The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-14
THE SITUATION IN HELENA

In the November election in Montana
democrats scored a decisive victory
at every point. They elected their cam
for congress by a majority which
a noteworthy reversal of the figures
by the successful republican can
didate in 1888 and again in 1889; they
broke the deadlock in the senate. spcNr-
ing more than II good working majority
IN the upper house of the state legi>la-
tnre; they gave a phenomenal majority
to The democratic contestant for the only
vacant seat in the lower house: they met
not so much as u show III opposition in
the chTce of a district Judge for Silver
Bow county, although their candidate
was a gentleman whose title. last year,
was conspicuously involved in the tunnel
precinct confusion; they made crafty
ing gains in nearly every part of the
state, overthrowing the political tradi.
lions of two or three of the couuties - in
fact, democracy was conspicuously tr'-
nmphant in Montana in the general cleo
ton of 10 weeks ago, and the result was
very properly construed as a popular
vindication of the policy pursued by the
party during the strife in which, a yeaI
ago, the Legislature of the state became
involved.
We assert that If the result at the No.
vember polls had been the reverse of ali
this, the democrats would have accepted
the verdict of the people and would
have withdrawn from further contest
over the five disputed seats of member,
from the Silver Bow county; we believe
that, if the republicans had carried the
state, thst would have been deemed BY
the democrats as distinct notice to yielc
the fight owe these five seats. We hold
on the other hand, that, the democrat
having prevailed, it is just and fair tina
the republicans should admit the fact
and give up the fight
1t Is clear that the republican manager!
will not permit this sensible thing to be
done. The five republican contestal t
from Silver Bow are in Helena again, in,
slsting as loudly on recognition as if thu
November victory for democracy hsc
never been scored. Operating with re
publicans representing other sections o
the state, these men have organized {
rival lower house and We have last year
situation precisely reproduced, excep
that, by common consent, the democratic
position is incomparably stronger than i
was twelve months age.
The republican management rests it,
hope on the course which the suprem,
court will pursue. The assumption mus
lie notifying to the court, it certainly Is
Illuminating to the people; yet the repab
Iican press has busily proclaimed wha
the cour will do, and many politician
are predicting that the judges will b'
partisan because they are republican AM
tn 1T the formaliues of law will protec
tn party in the course which it is ben
on pursuing. This b ntant talk WI
hardly bring the highest court in Mon
tuna in o disresperi, but it is to The int
IL lie discredit oi the men "l" do 1t, |
has heuu Clealy shownt that the court hat
never given OFT a single utfernnre wheel
may be- cun,trued Ms establishing IL rr"
cedent for proceedings that may gFu'
ont of the pending contention. Tnrre /
not IA contestant IN the lower house VIII
can find the slightest justification ia
clinglng to his seat IN any word that Iva
yet come from the bench. Yet the de
cree of the cour in the TnoT pson Gas
has been diligently misc"nstrued by re
publican manipulators at Helena wi
.s>ume that the business of the part
this year Is to justify the action tax
last year in the sending of Sanders an
Power to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. STAN
ard.