The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-08
AN OPEN
To tho Democratic Members of tho Third
Legislative Assembly.

To the Democratic Members Of the Third
Legislative Assembly.
Gentlemen: You have entered upsn the
fourth week OF bsllosing for q senator In
congress-. and apparently you are no nearer
u choice than you were on the first day.
You can elect a democrat II you will. and
the demooratio party OF the state and of
the nation demands that you do 30. Why
is il that a senator has not been elected
long before this. Let M review the situa-
ton.
On Monday evening, JAM. 9, a democratic
Caucus was held to decide whether or not
the first ballot should be taken next day.
In order to be on the safe side it was deter
mined that q ballot should be so taken.
Then the question of uniting upon a caucus
W. A. Clark favored that plan; the sup-
porters of ex-Gov. Hansen did not, and the
supportsrs of Hon.. W. w. Dixon were not
present. TheSe latter refused to 80 into
the caucus. and thus was inauRurated the
movement of the minority to thwart the
will of the majority and to diotate the pol
icy of the democratic party in Montana.
After several days had been wasted in a
go-as-you-please contest another demo-
cratic caucus was called. A number of
members failing to attend, the caucus WAS
adjourned until the following evening. In
the meantime a personal appeal was maize
to every democratic m of the house
and senate to be present. Over two-thirds
of the members responded, but the sup
porters of MIR. Dixon still refused to 20 into
oaucus and abide by the will of the ma
jority. On the second ballot the members
present united upon w. A. CLARK for their
standard b arer. With q single exception
from that day to this the democratic vos es
have been divided between Clark and
Dixon in about the proportion Of three to
one. That exception was Senator Gibson.
who for q time voted for Timothy e. Col
Inns.
Il 10 not necessary to 90 into all the de-
tails in regard to the populist votes. One
populist vote is all that is needed to elect a
democrat. For over a week Mr.. Beecher
has voted steadily for w. A.. Clark. Should
all the democratic members vote for him
he could be elected tomorrow. or on any
subsequent day. Now, gentlemen, what is
your plain duty? Any school boy In Mon
tana can answer that question correctly,
and you can snswsr it If you will. There is
nothing abstruse about 1t.
But suppose one. Or two, or half a dozen
members do not SEQ fit to do their duty az
all understand it, what then remains for the
othet to do? That question is Just as easy
to answer as the first one. The democratic
party desires the election of q democratic
senator. But it does not demand a depart
urs from the recognized principles of demo-
SAnSSs Ava u . - NSOAOhec !
u hundred years. in order to secure its de-
sires. The principle that the majority shall
rule is the foundation not alone Of the
democratic party. but it is the basis upon
which the entire system of our government
rests. Overthrow that principle and We
will have NO party organization and no re-
publican form of government.
Gentlemen, your duty is plain. Elect the
man whom the majority says shall be
elected. or elect nobody. The American
spirit Of independence is too strong in the
breasts of Montann's citizens for them to
submit to the %tyrannicsl dlotation of any
one man. Tbs party that submits to il
hereafter signs its own death warrant. w.
A.. Clark il the almost unanimous choice
of the Montana democracy. The rank and
file of the party demand his election; and
if, under the thin Ruise Of party expedlency.
their rel resentativss in the Legislature yield
to the dictAtion of one man who for per-
sonal reasons is trying to defeat him, the
democratic party will hereafter exist in
Montana only in name. 1t will not be able
to elect . constable in any p~recinct in the
state.
Gentlemen. this Is the situation that JON
fronts you to-day. 1t is for you to say
whether the party to which you owe alleei-
anoe shall flourish hereafter in Montana,
or whether il shall die with the third legis-
lotive assembly. A DEMOCRAT.