The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-30
TIRE "
CALI. TINE LEGlsLAIUREl

IHE INDEPENDENTS demand LOT an eX
ira session of tho legislature meets with
hearty response on all sides. The be
lief is general that when Gov. Richards
learns the drift Of public opinion he vii
reconsider his determination not to have
an extra session and issue his proclama
ton at once. But two newspapers II
the state, tho Anacond, Standard and
the Butte Inter Mountain, oppose an
effort to save silver in the senate. We
do not question tho sincerity of the
motives of those newspapers, but we
saw to the governor in all seriousness
that If he listens to thor ill-judged ad-
vice he will make the mistake OF his
life. The effect Of the governors re-
fusal would be so far-reachlng, and per-
haps SO disastrous, that he may we'll re
consider his purpose. We beg to call
his attention to the comments of the
leading republican newspapers in the
silver states, which foresee the dangers
of his proposed course Of action. Thus
the Salt Lake Tribune says:
"Governor Richards, of Montana, fol
lows in the footsteps of Governor Os-
borne, of Wyoming, and declines to call
a special session Of the legislature to fill
the vacancy in the United States senate.
The reason he gives for this is the ex-
pense of such an extra session, and that
the election could not be had in time to
affect the result. The first of these
reasons is puerile and trivial, for Mon
tana will certainly lose a great deal
more money if silver were to be wholly
demonetlzed, which the vote to be sup
piled might prevent, than would be the.
cost of half a dozen legislative sessions
The second reason, that the senator to
be elected could not arrive in Washing
ton in time to vote on the question, is
good at this time, and Governor Rick
ards is not to blame in thinking hereto
fore that Mr.. Mantle would receive his
seat, which he certainly should have
done without the interruption of quib-
bling and petifogging objections. But
perhaps by the time. the Legislature
could act, the vote will still be needed,
and Governor Richards is not excusable
n failing to call the session. The prac-
teal status of the case is now that
three states depend for their rightful
in the United Stateo senate upon
the minds of senators as to other ques-
tions than upon the absolute right of
the appointees to the seats. Partisan
politics and antl-silver bigotry threaten
to deprive three states of their proper
representation in the upper house of
It is ex asperating to think it
should be SO, but so it is"
The Denver Republican is equally
clear and emphatic. 1t says:
"The governors Of Wyoming, Wash
ington and Montana should call the
legislatures of those states together in
extra session Immediately for the pur-
pose of electing three United States
to fill the existing vacancies.
All these states are vitality interested in
the complete restoration of silver to it's
old place and value in our CURRENCY. and
we have no doubt that a vast majority
of their citizens would willingly under
go the expense involved in calling their
legislatures together for the purpose of
choosing three silver senators. If this
be done, there can be no doubt
that a bill for tho free and unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen |
to one can be passed through the pres
ent senate, and the game is certainly
worth the candle"
And the Rocky Mountain News. the
populist organ, thus addresses our gov
ernor:
Governor Richards, of Montana. ia a
man as we'll as a republican. The
of Montana has a slight
democratic plurality when united, and
the populists have three votes, which
tie up the election Of u senator. While
it is hardly possible that the republican
minority could elect a senator, even with
all three OF the populist votes, this fact
should not deter Governor Richards
calling the legislature in session
for a few days for the purpose of filing
Montana's vacant seat in the senate.
in the silver states rest upop
Let Montana give us a silver