The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-15
TWAS ALL HARMONY
Sweet Grass County Democrats Organ
ize Themselves for War.
AND THEY WILL BE HEARD
General Misunderstanding Follows
the Construction of a I oil Bridge
An Offer to Dan Stuart
Pointers From Big Timber.


Big Timber Mont, Feb. 13.-Probably
the first political meeting held in Mon
tana this year. was that held by the
democrats of this city last Monday
night. AS no public announcement has
been given of the proposed meeting, it
was a great surprise to many politi-
clans here, for it has always been said
there was not enough of Growers dis
ciples in Sweet Grass county to hold a
caucus. Evidently this is not the case,
as about 80 democrats of this town as
sembled in Sheriff De Harris office at
the court house to see if n permanent
county organization could not be effect
ed After a few preliminary remarks
by the chairman pro tempore and other
members of the convention, the election
of officers was taken up. T. X. Lee was
made chairman, and County Attorney
sydney Fox was elected secretary. The
matter of forming a county central
committee was next mentioned and
after little discussion it was decided
to see If such q committee could not be
formed, and accordingly Sheriff J. l..
De Hart, James NestaI and Ben Mjilde
were appointed as a committee to bring
about the formation of a central COM
mittee. The political situation Of Sweet
Grass county was discussed pro and
con by those present, and the utmost
harmony prevailed throughout the
meeting. Notwithstanding the fact
that 20 per cent. Of the voting popula-
ton of the county are republicans and
that Sweet Grass is the banner repub-
lican county of the state. ii is certain
that the democrats will place a COM
plete ticket in the field this fall, and
they expect. at least, to elect a part
of It.
Considerable excitement was expert
Il
when the report gained circulation on
the streets that Attorney L. NJ. Han.
us secretary Of the Business Mems
club, had sent a message to Dan stu
art of FL Paso, Texas, manager of the
Maher-Fitzsimmons glove contest, Of
fering a purse OF $50, 900 to the contest
ants to pull the mill Off in this town
and guaranteeing protection to the pu-
silists. Little credence was given the
report at first, but later in the even
ing the writer was shown the message,
which read as follows:
Dan Stuart, El Paso. Texas:
Thirty thousand dollars guaranteed
by Big Timber club to pull off Maher-
FItzsimmons mill in this town. Pro-
lection guaranteed.
"E. NJ. Hall, Secretary"
At $3.50 p. m. yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Hall received the following reply |
from Stuart:
l.. VI. nan, Dig 1lTnDef, Mont.
Your offer has been referred to the |
contestants. If we are unable to pull |
OFF the fight here. II will be considered |
Dan Stuart, FL Paso, Texas"
As no other word at the time of this |
writing has been received by Mr.. Hall /
from Mr.. Stuart, the matter has been |
dropped.
AS a result growing out OF some |
trouble over the Saltwater road propo- |
sltlon which has been up before the I
board OF commissioners off and on for 1
several months, charging him with /
breaking the lock on the gate at the I
north end of the bridge crossing the 1
saltwater about two miles above Alb /
sarokee. the private property Of Mr..
Quinn and others last Friday Hearing
was set for Saturday afternoon, when /
both parties were present and Joseph /
Kern, side partner Of Quinn's. who I
came up from the Saltwater country 10 I
sec that the prosecution was properly /
conducted, but County Attorney Fox
very wisely moved for dispiseal If I
the case on the ground that there was
no evidence connecting the defendant /
with the lock breaking and Stone was
dismissed by Justice Lee. some time
ago Messrs. Quinn and Kern built the
bridge over the saltwater for the pur-
pose of charging a 80 cent toll there
being considerable travel at that point
which would make ii a paying invest
ment. on the west side Of the stream.
there being no road. a petition was cir
culated among these Centlemen's
friends and found great many ready
signers. and was presented II the coun-
ty commissioners, praying for a road
TO be opened to run down the valley p
number Of miles to this bridge. At the
same meeting a large number of pro- .
tests were filed by parties asking for
damages, among them being Mr..
Stone, asking for $500 which protest
squelched their scheme. 1t
is acknowledged that Mr.. Stone would
be greatly damaged by reason Of the
road passing through his field
At the time Of the building Of the
bridge. a number Of neighboring ranch
ers worked on it. with the understand
ing that they We're to have use Of the
bridge without paying toll. and II seems
as soon as the bridge owners learned
Of Mr.. Stones protest. immediately put
a lock and gate on the bridge and de-
MED him any further use Of IL
District Judge Frank Henry has APP
pointed y. Eudd. Of the city. q. W.
Baker of Mcleod and W. = Frank
lin Of Melville, as appraisers for the
county. He Is an old gentleman of good
judgment and II goes without saying
that Sweet Grass county property will
receive "a just auuraiseueut.
constable Calhoun of Columbus ar
rived in Big Timber SATURDAY. H.cht.
armed with a warrant for the arrest III
Charles Mason. a settler OF the still
water valley, charging him with pass
Ing worthless checks on several NOR
chants Of that place. Constable cal
loun returned with his uri-una- sun
Day morning 10 Columbus. where he
viii have hearing on ID. Esta inst.
sydney Sauur ~ .nfs place.
viii appear for the defendant
The opening of the new EPISCOPAL
church OF this place VIII occur next