The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-24

Judge Sterling Isebuked by IA Fergus
County q. A. X. Comrade.
The following correspondence between
Judge +. T. Sterling and a comfede in .he
q. A. X. in Fergus county shows how an
effort to drag that organization into roll
tics for the benefit of the republican party
WAS made and rebuked. The letters were
printed in the Montana Democrat as fol-
lows:
OFFICE OF STERLING d MuFFLy,
ATTORNEYS D.CouNsELLoRs AT Law.
HELENA, Mont, Oct. IL, 1892.
Dear Sir and Comrade--Paraon the
frankness with which ! presume to write
Won and 1t is only at the earnest re-
queat of a number of comrades that / ven.
ture to do SO, simply because we feel that n
principle being at stake, you will show the
mantle of fraternalc charity and loyalty over
any seeming intrusion on our part in Fergus
county matters.
l write you not only az a comrade, but
particularly ns a brother republican and in
behalf of Charles A.. Burg, the republican
nominee for sheriff in your county.
Mr.. Burg 10 not a Grand Army man, it ia
tue. but he Is a loyal, liberal. aggressive
republican, who, with his means and SCI
vices. has been in the forefront of every
political fight, neither asking nor giving
compromise or quarter.
IueIelofe IL III lnhJ WING ne ulu not serve
us III the sixties, he at least bears political
acars in great plenty and is entitled to full
recognition Of that from all republicans.
We understand that Mr.. Burg was fairly
nominated in your county convention, but
that an independent republican, is run
ming against him Who is one of us, and
claims support from our comrades.
II ia this fact that causes us sorrow. in
that we feel that. being regularly nomi-
mated, Mr.. Burg is entitled to the solid
support of republicans. and that any indie
pendent candidacy can in practice only
work to the benefit of the democratic can
didate and to the detriment of Mr.. Burg.
Surely all comrades know and recognize
that the only way to win is to turn our guns
Golidly, unltedly against the enaIny and not
waste our strength in petty chickering's
among ourselves. 1t 10 still necessary 70
c''vote as we shot:' in any other way we can
not hope to build and keep ready for work a
strong, compact party organic ton, and in
any event we do not wish to be charged
with being querulous.
1t is q good rule to fight a man in owen
tion If desired. but u nomination once
made, should not be jeopardized By a de-
tented candidate, ana / feel sure that upon
thinking it over, Comrade Noble will see
he is OCCUPYING a wrong position and do the
right thing.
Over here we are intensely interested, not
only in MIR. Burg, but also in the general
proposition upon election day, and our
soIicitude is so great that a number of com
AIDES have asked me to write Gas l am
asking you if you do not think it possible
to heal this breach 80 that Joy of a Montana
republican victory will not be saddened by
the knowledge that some of our lends fell
outside the breastworks. 1t is in our own
hands. and We can make the victory COM
plets if we will.
am sending a copy of this letter to sew
eral comrades in Fergus.
Although post commander of our local
post. l do not. of course, presume to write
in any official capacity, although as indi-
viduals, we have talked this matter over
much. Fraternally and cordially your g, III
f., @. and L., T. p. STERLING.
Reply.
LEw1srowN. Mont, Dot. 16, 1892. -Anum-
Der of the above letteI having been re-
ceivod by members of james A. Shields
post, q. A.. r., and circulated in this
county, on behalf OF the post, l repudiate
the action of Comrade Sterling and de-
nounce 1t as a dastardly attempt to COM
promise our order by bringing it into pol
itics.
The Grand Army of the Republic is not a
political organization. Honorable service
for freedom gives each member the right to
vote according to the dictates of his own
conscience, and his membership does not
bind him to support any person, or hold
him eubservient to any party managers.
When Comrade Sterling. whether MS post
commander or us n member. assumes to
dictate how our member shall vote, he
NEEDLES with business not his own, violates
his obligation as a member and an officer,
forgsts the principles of our order and
seeks to fetter that freedom of belief and
action which we fought to maintain.
Each member is free to vote for whom he
pleases, and should ray no attention to the
above letter or to any attempt. on account
of his membership in the Grand Army OF
the Republic, to claim bis vote for any po-
litical candidate. VIM. CREuTzMAN.