The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-24


men into the United States SEN
ate. They were dishonest, but necessary
and we found no difficulty in getting Rick
ards to carry out his end Of the programme.
He totally lacks force of character and ID
ready political tool for any man who will
fiatter him. He is useless now because he
has lost any influence that he may have
carried before his career in the senate last
winter. Even his we'll known propensity
for shaking hands cannot restore him to
his former position in the community or
the councils Of his party. The Mantle men
would exert more strength to defeat this
man than Tom Couch himself. He is
pleasant enough fellow on the surface un-
til you know the disgusting conoeit and the
painful sycophancy of the man."
If Richards had stepped aside last winter
Lee Mantle might have been in the United
States senate. The lieutenant governor
had the bee in his head very bad at one
time but he shoald have had sufficient in
telligence to know that he could not be
nominated by reason of his official position.
Suppose he made some return to Mantle
and his friends for support in tho past by
retiring gracefully from the senatorial con-
test and announcing his favor of Mr.. Man
ties candidacy. Mantle would have been
elected, the internecine fight in Silver Bow
would have died away and Rickards' posi-
ton would have been strengthened. His
lack of Judgment together with his growing
unpopularity have combined to make him
a political dead bird.
The republican leaders on the west side
are nearly unanimous in the belief that
Carter will not run again. They say that
his nomination may be rushed through the
convention but II this is done they believe
that he willimmediately decline by tele-
graph. The general feeling against any
east side candidate is strong in this county
and would undoubtedly operate against
Carter in the event of his candidacy. At
the same time he ia personally popular with
both factions and would on the whole draw
their support. Both factions will unite to
nominate . west side man if one can be
found. Here is the difficulty.
So far as Ia known there ia not single
republican Of prominence on the West side
who is not identified with one Of the fac
tions. There are two possible exceptions
exc Governor White and Captain James II.
Mills. Neither of these names arouses any
enthusiasm in this county. No one be-
lieves that White would accept the nomina-
ton, but should he be the man his election
is more than doubtful. Couch and his
friends think that White is too friendly to
Mantle, and there are other republicans
about the state who would oppose him for
the same reason. The fact that White
used all his strength to secure Mantle's
nomination for the senate last winter made
| good many enemies for him about the
state among the anti-Mantle men. So far
as Captain Mills is concerned, all agree that
he is pleasant gentleman and would make
fairly good representative. But none
think that he would sacrifice his present
comfortable Office for the very precarious
existence Of a congressman. The captains
election would at least DO decidly uncer-
tain. It is said that his boycott of the
Knights of Labor a few years ago would
bury him in Silver Bow and Deer Lodge
counties. OF course with this result his de-
feat would be certain.
Not a republican in Butte can be found
willing to suggest west side name for the
congressional nomination. The Mantle
men would like to have Couch run and the
Couch men would like to have Mantle run.
Each would knife the other. General
Charles Warren is possible exception.
He is as bitter as ever in his denunciation
of the Couch side, but, as is usual, he ex-
poets to be found at the front fighting for
the republican ticket on election day. In
anticipation of this he still insists on the
nomination of A. J. Seligman, for the rea-
sons as given in The INDEPENDENT some
time ago. The general believes that the
delegation from Silver Bow will be given to
SellRman in the republican state conven-
ton. This, however, is not probable,
though Seligman may capture several Sill
yer Bow delegates. To begin with, the
Couch men will come out in force to pre-
vent Seligman's nomination. Then again,
some of the Mantle men will
join in preventing this result through
no desire of combining with
the Couch men, however. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Mantle does not favor Mr.. Selig-
man's::nomination and John B. Reads posi-
ton on the matter is very we'll known to his
| 1El0uUBs ~ 10 CuoI04OXo 6dAo W d6SuAuo tuhb
Selieman will not carry united delegation
from Silver Bow county into the conven-
ton. So far as q west side candidate is
concerned the Butte republicans are at sea.
In marked contrast with the republicans
the Silver Bow democrats are united, har-
monious and enthusiastio. They are full of
fight and will make straight out and out
fight against the common enemy. They
have begun organizing and have formed a
rattling democratic club in Butte. Unless
something unforeseen OCCURS they will come
to the front in solid phalanx on election
day and they have good reason for believ-
ing they will carry the county by major
ity of 500 to 1000. They are ANXIOUS
to make precinct 81 the issue
and they expect to win many
voters on that ground alone. I had brief
chat with w. A. Clark, and found him
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