The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-28
He FAILED TO EXPLAIN.
Col. W F. Sanders Makes but a
Passing Reference to the
Military Post.
But He Scored the Weaverites
and Mr.. Miller the Pro-
hibitionists.
The Republicans Had n Big Crowd at the
Auditorium but the Meeting Was
Not Enthusiastic.

Two thousand people assembled at the
auditorium last night. Fifteen hundred of
them went to hear Col. w. i. Sanders tell
why he had delayed action ON the Helena
military post, and the other five hundred
went out Of a sense Of party duty. The
ladies had looked after the stage decora-
tions, and the platform was made attract
tive with potted plants and palms. while
there were artistic d~rapings of the national
flag. Pictures OF Harrison and Reid occu.
pied conspicuous places on the stage. Early
in the evening the Capital City band played
on the corner OF Main and Broadway, the
meeting had been quite we'll advertised,
and as a result at eight o'clock not only
was the lower part of the auditorium filed,
but the galleries also were fully occupied.
There we're u dozen or more prominent
local republicans on the stage, hut many of
the leaders were not there. Among those
on the stage we're Commodore T. g. Power,
L. H. Kleinschmidt, A. M. Hotter. A. j.
%Seligman. r. G. Wallace, II. Jockey, III.
Hewins. H. Ii. Davis, W. G. Votaw, Il. ID.
Weed, G. b. Miller. Henry Klein, Marshal
Furay, +. L. Theme, and others. Hon.
Allen Miller, of Ogden. Utah, and Col. w.
4. Sanders were the only speakers an
nounced. There was neither a great deal
of curiosity or interest before the meeting
commenced in what MIR. Miller might have
to say, but there WAS intense interest to
hear Col. Sanders tell why ne had delayed
action on the selection of q site for the
Helena military post. All his close friends
believed he would explain his position on
the matter last night and they told their
acquaintance 80. Therefore, when Col.
Sanders arose to speak there was the great
est outburst of applause during the even
ing, his friends leading off. and those who
desired to givo lin the benefit Of doubts
joining in. But IT, reception had, appar-
entity no effect upon him. He talked for
more than hour, attacking Weaver. the
peoples party and it's platform in a vicious
but pointlsss way, and making but a bare
reference to the Helena post. Half the
audience left the hall before he had con-
cluded.
The meeting WAS under the auspices of
the republican county committee and Jos.
Davis acted as chairman. In opening the
meeting he said two gentlemen would ad-
dress it who would furnish enough politi-
cal food to last during the campaign. Col.
Miller was then introduced. In opening
his address he said that the time had passed
i'll this county when party platforms are
constructed like selves to catch the fish as
they pass up n down the stream. Both
old parties at least, said the speaker, will
live up to their platforms. The speaker
then objected his attention to the prohibit
ton party, saying it would never be sue
cessful until it had destroyed the republic
can party, and calling its members paid
henchmen of the democratic party. 1t 10
like a sheep in your pastures, said the gen
tleman from Etah. 1t gra2es here TODAY
and goes elsewhere tomorrow. Hs then
drew a picture of the democratic mansion
with pictures of Jackson and others on the
wall. a statue of the goddess of liberty in
one corner covered with cobwebs, and on
the other two horrid skeletons, slavery and
secession. shot to death by the bu!lsts Of
the boys in blue, "But the prohibitionists
can get nothing there said the speaker,
because there is nothing to steal" This
was received with Kisses from all parts of
the house, but it did not deter him from
continuing along in the same strain. He
then drew a picture of the republican man
sion and closed the description with the
query: Do you wonde that the prohibi-
t%ionlsts declare they will never be success
Jul in this country until 1t destroys the
republican party? He next paid his COM
ailments to the peoples party, saying that
when the convention was called at st. Louis
each delegate carried there with him a
large sized chunk of dissatisfaction.
phese were thrown into one %unsightly
pile and from them sprung the peoples
party platform. 1t is a common report,
paid the speaker that enough silver rapub-
,i.ans in this state will throw their votes to
the Weaver electors to throw the election
$f president into the house. He declared
that Weaver would not carry a single state
IN the union unless it were n or the other
bf the silver states, The democratic party,
paid Mr.. Miller, had always been a common
bewer into which has fioated every element
bf disconten. in the country.
Referring to the silver coinage question,
ne said he believed with his audience in the
free coinage of silver, and he asked if it
GOULD be obtained by. throwing ones self
into the Weaver hotch potch. He admitted
Che peoples party could not be prevented
from putting a silver plank into their plat
form, but he called upon his auditors to
keep in good company and to vote the re-
publican ticket. He said the free coinage
men were in a hopeless minority in the
and they might as we'll &C
knowledge 1t. lie then referred to Presi-
dent Harrison's efforts to secure a confer
ence with other nations on the silver COIN
age question. He took occasion to highly
compliment the president, saying he had
proved during the past three years that his
head was too large for his Rrandfather's
hat. he gave Harrison all the credit for
the work done during his administration
appropriating that of Blaine as well as that
of congress. He closed with some reference
to the tariff, quoting census statistics show
ing the growth of the country In popula-
ton since 1880 and claiming it was all due
to a protective tariff.
Then Mr.. Miller retired, and the band
played @ bar or two and woke the audience !
up. Chairman Davis stepped to the front
of the platform and introduced Col. w. L. |
Sanders. He was loudly applauded and
began his address with a reference to the
faces he minsed in the audience. For the
first time" said the colonel, I'VE can show
cur preference Cor president and vice presi- !
dent OF the United States. 1t ia not n time
Tor triumph over our %neighbets,
not n time to remember personal
rejudices. Not a time to discuss
issues" He then paid his compli-
to the democratic party, saving ID
bound up in and diteoted by ten or
Twelve southern states. He hoped that on
Nov. 8 Montana would not be found to be
the Parieh nor the Indiana of the north
west. In support of his assertion that the
party was not the friend of
Montana, he said the republican senate
had appropriated $i00. 900 for a building in
but the democratic house had ont
down to $3.50. 600. He then made the only
refer nee of the evening to the Helena mil
ltary post, saying the senate had voted
500. 900 for it and the house had cut il
DOWN TO $100, 600. He then turned his at
to the peoples patty. saying that
here had recently come into the midst of
.he community n class of people that has
been growing for some time-discontented
as the peoples party. lie
'aid that party stands unparalleled In po-