Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-03
BOLTED,
First Event of the Montana Leg
islative Session.
DEMOCRATS WALK OUT OF MEETING.

Republicans Proceed to Business, Elect a
Temporary Speaker and Adjourn to
Await Reinforcements - Future Pros
pects-TrianguIar Trouble in Nebraska
and Colorado-Three Parties Who Don't
Know "Where They Are at''-A Fine
Lot of Legislative Rows Indicated -
Mixed Politics in California.
HELENA, Mont, Jan. 3.-Yesterday was
the date for the meeting of the Montana
legislature. There was trouble in the or
ganization of the house Under the law
the state auditor is the official who is re-
quired to call the roll of the house Before
proceeding he announced that, while Ham
ilton, Democrat, of Choteau, held a regular
certificate of election, he was aware of the
existence of writ of mandate issued by
the supreme court, which adjudged Ham,
iltOn's certificate as false. AS Ieech, who
would be benefited by the supreme courts
decision, had not presented to him any evil
dence of his election he said he had deter
mined to omit both the names of Hamilton
and Leech from the roll.
Hamilton Fails to Get Seat.
When the members were sworn Hamil-
ton advanced to the bar to take the
oath with his certificate in hand. but the
auditor would not administer it and
threatened to call in the United States
marshal to remove him. The Democrats
sprang to their feet and warned the aud
itor to be careful, and for a moment a
conflict was imminent, but Hamilton did
not insist and the other members were
-,
Davidson, Democratic member, on the
sick list, the house stood TWENTY-FIVE Dem
ocrats, twenty-five Republicans and three
Populists. Two of the Populists went
over to the Republicans and one to tie
Democrats, giving the Democrats 26 votes
and the Republicans %.
Twenty-Six Members Bolt.
The auditor then called for nominations
for temporary speaker. This was resented
by the Democrats who claimed that the
statutes provide that the oldest member of
the house shall do that duty. Then, as
suming that the Republicans were carry
ing out a scheme, the Democrats and one
Populist got up and left the chamber with
only twenty-seven members-not quorum
rs the whole membership is fifty-five The
Republicans, however, went right on saw
ing wood and elected Populist Matthews
temporary speaker, a temporary clerk and
sergeant-at-arms and then adjourned until
p. m today.
Expect to Have Leech on Hand.
The Republicans expect that Leech will
be on hand by that hour with a certificate
that can be used to seat him. The senate
was organized without trouble by the Dem
ocrats, who have majority of two in that
body. The committees were appointed to
notify the governor and house that they ,
were ready for business. There is much
indignation expressed by the Democrats at
the action of Auditor Cook in refusing to
recognize the certificate of election of Ham
ilton. Cook says he had an embarrassment
of evidence and adopted what he thought
was the best and fairest course under the
The Democratic Programme.
The Democratic members of the house
were in caucus all the afternoon, but what
they concluded to do is not known. 1t is
probable that they will have Hamilton
sworn in by justice of the peace at noon
and with Davidson and one Populist organ |
ize house oftwenty-eight members, Just !
majority. The Democratic senators an
nounce that they stand ready to recognize |
such body.