The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-10-21
SOON TO Be DECIDED
The Citiz.ns' Silver Party" Ticket
Case in Supreme Court
CREDENTIALS DEAD EASY
How the "ConventIon" Was Called
and Conducted-Some Pointed
Questions by the Justices
Answers for All OF Them.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Mont, Oct. 20.-The supreme
court was occupied to-day In hearing
testimony and arguments In the case
brought TO restrain the clerk OF Silver
Bow county from printing the ticket
nominated by the so-called citizens
silver party on the official ballot.
Thompson Campbell, who was assisted
by Ed. s. Booth. conducted the rela-
tors case and +. T. Mcbride and l.
J. Hamilton appeared for the respond
ent.
Attorney Campbell. TO save time. in
stead OF reading the complaint. stated
succinctly the basis upon which the
action had been instituted. His side
would undertake TO show that at the
alleged state convention OF the citi-
zens' party. In Butte no other counties
OF Montana we're represented, ana
such delegates as were present were
not chosen In the usual manner. The
same parties who met in state conven-
ton met successfully in district and
county conventions No call was Is
sued and none published. A set Of
presidential electors were nominated.
So were two candidates for county
Judge and a full county ticket. In short
the attorney held the entire proceed
ings were Irregular and illegal.
The chief justice said the court
would not pass on the demurrer OF the
motion for judgment on the pleadings
until the matter had been presented
as briefly and clearly as possible In the
shape OF some testimony. He urged
the respective sides to be as expedi-
tious as possible. as the courts time
was limited by the press OF important
| matters.
J. A. Baker. secretary of the alleged
| convention and prime mover In the
| organization Of the new state party
with handful Of Butte citizens. most
| ly from three or four precincts was
| the first witness. He told how tho
convention came together and admit
ted that It was composed entirely OF
Butte citizens with possibly one excep-
tion. although 1t purported to be Q
| state convention. In reply to .
| question as to the organization Of the
convention. he said: I'VE were called
to order, A. A. Mcmillan was called to
the chair and l was made secretary.
| We proceeded In the regular manner
In which all conventions proceed. The
party resolved itself into q convention.
committees were appointed. commit
tees on organization order OF business.
ETC.. In the regular manner In which
they generally proceed"
| WAS there any call read from any
organised party or party pretended to
be organized?"
There was no call The chairman
stated generally the nature OF the
meeting and Its objects" Mr.. Baker
replied.
was there a notice to the general
electors OF the state other than 60
those who were present.
Yes. there were quite a number who
did not come there. There must have
been 200 or 300 invited. invited 80 90
so people on my own account"
Five minutes later the court took a
hand in the examination OF the wit
ness. After Mr. Baker had admitted
there was no committee on credent ntials,
Justice Hunt spoke up: "You said II
was q regularly organized convention
and that everything was done as an
organized convention would have done
Il. did you not?" he inquired.
Yes. that Is what I said. Therv
could be no committee on credentials,
the person who invited those present
was the credentiai himself. IL I saw q
gentleman In attendance whom I knew
to have been invited that was his cre-
Dental"
That remarkable statement brought
forth a pointed question from Justice
Dewitt that caused a general smile:
Then you were the credential Of the
whole concern were youe' he asked.
YES. sir" replied Mr.. Baker with
out hesitation. so far as I was con-
| carpad. that 10 81 far "a thosa weru