The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-24
THEY ARE ONE BODY NOW,
Annual Meeting Of tho Society Of
the First Legislative
Assembly.
Election Of Officers ana Banquet at
The Helena at
Night.
speeehes BY Judge Hedges. Ex. Cav. Car
psassr, Hon. 7. @. Power, 4. N. Asitsr,
4. r. Bray sud Others.


psatsr, Hon. 7. @. Power, 4. N. Asltsr,
4. =. Bray and Others.
The Society Of Shs Fret STATE Lseislativ.
Assembly Of Montana held its annual meet
ing At The Hsiena yesterday spd elected
the following offiosrs for tho ensuing year
President. d. J. Hsnnesay. of Butte; viss-
president. Thos. L. GFssnou9h. Of Mis-
soula; secretary. II. II. Howsy. Of Helena
treasurer. D. A. Cory. Of Helena: executiv.
committee. g. w. Hoffman, of Bozsman
Pat Carney. Of Madison county, and W.
N. Thornton. Of Anaconda. Al night the
members OF tho society and the invited
guests sat down to . banquet At The Hel.
ens. There were present of the society,
Cornelius Hedges, \. H. Howsy. A. N. Hol.
ter. A. 4. Bray. q. W. Hoffman. w. @.
Whalsy. VIM. Thompson. d. J. Hennessv,
T. L. GSesnouRh. J. Il. Bssrows. John
Hotsky and Pstsr Brssn; and of invited
guests. Hon. I. @. Power. J. Il. Walkup,
Ex-Gov. b. P. Carpentsr. The menu in
cuded blue points on the half
81 !, consomms. eavia, on toast. hslibus
with oyster sauos. tendsEloin steak and
mushrsons, chicken, French peas, shrim .
salad lyon9iss. game. champagne punch,
Hollsndaiso potatoes, lettuce. olives, swsst
potatoes. ice cream. cake, crackers, cheese,
fruit and coffee; and sastsrns, sherry.
olsret. champagne and brandy. The
whole was prepared in the we'll known
style Of the Helena. aud the tables wsre
beautifully dssoratsd. After the elaborate
bill Of fare had bsea thorouRhly discussed.
along with some memories Of the days
whom the members were much further apart
than on last nights ocsasion. the speech
making began.
The first addysss was BY Hos. Cornelius
Hedges. the reti ing president. He said
that whom The orRanization Of the society
was first suggested the "a lisst response Of
the feelings Of oil was that there was more
they wished to forget than remember in
their connection with the hrst state lsaisla-
ture. Bat things were different whom the
and discipline were removed and the repre-
sentative exchanges for the individual char
aotsr with the perspective Of time
and dtstancs TO smooth out the Wrin klss and
ruffles. The sneaker said the first legisla-
turs vas entt cd to the negative aiss Of
having done less In the time II served than
any that Montana ever had. and 20 haps
less than any other in any OF the states.
Some thought st the time the credit OF the
state would DO ruined forever II soms lsais-
lation was not had. but strange to relate il
Jared better by the neglect and failure than
IL has since. Tho new constitution was
ehook full of legislation. complete stosa
OK. e-ienos then and since." said the spea or,
''has beRotten the sonviction that the elsc-
sion Of United States senators had better
bs left to tho people," Judge Hedges then
reviewed some Of the first legislative assem-
blies of Montana territory. including the
regular sessions and several shat we're
rather ext, ,cordinaEy." Coming down 10
the a st state legislature. he said:
"Rsverting to our particular expo ienss,
after the stormy scenes through which W.
passed when We 6rst should have cone
together. there were some haloyon days
al the close when the fires Of passion had
burned out and the oom landing voice OF
our constituents became audible above the
i'm por tunities Of senatorial aspirants and
political bosses. In those few days IL was
amaz na how the clouds lifted and the
ho izon expanded when We had resolved to
dismiss contentious and attend to the bug
mess On which ws could all agree. II we
had net in the spirit in which We parted
what might we not have asoomplished
We could certainly have done mo and
better work. But would tho people Of Mon
tnna in any other way have learned how
little they depend upon the legislative as
g. m bly, for their wslfa and prosperity
Even our shortcomings and mistakes
and insxousable abandonment of plain
duty. serve at times to enforce valuable
lesson. Better 10 it by far 10 sndeavor to
justify and defend them. Good fighters
generally make good friends when tho hght
is over. surely We have this bond Of
friendship."
Ex-Gov. Carpenter. in tho absence of
Gov. K,okards. responded to the toast Of
Montana. He said Montana was toe great
a state for one TO extend himself over in q
constitutional convention called on to lay
the foundation; the first legislative assem-
bly, had the work of building the super
structure. II was remarkable body. II
appeared that there was larger number
elected than there were seats to fill. 80 a.
they thoaeht ono body could not do the
whole wo 4 they resolved themselves into
and it wasn't always on thu ground.
Laughter 30 they reconstructed
A. F. Bray the governor said
the stone which tho builders rejected had
become the head OF the corner. since he WAS
pretty nearly tho whole Of the last legisla-
turs. [Laashtsr. Only one of the first
assembly, James Montsath, had como back
10 the second. intellectually the COVE nor
remarked that IL was doubtfu il any OF the
last would come back. In conclusion he
said that the constitutional convention
thought they had a p city fair instrument.
When the supreme court GOT through con-
struing ID they would have TO seonstruoa IL
to show what los frame r. intended. Laugh
ter and applassel.
''Ths school iaw' was responded 10 BY
X. II. Howsr, who traoed the various
pieces of legislation from 1874. when Mon
taua had = widely soSttst cd population Of
25, 900. down to to-day. On the law which
,rovidsd for separate schools for white and
colored he said 10 had been repealed, but
that IL was subsequently, re-ena aotsd - part
Of another Law. aud Was yet on the books
thosgh few know II and mono observed IL
Coming to tho mstte' OF higher education
hs said he sonsidsred ii . mistake to have
separated the various stats isstitusions.
but II was now too lats 10 remedy II until
after there had bssn Al immense outlay on
those now In existence. In conclusion he
spoke highly Of the loyal support which all
Montanians gave 10 the cause OF public
ed0oati0n.
Hon, L. G. Power spoke ON "IrriQation."
lie said congress had done nothing ~ yet
for the a,eat question. The FiftJ-a, u
congress- I'd no com mittss on that ssbjset.
There was Q sommittss In the Fifty-sscond.
Ksfsrring then TO the irrigation convection
In Helena hs said ons effect had been TO
absslut.ly kill in shs latter congress oil
atsso pts a. legislation by . ring com.
.,.nA nf Navata GnlifN nj anA TIAnh