The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-23
TO-DAY WILL SETTLE IT.
If the Friends Of the Charter Will
Work 1t Will Be
Adopted.
The Polls VIII Open at Eight
this Morning and Close
at g r. m.
Indications That q big Vote VIII be
Polled-Dihicult to Predict the
Result.

Before shutdown to. night the new charter
will be adopted or rejected. 1t IS ditfl-
cult matter to forecast the result with n
degree of certainty, though the majority o.
politicians seem to think the charter will
be defeated. Some say it will be beaten
two to one. but this is an exaggerated guess.
The feeling that the charter should be
adopted for the good of the city has grown
stronger since it first appeared, and If the
election was a week ahead it would go
through with a veil. The chances for its
adoption to-day are very good. The
friends of the measure got down to hard
work yesterday. Committees we're about
in the different wards discussing matters
with voters and our leading business men
in favor of the charter showed much zeal
in the work. This should have been COM
menced a week or ten days ~ but 1t Is not
too late to swing the election now. 1t is
found that in nine out of ten cases OPPOSE
ton to the charter is caused by Ignorance
of its provisions. Som of the voters seem
TO think that the board of public
works will be a committee OF three
czars vino will run the town with no limit
10 their powers. They do not understand
that the board is simply a body OF business
men chosen for the purpose OF expeoltlh9
the city's business, getting the most WORK
done for the least money. The city council
ia in a position to check any movement
that may be made by the board. and to i'm,
peach and expel any member of the board
whenever maifeasance in Office may occur.
The talk that the town is not ready TOR a
system of this sort is nonsense: II the
streets are placed in proper cohdltion ana
other interests of the city are cared for
there will be no lack of work for the board.
Tue same system has been tried with great
success in cities of ne greater Importance
than Helena. One thing is certain; the
adoption of the charter means better
streets, better sidewalks and work for many
unemployed men. These considerations
alone should be sufficient to bring a ballot
in favor of it from the resident
and taxpayer who has proper
pride in the queen city of the Rockies.
When these matters are fully explained to
the ave age voter his prejudice IS IN most
cases removed. 1t is unfortunate mat sew
eral of our leading citizens are opposed to
the charter. The responsibility for defeat
| if it comes will be with these men rather
| than the FOUNDERS who will vote against the
charter because it's adoption means fewer
'iobs' and less extravaganza. !,
The polls will be open at eight O'CLOCK
The indications are hat a full vote will be
polled. Here is the list of polling places az
revised:
First ward-First precinct, Bridge street
between Main and Joliet, north SIDE. Sec.
ond precinct, 215 Penn block, Main ane
Cutler street.
Second ward-Third precinct. Lorey's
paint shop, Jackson street. Fourth pre-
cinct, engine house. opposite court mouse
Third ward-Fifth precinct, kirkendalls
barn. Sixth precinct, lsraers place, Par
avenue. = M
Fourth ward-Seventh precinct, Gerhaus
er's corner, Rodney street and Fifth ave
nue.. Eighth precinct, Hoba ok and Canno
block, Main street.
Fifth ~ward-Ninth precinct, old brewery
Benton avenue. Tenth precinct, engine
house.
Sixth ward-Eleventh precinct. hos
house. Twelfth precinct. cement works.
Seventh ward-Thirteenth precinct, J. [
Smiths residence, 633 Broadway. -Four
teenth precinct, Herman Harris residence
524 Eighth venue between Davis an
Beattie streets.