The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-18
BO1NN STILL A MEMBER.
Carter's Election as Chairman Does
Not Require the colonel's
Resignation.
No Request Has Been Made to
Him to Create a
Vacancy.
Not Necessary That the COMMITTEES Should
Chose Its Chairman From IT.
Own Members.

The election Of Land Conpissioner Car
a. chairman of the national republican
executive committee gives Montana Two
representatives in that body. while auch
large states ~ Pennsylvania. Illinois and
Indisna' have but one member. The other
Montana member il that W~sll-kp0vn jour.
nalist and orator. Col. A. G. Botkin. Of
Helena, who led tho Bls1ne forces at Mis-
soula. 1T docs seem . little strange" no
said yesterday afternoon. that such a re-
mote state a. Montana should be made
prominent on tho committee" 1t has been
thoupht that Tom Carter's elevation to the
Craftsmanship would necessarily involve the
resignation Of Col. Botkin from the com-
mittee. This idea probably grew ont Of
what might be termed q precedent of 1884,
when Blaine was in the race for
tho presidency. II. +. Jones, OF Pitts
burg, was tho choice of Mr.. Blaine
a. chairman of the committee. Mr.. Jones
was not q member, however. and in order
to make him eligible the member of the
committee from Pennsylvania resigned and
NJ. Jones took his place and became chab-
man, This seems to have been done in
compliance with n rule of the committee
which required that the chairman must
first be . member Of the committee. In an
interview yesterday Col. Betkin shed some
light upon this question which would indi-
cate that the national committee, according
to his views, should be a body of great free
dom and elasticity and which should not
DO subordinate to any hide-bound tradi-
tions or cast-iron rules.
1.-THE national republican committee" he
said. 'is not q body cor porate. and having no
legal character, is not bound by any rule Of
law. It is literally and absolutely a law
unto itself. The secretary and treasurer of
outside the membership. and bv analogy it
would seem that the chairman need not be
one of the members of the committee. The
only precedent. however. points in the con-
trary direction. and this occurred after the
nomination of Blaine in 1884 when ho
of the committee. Tho member from
Pennsylvania first resigned, MI. Jones was
chosen q member of the committee. and
thereupon elected its chairman" It would
seem. however. that NJ action is felt to be
necessary in the present case AS Col. Botkin
says no request has been communicated to
him to create a vacancy SO that MI. Carter
might become a member of the committee.
Col. Botkin says his selection at Mis-
soulR as . member of the national COM
mittee was q sort of a consolation purse to
the Blaine men, and that is about all the
devoted admirers Of the plumed knight in
Montana got from the Harrison admins
t~ration. 1.-THE members of the committee"
said Col. Botkin, 'are nothing but craven
images and are rarely consulted" He very
much doubts if there will be another meet
ing of the committee before the presiden-
tial election. He has information from
Col Sanders which confirms him in this be-
lief. He has sent his proxy to Col. Sanders
for use in the event that there is an other
meeting Of tho committee.
Col. Botkin said it looked up to noon of
Saturday asif Henry G. Page, Of Wiscon-
sin, or OK Ex-senator Spooner would be the
chairman. Since Carriers promotion from
the ecsetaryship of the committee Col.
Botkin thinks he will appoint Chris
MaRse. of Pennsylvania, as secretary, and
that Cornelius N. Bliss. of New York, will
be made treasurer. These appointments
would give each of those states equal repre-
asntation on the committee with Montana,
since it is almost as good as settled that
Col. Botkin will retain his place on the
committee. Carter said on Saturday
that the work of the committee would be.
gin to-day when he will announce the ap-
p0intmonts.