The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-30
Butte Is Now Formally Entered for
tho Big Event Of
Nov. 8.
4 Meeting of Leading Citizens
Determines to Make the Cap
ttal Race.
Several Of Those Present Tell why the
Mining Metropolis Would 10 u
Good Selection.


dnfd this morning publishes the follow
ing report OF meeting held in Butte
to consider the matter of locetina tho state
capital: Butte ia going TO make fight for
the capital. That was practically decided
on at an informal meeting held at the court
honse this morning, which was represented
by all the county officials, several aldermen
and few members of the defunct board OF
trade. The meeting was the result OF a
visit of the Deer Lodge delegation to Rutte
in the interest OF that town. Commissioner
Caplice thought Deer Lodge had all it's
nerve with 1t to send delegation, repre-
sentinR few hundred people, to Butte to
talk capital to 1000 voters in this city. He
could see no reason why Butte should
throw its influence to town of the insig-
niticance of Deer Lodge, q town that pro-
duces nothing and has no claim for the
capital. Mr.. Caplios considered the argu-
ment made by the Deer Lodge people, to
the effect that il Butte entered the race
every other town would vote for Helena, AZ
extremely foolish. Butte has every ad-
vantage in its favor; it ia the market of the
state. and Mr.. Capliee said he felt positive
that the city and county would present the
state with a site for the state buildings and
he was in favor of a number of Butte capi-
talists joining together and secure an op-
tion until after the election on nome suit
able property.
The only argument that ia made against
Butte, said H. 8. Clark, is ths senssless one
of smoke, and the absence o: grass and
flowers. There is nothing but smoke to the
| smoke argument, for everyone knows that
that question has been settled and Hutte ID
free from smoke. As tor grass and flowers,
the town used to have an sbnndance ot
both and will have again. Besides tho peo'
| pie of Butte are not living on grass like
| some of the other towns in the state. We
| have other things to keep US busy and alive
| M. L. Holland could not see why there
should be man in Butte not in favor oi
this city for the capital, and especially ali
lots that ARE assessed at 81. 7hG. .4s5, which
will be doubled or tripled in value the
moment the capital is located hero. II
would insure pernanency to the town
and at least S1.00O,0o0 would ct once be ex-
pended in government buildings. Mr..
Holland said Butte has 20 per osnt of the
! population Of the state. and the whole state
is tributary to Butte.
Commissioner McQuesney said Butte
| wants ths capital and is going to get it il
it can. but he thought the press was moi
sufficiently interested III it. He thought
that any man or paper III the city or county
! that did not work for Butte for the capital
is a traitor to the city's interests. Mr.. Mo
Queensy also admired the nerve of Deer
Lodge, and said he would consider Anaconda
q more desirable location for the capita
than Deer Lodge.
! c. +. Booth said that he considered the
main and really only important question to
| hA tn hs tai ha tov
of population as possible and so as to ac-
commodate she largest number of the peo
pie Of the state. He considered that Butte
| is that place and possesses that advantage
| a. we'll as every other one.
Butte should at least make fight for the
capital, was the opinion of Alderman
Maule. He did not believe in Helena ol
any other town having everything it's own
| way. Butte has claims that cannot be con
troverted, and he thought that any busi-
ness man of Butte, real estate man or any
other, who would work for and advocate
any other town for the capital, should be
drummed out of the city.
Colonel kessler, Alderman Orton. j. B.
! Knight and others expressed their senti-
ments on the question and it developed
that Helena Is working tooth and nail, but
| saying very little. 1t was stated that Rel-
for that city as possible, and those that
cannot be won over are urged to vote for
themselves and are even assisted in coming
to the front as candidates, and it was also
claimed that Helena influence il the real
power bshind Deer Lodge to get that town
against Butte.
After everybody had his say at the meet
ing it was decided to agitate the matter BY
| the circulation of petitions for siRners
urging the calling Of a public meeting. The
| following petition was therefore drawn uT
and will be circulated in Butte and all its
suburbs, and was ut once signed by All the
county officers:
| BUTTE FOR THE CAPITAL.
| "We the Indersigued believing that tn.
| time has come to make a determined stfor
to procure the locating OF the permanent
capital in this city, pledge ourselves thn
we will use all honorable means to proour,
! the same, and ask the county ootnmissio1-
ers mayor and aldermen of The city OF
Butte and the mayor and aldermen of tn,
| city of Walkerville to AT once take actor
in the matter and call public meeting. &
that united effort may be made to attain
the desired end"
At the proposed meeting ways and mean
| will bs decided upon and the claims O
Butte presented. 1t will also probably b,
decided to send delegations to other towns
i'll the state with convincing argument
why Butte should be endorsed for the CAP,
| itai.
Between three o'clock this afternoon ant
eight O'CLOCK tnlS evening the following
names were signed to the petition: w. A
Clark, Lee Mantle. j. A. Davis. Andrew j
Davis, John L. Davis. p. A. Largey, j. A
Murray, W. +. Bray, W. Ii. Kenyon, Geo
+. Lyman. I. M. Hodgeman. Charles Nj
Palmer. D'Acheul Drug Company, ID. J.
Hennessy, NJ. J. Connell d Co., John Cap
lice II CO., +. Hood, Mrs. Kate Rice, Nj. IT,
Hotohkiss, W. 4. Dewitt, A. II. Jones, JohI
Gillie, W. W. Pennington. A. c. Holmes
George W. Wragg, s. II. Almon, +. Il. ".
Patton. l.. Winte halter, J. G. Maddox
| Melrose, Mont, Charles =. IL. Rielenberp