The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-03-07
Tuesday. March :. 1888.


SENATOR MANTLE.
At noon on Saturday. March 4th with
in the hour of the expiration OF Sena-
tor Sanders senatorial term. Governor
Richards filed the existing vacancy by
the appointment of Lee Mantle of Butte.
The probability of Mr.. Mantle'sappoint-
ment had heen SO long and 81 freely fore
east that the executive act caused no
surprise. and was generally accepted as
the realization Of a foregone conclusion.
While there were other prominent re-
publicans who were talked Of" in con
-nection with the appointment. there
probably never Was Il time since it be
came a possibility that the governor
would he called upon to appoint. that he
seriously considered any other person
than Mr.. Mantle. And there is no good
reason To doubt the wisdom of Govern
or Richards choice. In this section of
the state Mr.. Mantle is SO little known
that his political stature can he but
inperfectlv estimated but in the west
ern part of the state and particularly in
populous Silver Bow county he is a
giant and Yields a 7 wer that has been
very helpful to tn republican party.
and particularly " as this true ofthe last
election. While. il this connection it
may be assumed that Gov. Richards
found in the lower of appointment
vested in him. tie ability to discharge
a political debt. a condition which we
believe was wholly foreign to the case
it can readily DC surmised that the gov
ernor found both inclination and duty
running in harmony when theopportun-
ity presented itself to crown the polite
al ambition of so worthy and helpful a
republican as Mr.. Mantle has always
proven himself to ne. and we believe
that barring the temporary heart burh-
ings of the disappointed aspirants and
their friends. the elevation Of Mr.. Man
tie will be received with universal ap
Precipitation in the party. Personally
the new senator locks the b~rilIiancy and
aggressiyeness of his predecessor. Col.
Sanders. He is retiring almost to the
degree of bashfulness in his demeanor
hut ON occasion has 1t ready and fluent
tongue. and "a gift of oratory that when
Once.at home in his new surroundings
will often find a vent. and command the
respectful attention of even SO dignilied
a body as the United States senate.
a~Should his physical condition. which is
not rugged. stand the strain. the PEG
pie of Montana MAJ rest assured that
they will he ably. intelligently and Wig
ilantly represented by Senator Mantle.
For the benefit Of those who are uniG-
formed. we append the following brief
biographical sketch of the new sena-
tor:
Lee Mantle was born in Birmingham.
Eng, December l3. lsJI. His father
came To the United States in 1863 and
settled in Utah. He was early accus-
toned to work and in 1850 drove AN OK
team for y. r. White. who was late
governor of Montana. In lo12 he learn
ed t~elegraphy at Malad City. Idaho. and
was for several years in the employ of
the Western Union telegraph company.
nc Wis turing tHeSt wears located al
Pleasant Valley. where he became ow-
ner of the old stage station. He re-
manned there until 1871 as agent for
Gilmer " Salisbury. at the same time
acting as postmaster and telegraph OPP
orator. Upon the ad, ice Of several
Montana men. whom he met here. he re
moved 10 Butte. where he became the
agent of Wells. Fargo Il Co. and of Col
onel B~roadwater's damon Il fast freight
line.
When the city of Butte was incorpor
ated IL lSsu he was a member of the
first city council. In 1851 he organized
the Inter Mountain Publishing rom
pany and became manager of the con
Germ.
Mr.. Mantle has always been an active
republican. and was speaker of the last
house of representatives under the terri
torial government. In 1851 Mr.. Mantle
was a delegate to the national republi.
can convention at Chicago.
Last April he was elected mayor of
Butte by the largest majority ever re
ceired by any candidate for that office.
He is a member of the E,lks. the
Knights Of Pythias and the Odd Eel
flows. He is deeply interested in turf
matters and is vice president OF the
West Sibe Racing association.