Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-11-09
oBEYED THE PEOPLES WILL.
Governor Richards Says the Sentiment Of
the People Was Against an Extra
2eaaion.

Governor Richards visited Butte
last week and was interviewed by a
representative of the Inter-Mountain.
He talked freely respecting the silver
situation and his refusal to call an
extra session. He expresses the be-
lief that the repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman law means an
era OF low prices for products and
long continued business depression,
from which no section of the country
will be wholly exempt, and that ad-
vantage will he taken of these condi
tions to press the adoption of meas
ure looking TO the issue of bonds.
"A majority OF eleven for repeal,
governor, would seem 10 indicate that
an extra session in Montana would
not have stemmed the tide" was sug-
gested.
"An extra session in Montana" re-
joined the governor, would have
been followed by the convention Of
of the legislature in both Washington
and Wyoming. There is no doubt
about this. Those who advocated an
extraordinary session used this as an
argument, claiming that the silver
cause would thereby gain three new
votes in the senate. Ny information,
however, however, was to the con
trary, and the final vote i'm that body
justifes the position | had taken re,
speeding u neighbor states. The
senators from both Washington and
Wyoming voted for unconditional re.
peal and two more senators from
those states would have done like
wise. Thus while the cause OF silver
would have gained one vote the op
position would have gained two and
the majority for repeal would have
been twelve instead of eleven. An ex
traordinary session under such cir
cumstances would have crippled
rather than aided the silver interests
But with Washington and Wyomin.
in sympathy with us there would still
have been a majority of eight against
us. Now that repeal has been brought
about the advocates of an extra ses
sion concede that they expected thai
measure to eventually pass the sen
ate, whether or no. The Helena In
dependent of the 31st ult. saws
Those best informed and most di
rectly interested in silver production
believed that the bill unconditional,
repeating the silver purchasing claus
OF the Sherman law would eventual,
pass the senate and become law b,
reason of that belief the Independent
holds that the bad local effects of un
conditional repeal have been largel,
discounted in Montana"
, How do you regard public sent
ment in this state relative to an eXtri
session." was asked.
II have made a careful analysis @
the prevailing sentiment of the stat
from all sources with a desire to cor
form to the wishes of the people il
this matter. i say unhesitatingl,
that from all the information in m,
, possession | am convinced that min
taxpayers out of every ten oppose tn
calling OF an extra session, and tina
the demand for one was confine,
chiefly to senatorial aspirants an
the political agencies under their i'm
mediate control, seconded by thos
who expected to receive a direct pei
sonal benefit from the assembling c
: that body. There are documents il
my hand that would indicate tina
there r a very few conscientious
: patriotic citizens who believed tina
another senator would aid the silve
cause, but these men are broad eDoug
to measure the question by result
and they can now see clearly that the
were mistaken. Men who expected t.
, reap political profit from a specia
session are not supposed to acknow
edge the mistake they made, tor the
had only personal considerations i
view"