The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-15

elements which have oppoaed him ap bit \:
tcrly. I.
He ii therefore PLAYING the role Of til,
great paoiticator Of Montana. -
What does Mantle want?
Evidently something, Tho majority q
delegates seem TO think no looks for epb6r
Material hono,s. OthArs say that he vii
again make a raes for the United Statei
senate. As il ia conceded among repnbi.
cans that either the nomination for COVER
nor or the United States senatorship, II the
now legislature il republican, must 60 to
the west side, Mr.. Mantls'a chances for OBJ
tanning the one or tho other ought to be
reasonably good. always providing that the
Couch and Miasoula Mercantile crowds
stand in with him. Some Of Mr.. Mantle'a
admirers at Nisaoula were free to aay that
Marcus DAILY would not ba wholly averse to
Mantle's election for governor. The only
reason offered for this supposition 10 M
DAYS support of Mantle for mayor in the
recent Butte municipal election.
Other names were mentioned for the gov
srnorship. Among them were Gen. George
O. Eaton. Secretary Of State Rotwitt. State
Treasurer Hickman and United States Dis
trict Attorney Weed. Mr.. Weed il the
youngest in years as we'll as the latest
manipulation of the lot though his personal
following is less. When the other leaders
in the state want the support of Lewis and
Clarke delegates they come to Weed. IA
the result of his successful acheming he has
made eLemiss among some of the younger
republicans in this county, but he 10 q much
stronger man In state, party and political
councils than any man of his years. He IL
q foreible, convincing and at times eloquent
speaker. Gen. Eaton in many respects ia
like Weed. The two have cultivated a close
political partnership and are also very
close to Mantle. These two smooth fed
eral officials weakened themselves by their
activity in working for Ssligman.
To begin with, a majority Of the dele
gates would have been better pleased il
these officers had appeared as lookers-on.
Gen. Eaton was there ostensibly ia that po-
sition while Weed was q delegate. Both
worked actively and successfully for Selig-
man. by working the strings they secured
the support Of the Cascade and Park dele
cations for the Helena man, but in turn
Mr.. Diokerman got one-half Of the Lewis
and Clarke delegation. while Villas, Of Park
county, was thrown altogether. The Park
county delegates grew very hot, and threat
ened revenge. Eaton, who has heretofore
been very strong in Park, received his share
Of the criticism. IT is doubtful if he can
ever again pull a solid Park delegation for
himself. He will rely On outside forces from
now on, and if Mantle should become the
actual leader of the republican party in
Montana Eaton will be in the swim. Eaton
and Weed have also been mentioned for
congress. They would likely be en-
rassed by running on q state free silver
platform in conjunction with President
Harrison on the platform that will be
adopted at Minneapolis. ".%.- ~"
DR., Rotwitt, who ig known in politics as
"the gray fox Of MeaRher,'' has always been
the boss in his own bailiwick. in fact he ia
SO strong that no democrat can beat him in
that doubtful county. He ran once on an
independent ticket for county clerk and got
more votes than his opponents together.
While the genial seoretary's friends are
many and loyal, it cannot be said that his
candidacy would attract any great amount
Of enthusiasm in his party. This is because
in later years he has shown no great apti-
tude for state politics. The younger men
have been running the machine and the
doctor has been willing. Treasurer Hick-
man, who is quite rs popular, has kept q
closer grip on the party in the state, though
like his brother state officer, he is not close
enough to the machine men. Either might
become a compromise candidate.
Mr.. Weed made a bad break at Missoula
by introducing a resolution barring all
state and federal officers from the list of
delegates to Minneapolis, that is a bad
break for himself. Ii was understood that
no federal officials should be chosen, but
the passage of the resolution knocked out
Worlds Fair Commissioner Hershfeld,
Senator John Power of Fort Benton and
Senator Goddard of Billings. Herahfeld
had no chance of getting the nomination.
from the start, but the chances of the 9th
ers were exceedingly good. Power hoped
to slide in on the opposition to Dickerman
and probably would have succeeded, while
Goddard's election seemed almost assured.
The resolution knocked them clean out OF
the ring and it was passed before the con-
vention understood the meaning. Hersh-
field understood it. Alook of amazement
and indignation swept over his face as he
half arose to reply. Then he sat down,
doubtless realizing that he was in an en-
barrassing position to reply. There was a
curious twinkle in Weeds eye when the
resolution passed, but the ones deoapitatsd
are not likely to forget the author.
There is a disposition among the republic
can leaders to throw all their strength to