Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-12-15
SENATORIAL FIGHT
Banker Brown of Moscow Said
:. to Be Candidate.
sweEs's FRIENDS CONFIDENT
An Interesting story of the Gesat
ieai war Now Raging Fierce,y
In Moscow.

Moscow. Idaho, Dec. S.--Moscow re-
sembles Spokane In many respects. IL
is a novelty In the political world and.
like Spokane also. Is the largest town
in Its part OF the state II impresses
one with it's mud, the thrift OF It's busi-
ness men and the rancor OF its politics.
Moscow was unknown to political
fame until about four years ago. Since
then Il has claimed the residence of a
United States senator. a governor. a
congressman. and still boasts of a gov
ernor. congressman and two United
states senatorial aspirants. And yet all
these famous characters In Idaho's po-
htical history are contained In two in
dividuais, W. J. Mcconnell and Willis
Sweet
With two such big men In one town IL
is not TO be wondered at that factions
arose In the politics of the town. Two
such planets could not occupy the same
space without big display OF fireworks
There were plenty OF Offices 10 fill with
out Sweet and Mcconnell coming In
each others way, OF course. but, as is
usual In fraii human nature. both
sweet and Mcconnell began advancing
10 the game objective point. They each
had senatorial tree and each began
edsinB toward the same post-hole TO
plant H. When they met they bowed
then smiled. then frowned, then dis
puted. and are now quarreling. They
have their knives out and each is sur
rounded by a crowd OF his friends. The
steel is shining in the sunlight. and IL
begins 10 look as II row was on that
would end only in the complete annihi-
iation of one OF theleading combafants
-or both.
MccoNNELL's INSPIRATIONS.
Governor Mcconnell was a big man
four years ago. He was a merchant
with political sagacity and much desire.
Northern Idaho had never been reeog-
nized by the politicians Of the southern
part OF the. state. but Mcconnell be-
came a candidate for United States sen
ator nevertheless, 1t was a fight
against odds and IL cost about $4,000.
but Mcconnell won. Idaho had Just
become state and was entitled TO two
senators, one of whom was TO fill a long
and the other a short term OF about two
months. Mr.. Mcconnell drew the short
straw. and. though he served only few
weeks In the United States senate, he
made IL brilliant Mcconnell was a
rough orator-he has improved some
since-but he made up In courage what
he lacked IN polish, and he shattered
senatorial idols with the ease OF cham
pion marksman shooting glass balls.
Time-hoEored senatorial dignity was
trampied under foot with such reckless
bravado that Senator Mcconnell be-
came at once q famous character.
Senator Mcconnell was big rner-
chant then and weaithy--or supposed to
be. He came back flushed with sena-
torial pride and was soon in a hot race
for the gubernatorial chair. He won.
After q while he failed In business,
and. II is said. today has nothing left
of his at one time big fortune Many of
his friends and supporters disappeared
with his fortunes as Is usual In such
cases; but not all OF .fhesn. and he was
still strong enough last fall to secure the
nomination for governor again. but IL
was with split in the party at his
home.
WTTIfe CxyEstr1s