New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-30
THE yoyTANA DISPUTE SETTLED.

THE MONTANA DIST UIb oHi
The Montana Supreme Court sustains the
Republican claim in regard to the legality OF
the Legislature. This entire controversy
turned. it &ill be remembered, upon the valid
itv of the election returns from single pre-
cinct in Silver Bow County. On proof OF IL
LEGALITY the canyassers threw out the returns
from that precinct With that return the Dem
ocrats would have had majority in the county,
a majority obtained by fraud. Without it the
Republicans had majority, and elected the
members from that county. With the men,
hers from that county the Republicans had
majority in the Legislature, and proceeded to
organize, and elected United States senators
The Democrats claimed that the Democratic
candidates were elected in that county, pro-
ceeded to organize with them as members
rump Legislature, and then chose claimants
70 the seats in the Senate. Now the Supreme
Court decides that one of the Republican mem
bers from Silver Bow County is legally en-
titled TO COMPENSATION as member, thus recog-
nizing the legality of his election. This de-
cision necessarily affirms the legality OF the
Republican Legislature, and is in fact final
verdict in favor of the Republicans on the en-
tire controversy.
There has been a vast amount OF argument,
of dispute. and of contradictory assertions
about this matter. Those Independent citizens
who wish to be in the right, and who seek In
every such controversy to discover if they can
on which side Justice lies, have been consider
ably perplexed in regard to this Montana ques-
ton by the reckless assertions made from the
first on behalf of Democratic claimants. III
these assertions were well founded 1t could
not be denied that the Republicans were max
ing improper claims. Hence it is OF impor-
lance that the decision by the court OF last re-
sort in the new State should be brought to
public attention as fully as possible. II IL
were the object of Democratic or professedly
Independent newspapers honestly to inform the
nublic so that Just decision could be reached
on questions of partisan controversy, this de-
cision would by such journals be regarded as
an end of the dispute, and they would frankly
acknowledge that the claims set up by Demo
cratic partisanS in Montana appear to have
been without foundation.
On the contrary, such is the force of party
feeling. and such the intensity of partisanship
among the so-called Independent journals, that
il is safe to predict that this decision will be
treated with indifference, passed over as lightly
as possible, or blunty disputed as another act
of partisan injustice Presently it will become
the duty of the United States Senate to decide
whether the Republican Senators from Mon
tana were or were not lawfully elected. In the
light of this decision, just rendered by the
court of last resort in Montana, it seems ex-
tremely probable that the Senate will decide
in favor of the Republican Senators. In that
case it is safe to predict there will be heard
from Democrats and so-called Independents
another outcry that partisan decision has been
rendered by the Senate. But just regard for
the law, and for the decisions of courts charged
with responsibility in such matters. would lead
to the frank admission that in this case the
Democratic claims cannot be sustained, nor can
the Republican Senate well decide otherwise
than in accordance with the finding of the