Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-02
MONTANA POLITICS.
A Decidedly Warm Temperature
at the Capital.
THE STRUGGLE NEARING THE CRISIS

Two Legislatures Almost a Foregone Con-
clusion Because of the Box Elder Squab-
ble-HIaJority of Republicans on the
Rolls-A Final supreme Court Decision
in Wyoming Gives the Democrats the
United States Senator-NIurphy About
Sure of the Senatorial Toga from New
Hork-LegislativeS Notes.
HELENA, Mont, Jan. 2.-No such excite
nent as exists in Helena has been known
N the Montana capital in many years
The city is full Of members of the legisla.
lure determined to get the best of the con.
lest which is 10 begin today Every
ching centers around the United States
ienatorship, and at o'clock last night all
he indications pointed to a dual house.
Or course, the senate will have no quarrel
It is composed of sixteen members, ten of
whom are Democrats and six Republicans,
md there are 90 contests. In the house,
However, very strained situation exists
The membership of che body is fifty-fiva.
The Democrats hold twentysix certificates
Of election, the Republicans twenty-siX,
and the Populists three.
The Noted Cox Elder Case.
A serious complication has arisen over
the now famous Box Elder case. The
Choteau county canvassiDg board declared
A. l.. Hamilton. Democrat, elected by
throwing out the vote of Box Elder pre-
cinct. Had this precinct been counted ".
j. Leech, Republican, would have been
elected. The matter was carried to the
supreme court, which after bitter fight
LASTING Ks ha
ing board of Choteau county to reassemble
and count the precinct which had been
thrown out. The canvassers, upon hear
ing the decision, ran away to Washington,
the British possessions, and North Dakota
Marshals were dispatched from Helena to
TT. Benton and elsewhere in Choteau coun-
ty, but before they could find any of tns
men they wanted the time in which the
writs were to be served expired, and they
were obliged to return to Helena.
Leech Has a Slight Advantage.
The supreme court Immediately issued
new writs, but up to last night the mar
shals had been unable to serve them. Both
Hamilton and Leech have come here to he
seated. Hamilton still holds the certificate
Of election, but the state auditor has placed
the name of Leech on the house roll. The
Democrats claim that if Hamilton can be
regularly sworn in as a member from Che
teau county before the recount is made the
question of who is entitled 70 the seat must
be settled By the house itself The pro-
gramme of the Republicans is 70 seat
Leech and organize the house with the aid
of two Populists This rh-v claim. will
give them twenty-ni"e members. q 5egal
majority Of the body
Democrats to DO the Bolt
The Democrats say they will assemble in
the regular way and take the oath Of office,
but that il the name Of Leech is found on
the regular list they will go in a body 70
another hall and organize as the lower
house Of the Montana Legislature. This
they will do they say, because Leech as get
has no certificate of election whatever, and
that he has 10 standing before the iegisla-
ture except as contestant so far as
known, but one of the Populists will act
with the Democrats The Democrats will
therefore have but twenty-seven members
in their house all told, and it i difficult
to see now they can transact business TN.
less they can induce another of the Popu.
lists to act with them. thus giving them
the necessary twenty-eight jus; q