Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-10-27
THE DUTY OF THE HouR

The all-important duty of every per-
son who believes in the continuance of
Republican principles, mex to the re-
election of President Harrison. Is to put
forth every honorable effort for the
election of Goodell and Coder to the
legislature. 1t is often urged, by inter-
ested parties, that the office should be |
non-political; when as a matter of fact, |
the state s~enatorship and the represen-
~tatives in the legislature are the most
strictly political offices in the gift of
the electors of any county, and partic-
ularly SO when a United States senator
is to be elected by the legislature of the
state, as is the case in Montana this
year, inasmuch as Senator Sanders
term expires on the fourth of next
March.
The political faith of the next United
States senator may depend upon the
vote of Fergus county at the coming
election. This county is 20 strongly
Republican that there should be no
question about the election of the Re-
publican nominees for this office; but
three years ago many Republicans, un-
mindful of the political importance at
taching TO the office, voted in accord
ance with their personal preference,
and elected a Democratic "sprinter" to
the state senate, and a resident of
Helena to the house, for it is only by
Republican votes that any Democrat is
elected to Office in this county. We
believe hat experiment was sufficient
to satisfy the Republican voters of this
county of the importance of casting a
straight ballot for the Republican nomi-
nees to the legislature.
This year the Republican voters of
the county are asked to support two
men who, by force of their party allie
glance, are free traders and free wool
men, but one of whom at least, Mr..
Hilger, is upon record as favoring a
tariff on wool. Except for the purpose
OF showing how desperate and incon-
sistent Messrs. Hilger and Willard are
in their desire for Office, it matters not
what their individual opinions upon
the tariff, and other national questions,
may be. 1t is sufficient for us to know |
that they are either free wool men and
free traders in general, or they have
stultified themselves and abandoned
their principles, for the sake of secur-
ing office under the Democratic plat
form. In any event, should they be
elected to this high office, they will be
called upon to cast their ballots in the
legislature to elect a free trader to the
United States senate; and as Demo-
Gratis that is the way they would and
should vote, since that is the leading
principle of the Democratic party.
The question then is, will the Repub-
licans OF the county lend their strength
TO send q Democratic free trader to
the United States senate We trust
not. Let all personal feelings, if any
such exist against either Mr.. Goodell
or Mr.. Coder, give place to the higher
feelings Of patriotism and a desire for
the advancement of Republican prin-
ciples. We do not knowthat any per-
sonal feeling exists against either of
these men, but if there be any such,
We ask those who harbor it to be true
to principle.
There are men in Fergus county who
have heretofore allied themselves with
the Democratic party, but who believe
in protection. We ask all such u con-
slider this matter. Are you willing to
u the chance of giving the Democrat
ic party control of the United States
senate? 1t would be most da%ngerous
to the cause of protection. Let every
protectionist stand fast in this crisis,
and h strength of Fergus county will
be found On the side of right and JUS
tice, on the side of hepeople of Amer
lea.