The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-16
THE REPUBLICAN SITUATION.

THE REPUBLICAN SITUATION.
The caucus Of republican representa-
tives has unanimously determined, we
understand, to make no further effort to
clear up the legislative situation but
TO- await the first opportunity to bring
a case testing the validity Of the organi-
cation Of the democratic house before
the supreme court. If the matter is to
60 to the courts at all it is best it should
60 quickly, but it seems to us that this
is an unwise and unnecessary proceeding
at this timo and that the republican
leaders are shifting responsibility for
the deadlock from their own shoulders,
where it belongs, to tho supreme court
which for it's own lustre has been al
ready drawn too much into politics.
The republican representatives should
remember that they have made but one
effort to reach IN understanding as yet
and that their proposition was not so
fair or so reasonable as that made to
them by the democrats last winter.
Why should not their twenty-five, or a
part OF that number, now take seats in
that body which has been recognized by
the senate and the governor and pro-
coed to the business of legislation?
There is not the equal Of Harry r. Com
ly as a parliamentarian and fair and just
presiding officer in either house. We
believe a majority Of the republican
leaders concede this. Why not take
him as speaker?
AS to committee places, while we are
not authorized to speak for the demo-
Gratis, we believe the republican menl-
bers would be accorded representation
in proportion to their numerical strength.
The republican caucus has already Of
fered to let their five claimants from
Silver Bow stand aside. Why shouldn't
the twenty-five, then, take their places
in the democratic house and not insist
upon taking the claimants along with
them? That would settle the whole
difficulty in a twinkling.
1t will not satisfy the public demand
upon them for the republicans to fall
back into a state of desuetude and reit-
crate that they are the people and the
democrats obstructionlsts, while they
themselves are planning to obstruct
legislation by al appeal to the
courts. They should remember that
there was an election two months ago at
which the question they still insist on
keeping alive was fairly passed upon
by the people. The democratic position
was declared by the popular verdict to
be right. Had the people enjoyed the
right, which the democrats wanted to
give them, to vote for representatives in
Silver Bow county, the democrats would
have easily elected the entire five. AS
it was, the most direct way by which the
people could declare their will was in
the election of q democratic senate.
That senate has but recorded the popu-
lar verdict expressed at the polls by
recognizing the democratic house, and
a democratic governor has recognized
both, and the law making circuit is thus
complete.
We wish to emphasize the point that
ii there is o any obstruction to legis-
lation it will come from republicans
not from democrats. The latter have
two houses in perfect accord and a gov
ernor in harmony with both. Every
law enacted and signed will go into
effect unless the republican managers
still cling SO ~tenaciously to their five
false claimants that they will prefer to
block the machinery Of government by
a lawsuit rather than yield that which
the people have said does not belong to
them.
But if the republicans feel that they
must have a lawsuit over the matter we
trust they will move speedily. Now
that they have resolved to do nothing
more toward clearing up the situation
the democratic house will push legisla-
ton as fast as possible. Laws of far
reaching Importance are to be enacted
involving millions of capital and affect
ing vast property interests. There must
not be a cloud on one Of these statutes
which in years to come shall descend
like a blight upon our people. If the
legislative organization is to be assail-
ed at any time let the matter be de-
ternined now.
But we appeal to fair-minded repub-
licans to say if it would not be better
for every interest of the state that il
should never be lone when acquiescence
on their part involves no sacrifice of the
slightest moment:
COLORADO besides being a close com,
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