The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-29
POLITICS IN MONTANA.
Republicans Hoping Against Hope to
Have Elaine on the Ticket.

HELENA, Feb. 2S.-ISpecial. The politi-
cal situation in Montana is badly mixed.
The Blaine letter put the anti-Harrison
Republicans all at sea. 4 good many of
them yet cherish the hope that Blaine will
be nominated willy nilly ana the others
are casting about for some one else on
whom they can unite. But one Eepub-
lican club has been organized and that
one was christened the James G.. Blaine
Club OF Butte, although organized after
Blaine's letter. There can be no doubt
but what Blaine was, by large majority,
the choice of Montana Republicans. At
present, however, if the federal officers
take an active part in the prelminaries,
1t IS more than probable that the delega-
tlon from this state will be friendly at
least TO Harrison. The president has
made several very popular nominations
from Montana, among them being: Hon.
I. II. Carter, commissioner of the general
land office; Captain ]. II. Mills, internal
revenue collector; Major-General George
q. Eaton, surveyor general: Judge Hiram
Knowles, United States district judge,
and large number of minor appointees,
In the main satisfactory. 1t is commonly
understood in Helena that United States
Senators Sanders and Power are both
opposed to the denomination of Harrison,
though neither of them has publicly pro-
claimed his position.
The Democrats are equally at sea. Cleve-
lands pronounced anti-silver views have
diminished his great popularity in the
state. The action of the New York con-
vention and the bitterness existing be-
tween the followers of the ex-president
and ex-governor is fast uniting Montana
Democrats against a New York candidate
for the first place. Governor Hauser is
reported in an Eastern paper as having de-
clared for Chief Justice Fuller. Colonel
Broadwater is understood to be friendly to
Senator Hill. Hon. w. A. Clark, of Butte,
is for silver man; his paper, the Butte
Miaer, has been quite zea,ously booming
Senator Palmer. Marcus Daily, the other
member OF the big four, has so far not
given public utterance to his preference.
He is credited with the declaration that he
would support Blaine if nominated by the
Republicans. From present indications it
IS more than probable that no presidential
preference will be expressed by the Demo-
cratic state convention.
The election next fall will be even more
complicated than the present political sit
uation. State officers, state legislature
and the state capital are to be selected.
Bitter rivalry for the latter honor exists
among several of the leading cities of the
state, and it will be difficult matter TO
prevent trading for local advantage. The
legislature to be chosen will elect the sue
cessor of Colonel Sanders in the United
States Senate, and Senator Power is cred
tied With being perfectly willing that his
colleague shall be succeeded by West
Side man. Democrat or Republican. While
number of candidates for the governor
ship are being discussed, no one has yet a
pronounced lead in either party. The
leading Republicans talked of are ex-
Congressman Carter, Lieutenant-Governor
Richards, General Eaton, Secretary of
State Rotwit, State Treasurer Hickman.
Among the Democrats the leading candi-
dates are Governor Toole, Congressman
Dixon and Hon. T. f. Collins, q wealthy
banker of Great Falls. The present gov
ernor. congressman and state legislature
are Democrats, the rest of the state officers
being Republican. The state is pretty
evenly divided on a strict party vote