The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-01
HAS DESERTED BLAINE.
j. S. Clarkson Has Lightning Rod
Of His Own Up in
the Air.
Some Man Of His Qualities, FIe
Thinks, Should Be
Nominated. t
The League Meeting Composed Largely of
Kickers, and He Was Chosen
to Lead Them.

WARRINGTON, April 3O.--It is believed BY
many here that Clarkson is looking out fol
the main chance and if there should be an
opening in 1882 he will be ready to accept
the nomination. There is no use trying tc
figure out that the election of Clarkson ad
presidents of the league means that the
organization will be worked for Blaine, fol
the Iowa man practically got through with
Blaine some time ago. He no longer CON
siders him presidential possibility. Clark
sons talk on matters political the day after
his election indicated pretty clearly that he
had lightning rod up and that he was the
man referred to who would be in touch
with the farmers. Tho remarks ON the
currency were such rs could be interpreted
by the free coinage men to mean about
what they contended for during the last
oongress-the free and unlimited coinage
OF the American silver product.
This feature of currency tinkering has
been pointed out as fallicious 80 MANY
times and tho best elements of the republi-
can party have repudiated it so often that
Mr.. Clarkson is at once believed to be max
ing bid for the support of that portion of
the west that has very recently gone wild
on the subject of finance and become the
father of the absurd subtreasury scheme.
Clarkson would be the ideal candidate of
tho spell-binders and that portion of the
republican party that believes party SER
vice should be paid by rewardina the faith
full with the Offices of tho government
There was large element of the party that
believed that civil service reform was all
right when the democrats were in power.
but that is all wrong when the republicans
have regnined the reins Of the government.
Grover Cleveland offended that element in
his party, and Harrison has often ded the
same element in the republican party.
There il no doubt that a largo number of
republicans who appeared and participated
in the league meeting were men who felt
that they had not been fully rewarded for
might be said that Clarkson was one Of that
kind. It has been claimed by his friends
that his distinguished services should have
been rewarded with place in the cabinet.
1t is quite certain til at Clarkson might have
had good foreign mission, but he refused
to take any position that would take him
out OF the country and out of active polit-
icak work. So y" -@t'f.t - g&-
Whom he accepted second place in the
postoflce department it was with the un-
derstanding that he would before long sue
ceed to some place in the cabinet. But this
did not materialize. He became dissatis-
fed man and threatened to leave politics.
II was at this stage of the game that the
league mado hime it's president, and he is
now enabled to make himself a greater
power IN politics than if he held cabinet
position. It is also at this stage of the pro-
ceedings that be begins to tell what manner
OF man the next republican candidate must
be, and also begins to talk about the f.
nances OF the country, a subject which his
interview indicates that he knows very lit
tie about. But every man who is q candi-
date for popular favor in these days is al
ways ready to talk finance and alyays
claims that more money is the panaoea for
all the ills of tho human race.
But j. 6. Clarkson will not be the repub-
lican nominee. Nor will he be able to die
tate the nominee in the convention, no mat
ter if he does have the republican league
behind him. As soon as it becomes appar-
ent that tho league is trying to manipulate
conventions in any way there will be re-
bellion against it. Any movement of that
kind savors too much of the machine which
the republican party renudiated many years
ago.
But Mr.. Clarkson's overzealous friends
may cool somewhat, and after the first feel |
ing of triumph over his election wears off
settle down to the fact that he can. as pres-
dent OF the league, do a great deal of good
for the party, 80 long rs his efforts are con-
lined to promoting the interests of the |
party. and does not branch off into the |
'ealm OF dictation of candidates, and is
lot meant to make him or any man having
lis peculiar ideas the candidate of the |
party.