The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-31
but the party is also, and for him to pass
The suhincf hu uo1lld ha mora than u hlun-

but the party is also, and for him to pass
the subject by would be more than a blum
der. He could not afford 10 do it. He will
not do 1t. At the ga metime it must not be
the kind of a law that should be passed
have never been given to the public. ! am
not able to give them now. If | we're would
l feel at liberty to do SO? presume that
had the Lodge bill been passed by con-
Gress no would have signed it, but l have
presidents ideas as to what the occasion
called for.
"Lodge INK Reed and Hoar, being in a
measure fanatical on the subject, got the
bulge on the more conservative leaders of
the party. While Cullom and Allison and
Mckinley and Butterworth were talking the
matter over the eastern men, with mole
zeal, sent for John j. Davenport and HAD
their programme put into, shape. They
then brought in their bill, and in the alb
sence of any other measure on the subject
it became the partv's bill, and, as every
body knows. it was defeated. Now of
course. in future efforts, the party must be
instructed by that defeat. The west must
draw the next bill. Both the republicans
east and the republicans south should have
no hand in it. The former lack the neces-
sary information to make Il credltable job OF
it, and the latter, spurred on by a desire for
local supremacy, would be too extreme.
But VIC must have a bill, and that bill
when drawn will receive the PRESIDENTS
unqualified support. He could not afford
to 90 back on that proposition. He could
not be renomlnated if it could be made to
appear that he had changed front on a mat
ter of such vital party interest and import
ance."
you are confident, then, that the force
bill will not only receive recognition in the
presidents next message, but that it will
also be a factor in the next presidential
racer"
II am as confident of that as l am of any
thing. Nothing has occurie ed to change the
presidents views about southern affairs.
He knew before going down there that the
south was prosperous-that she was build
ing up the waste places rapidly. He went
down and viewed with his own eyes the
wonderful progress made, but did not con-
sent while there, nor does he consent now
that he has returned here, that as much
could not and would not have been accom-
plished under other political conditions.
That Is where the mistake is made.
1.-The president rejoices in the south's
prosperity, but he insists also that elections
in that section shall be free and fair, and
that all the votes shall be counted. He
dAre not take any other position. Any wa
vering on his part in that matter would cost
him the leadership of his party. He must
stand firm. It is not for him. but for the
south to change.
AS lar hS tHe HcAs TepuDilGdH uhtlOHal
convention 10 concerned, its course on this
subject can be easily forecast. The express
sions there for national control of national
elections will be rs strong as language can
make it. An organization to that end is
already in existence, and when the time
comes there will be no dissent from tho
propositions. In my Judgment, indeed, the
demand for the national supervision of
elections will be as strong and rs direct in
the next national platform as the express
sion of continued approval of the princi-
pies of protection will be.
.The trouble the last time was largely
over the bill drawn. John i. Davenport
figured too prominently in the matter to suit
the republicans of the west and of the mid
die states. Ihe aim, therefore,, will be to
keep Davenport out of the next bill, make
it rs simple and effective as possible and
then stand upon the measure AZ one of the
duties and necessities of the hour
And you say that the presideut will aid
and abet the programme You outlinc?"
"He will. He will indorRo it and aid it to
the fullest extent of his power. Any other
course ON his part would be suicidal"