The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-25
WIDE AWAKE SWEDES
They Are Up in Arms and Demand
Recognition.
WANT TO NAME AN OFFICER
But So Far the Cold Shoulder and
Deaf Ear Has Greeted Them
Wings of the White
Winged Dove Clipped.

Butte, May 24.-The plot that sur
rounds the vacant office of chief of po-
lice is thickening and the final out
come of the muddle is even in greater
doubt than IT has been heretofore
Following closely upon the sensational
developments which were outlined on
the second page of the Standard this
morning the Swedish-Americans have
now entered into the fight with an ear
nestness that will unquestionably de-
! mand attention. When the fight over
the vacant office first started the
Swedes rallied to the support of Act
Ing Chief Waters in a style that gave
the friends of that gentleman a great
deal OF pleasure. A petition bearing
the signatures of more than 200 Swed-
ish voters and asking for the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Waters as chief of police
was handed in TO Mayor Thompson
about week ago. but IL appears to
have gone unheeded. and the signers
of II and their friends are up i'm arms
over the slight which they think they
have received. They now demand that
the appointment shall go to one Of
their countrymen, III Mr.. Waters is not
to receive it. and they are preparing to
make their influence in this direction
felt.
AS a rule the Swedish-Americans
| like the native born variety. go to the
polls and vote without much thought
| of the future reward. but they have
thrown their natural modesty to the
winds for the time being. In discuss
| ing the situation tonight a prominent
Swedish-American said: "A conserva-
| tive estimate places the Swedish vote
| in Butte at between 600 and 700. and
| IL is more than twice as large as the
| English A n1aripan h.
| limits. Mayor Thimpson, as he well
| knows, received our solid vote, but we
| had nothing to ask in return for our
support until IL came to the office of
chief of police. and then we threw all
| of our strength. not to one of our own
countrymen, but to Mr.. Waters, ma
| tive born American.
our support, however, does not seem
| to have cut much more figure than
| that of native Americans and the bust
] ness men. We have not yet deserted
Mr.. Waters. and we propose to stand
| by him as long as he has a chance. but
| III IL should become apparent that he is
| out of the race we will demand that
| the office be given to a Swedish-Ameri-
I can. We have twice as many voters
| in the city as the English Americans.
| and are that much more entitled TO
recognition than they and If we don't
| get it-well we know how to vote next
time
There is also breach between the
mayor and aldermen over the secret
caucus which was held last Tuesday
night. The nine aldermen who voted
| for Mr.. Waters in the caucus are all
| more or less annoyed, to use a mild
term, over the failure Of the mayor 10
present his name for confirmation on
| Wednesday evening, and they promise
| to stand by the action of the caucus
| until the fiery furnace becomes a solid
| chunk of ice. The mayor is equally
annoyed at the aldermen who lost no
| time in giving away the proceedings
of the caucus after they had pledged
| themselves to secrecy, and he states
emphatically that he will never call
| the council together in another caucus
| for any purpose. Altogether the situa-
| ton is full of amusement for those
who are on the outside. and not the
| least amusing feature of IL is the fear
which seems to possess some people
| that the English-Americans may be
| drawn out of the republican party.