediation to
fill the vacancy, thereby assuming TO
decide the legality of the vote at pre-
cinct 81, for it will be remembered that
Mediation had been the democratic
candidate, and who had pretended to
resign, i'm order that he might rid him
self of his Republican competitor, it
being well understood between himself
and Gov. Joe that he should be appoint
ed. OF course it would not have been
the part of wisdom and justice to ap-
point some third person, lest, unfortu-
nately, he should prove to be unbiased,
and disposed to fairness when Precinct
"a came into court. Thus it happened
that, although the affair was brought
into court, it was impossible to bring it
into a court of LAW, or before bar Of
JUSTICE in Silver Bow county, because
Judge Mediation was bound to uphold
the acts that lent color to his claim Of
being judge.
Now as to those two judges. Penny
cook started for Scotland the day the
Republicans started an investigation Of
Precinct 81, and he did not stop until
he reached his destination. That
must be our excuse for not Furnishing
him. When we had secured sufficient
evidence to convict the judges it was
found the other bird had flown.