The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-18
HERE'S A PRETTY MESS
MOntana'S Legislators Threatened for
Doing Their Duly.
THE HOUSE TAKES ACTION
A Committee Appointed to Inquire
Into the Work OF some Scurvy
Rascals Who Have Written
Their Threats.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

HELENA, Jan. 1.-THE A. p. A. compli-
cation bobbed up serenely in the house
thisafternoon and gave rise to an animated
and interesting discussion. After the
adoption of the resolutions, and the read.
| ing of the journal, Monteath presented a
| resolution which was read by the clerk
1t stated that inasmuch as certain men,
| beers of the legislature had received threat
enInR and intlmdating letters. the house
should appoint a committee of three, to
investigate the matter and report the re.
suit OF their labors to the house for action.
Monteath moved the adoption of the
resolution. Though there was no refer
ence to the A. =. A. in the resolution and
only once in the following discussion,
1t was evident and generally understood
from whom the intimidation came.
Isdell took the floor and said he be.
lieved the adoption of the resolution
would be an improper thing. 1t would be
granting notoriety to class of people
who were seeking 1t, and he did not be-
lieve that the legislature of the state of
Montana should be made the instrument
for gratifying their desire. He did not
want anything on the legislative records
about those people, and he hoped the
matter would be at once dropped and
ignored entirely.
Collins of Park said that he agreed with
this view, and that this matter, together
with the dsgraceful proceedings OF a few
days ago, should be buried in oblivion.
The house should not investigate this
matter. There might be a great many
good citizens in the order to which he I'M
derstood the resolution had indirect ref
erence, who would disclaim and reject the
motives which brought that crowd here
the other day. lie hoped the resolution
would not pass.
Meyer of Park was also opposed in a
general way to giving notoriety to any
body through the medium of the house.
but when a member of the house received
n threatening letter, intended to intimi-
date him and influence his actions as q
member of the legislature, he thought
some notice of it should be taken. 1t was
time for action when actual threats we're
made against a member of the house.
Shober said he was not a Catholic, Pro-
testant, Mormon, Jew nor A. p. A., but he
was warmly III favor of investigating this
matter. This is the only time the order
was directly mentioned during the discus
sion.
Monteath said that in the present stage
OF the resolution no one was supposed to
know to what it had reference. The
proposition simply was whether the house
would take notice of an attempt to in
timldate its members. He thought it
their duty to the members concerned to
protect them to the fullest extent of their
ability.
Rombauer was opposed to the resolu-
ton and hoped it would not pass as there
was no telling where the matter would
end.
Shropshire deplored the fact that such
a resolution should have been made a
theme for the discussion of policy. If
threats were made against members 1t
was the duty of the house to take action.
The members had a right to demand it as
a question of privilege.
Won Tobel spoke in favor of the adop-
ton of the resolution. What he saw the
other day made him anxious to vote for
just such a resolution.
Collins thought the matter should be
brought to the attention of the United
States authorities and the authors of the
letter, If they could be discovered, should
be punished to the limit. He did not be-
lieve, however, that it was a subject for
action by the house.
Joy was in the chair during the discus
sion and he put the vote viva voce. There
was storm of ayes and but few scat
tering votes in the negative, and the reso-
luton was declared adopted.
The chair appointed Meyer of Park,
Won Tobel of Valley and Fergus, and An.
derson of Meagher.
As matter of fact but one letter was
received. 1t was addressed to a member
OF the legislature from Silver Bow, land
the other traitors" and it reads as fol-
lows:
BUTTE, Jan. 16. 1905
Silrer BoU Legislative Delegation, Helena,
Montana:
You traitors. Understand we, an oath-bound
band Of thirteen, will with pleasure await YOUR
arrival In Butte, either during or after your
lecis duties have expired. You desplsed
brlhe-takers. Traitors to your constituents
Traitors to your country and traitors TO your re-
lgion. You Rome-bought abortions. Dare
You call yourselves Americans or confront those
TO whom you owe your offices?
Sincerely. we thirteen, await your arrival in |
the "Grandest Mining Camp on Earth" You |
Will find upon investigation there are no trait |
ors in our mystic number.
JAMES MELLAN. |
Chairman Committee.