The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-24
POWERS WORK IN CH0TEAU.

~~~" sAAo S"y ASC A/O0S AAtb supper anu very
Nearly His County.
Benton River Press, Nov. q: Yesterday
afternoon after the adjournment Of the
county canvassing board, which had
smashed all to pieces the worlds record for
throwing out precincts and DISTINGUISHING
voters, Commodore Power arrived ON the
east bound train. When he heard of what
republican canvasaing board had done he
was dumbfounded. It had actually thrown
out six precincts. showing in the aggregate
sixty-three republican majority for con-
gresham and ffty-three republican major
ity for state senator. To say that the
nant and somewhat wild does not express
it. He had heard of republican canvass
ing boards throwing ont democratic pre-
cincts, but republican precincts? never!
After somewhat heated discussion with
his brother, something was said about 60
ing to supper. "Go to supper? Go to sup
per; no sir! To hi with supper! Let's 90
right and FIX this thingv' He accompanied
his words by his actions and started right
off to hunt up the republican members of
the canvassing board. Soon the commodore
with legal advisers and friends were seen
in Justice Cranes office in close consulta-
ton with the two republican members.
1t became known that there was likely
to be scene in the county clerks office
this morning on the reassembling of the
board and consequently there was quite a
crowd present. Prominent among
them was Commodore Power. who had q
lawyer and several friends present. II
seems that yesterday afternoon the board
had practically completed its labors, thu
three canvassers having signed the alb
stract which had been placed in the
hands Of County Clerk Rogers. Mr.. Roe
ers had, a. the law directs, immediately
made out certified copies and mailed then
to the proper state officer.
This morning when the board got to.
gether demand was made for all the pa.
pers and books, including the completed
abstract which had been signed yesterday
Mr.. Rogers informed the board that the
abstract had passed into the hands of thu
count clerk. copies had been made and
forwarded as the law directed, and he coulG
not now suffer that paper to pass out of hi
hands as it was the only record the count,
clerk held of the boards official action, anG
the only record that canvassing board Il
supposed to leave of its proceedings.
Then circus ensaed. The room of the
canvassing board was Babel of voices
There were legal papers swiftly written out
to be served on County Clerk Rogers o,
Canvassing Board Clerk Roeers-no one
knew which. A couple of the commodore't
friends were endeavorinR to write in prope,
form the minutes of this mornings session
of the canvassing board, being altoeethe,
oblivious of the fact that the board 10 ONLY
required or expected to make one RECORD
and that is the abstract of the votes cast 4,
the election. and that had been completes
and duly signed yesterday.
Then the board tried to resolva itsalt
into court, issued summons for til,
body of Clerk Rogers, dead or alive, and
also, that he bring with him copies OF th
Fort Conrad poll books, which had 10
lost In the shufns and had vsrsrsaohe,
the precinct, and consequently there ha,
been no election there; neither could tn
books b sent back, for they never 10
there. For awhile it appeared that Clerl
Rogers would be tried BY the board an,
its outside assistants and sentenced to b
hung.
OF all tho farces ever enacted by lot o
men that which occurred in the room o
the canvaasina board Of Choteau count,
this morning stakes thscaks." The board
aftes vranelin9 until nearly noon, thes
concluded that i had neithsr s'beeinaip,