The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-04
Mr.. CARRIERS LONE HAND
He Has Undertaken TO Secure a Re-
publican Majority in tbs
Legislature.
To Apply for a Writ Of Mandate
In the Case of AL.
Hamilton.
Gov. Elect Richards in the Hands Of
HIS Friends In Case Carter
Succeeds.

democratic apparently have majority in iegis-
lature on joint ballot. Chance to overcome
this. Come homo immediately"
just a few days after Nov. 8 the above
telegram was sent to Il. ii. Carter. In
response he came, and he found the situa-
ton as his close friend indicated. Then
the defeated chairman of the national re-
publican committee began to figure on two
propositions. The first was how he could
overcome the almost certain democratic
majority in the legislature on joint ballot.
and secondly how he could capture the
senatorial prize If ha was able to rob the
democrats Of their we'll earned victory. IL
was the second proposition he went to work
on first, as Mr.. Carter Ia too old . bird to
knowingly waste his time in working solely
for the Advancement of some oHa else.
The fates. which have not been particularly
favorable to Mr.. Carter recently, were pro-
pitious this time. The man in whose
senatorial interests the republican state
campaign had been conducted.
Lee Mantle. of Butte. was dis
couraged. His old time enemy. Couch,
had taken away f ON him one-half of the
legislative delegation from Silver Bow, and
n study of the situation showed Mantle
that his chances we're very slim, even if the
republicans controlled the legis lature. II
was not necessary to consult Sanders, be-
cause he was not in it anyway. Finally. a
week ago the republican leaders. at least
those whom Carter thought had the power,
told the national committeeman that If he
could overturn the democratic majority in
the legislature he could have the seat in
the United States senate. Then Mr.. Car
ter began his active work. He opened ne
gotiasions for the support of the populists
from Silver Bow, and sent for Leech. the
republican candidate from Choteau, who
was defeated by Hamilton. Mr.. Leech
arrived yesterday, and already Mr.. Carter
has secured his consent to apply for a writ
OF mandamus, directed to the state auditor,
ordering the latter not to put MIR. Hamil-
toms name on the list of members of the
lower house. 1t j. the duty, it will be re-
membered, of the state auditor to call
the roll Of the house on the
assembling Of the legislature. OF course
the application for a writ of mandamus will
cost money, and Mr.. Carter has agreed to
foot the bills. The plan of the national
committeeman is to get control of the
organization of the house and then unseat
enough democrats to give his party a ma
joritv on joint ballot. The one weak spot
in this plan is that if the republicans do get
SAo Aouoo - ooSAA ia hlitSuA ""1t
and then unseat democrats. the democrats
in the senate, who are in the majot ity, may
feel compelled to do the same in that body,
30 as to keep hoEors even. The other diff
Guilty in the way of Mr.. Carter's little
scheme for seating Leech, is that under the
constitution Hamilton is to-day q member
of the legislature. Section 6, article 5 of
the constitution saps: 1.-The term of service
of the members thereof (the legislative
assembly, shall begin the next day after
fhnt. ion y,rttt al ~ po-yl -
law" As the law has not otherwise pro-
vided, this clause of the section is the only
authority on that point. Mr.. Hamilton not
only holds his certificate of election but he
ia to-day as much a member of the legis-
lative assembly that meets next January as
he ever will be. Section 8 of the same arti-
Gle says: Each house shall choose it's
other officers, and shall judge of the cleo
tious, returns and qualifications of its mem
bers,"
With these two sections in view it is diff
culs to see how any court can issue such a
writ of mandate to the state auditor as Mr..
Garter has planned to ask for.
But there ia one phase of the republican
senatorial situation of which Mr.. Carter ia
probably not aware. This is the ambition
of one John Ezra Richards, the governor
elect. Leading republicans have told MIR.
Richards, as they did in 1888, when he de-
feated Lee Mantle by his candidacy, that
this is the golden opportunity TO- him to
get to the United States senate, and give
Lieut.. Gov ELECT Botkin the office he
30 greatly desires-that of governor. These
enemies of Carter and of Mantle have
lrumised Mr.. Richards their support. and
they represent some of the most powerful
elements i'll the state. in case Carter over
turns the democratic majority. These men
give it out cold that neither Carter nor
Mantle shall go to the United States senate,
and they control enough votes in the legis-
lntnre to dictate the policy of the republi-
cans. They have presented the case to Mr..
Richards in this light, and he ia in their
hands.
Early in the week Mr.. Carter will make
his first open play in the game he is en-
gagged in, with the stake a seat in the fed
eral senate. He may not relish an ex-
posure of his plans, but he will appreciate
the warning as to the game his opponents
nre playing on him.
Remember | make n specially of the very fin