The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-07

| -Four democrats. three republicans
| and one populist was the net result Of
yesterdays municipal election in Butte.
| In other words, five of the eight candi-
oates or the administration wing of the
| republican party were defeated by the
people and only three elected. 1t was
great victory and all the more great
| victory because ii was won by the
people against a ring which has had
Butte completely in it's grasp for the
| past year, and which had become so
powerful that ii had become arrogant.
Under the circumstances, ii was a sur
prlslng victory. 1t was not surprising
that the people of Butte should repudi-
ate a ring which has been running
Butte Tor Its own selfish ends and die
tating all appointments and all legisla-
ton. 1t was not surprising that the in
dependent, justice-loving people of
Butte should rebuke an administration
which has let contracts to the highest
bidder for no reason except favoritism.
IL Is not surprising that the people of
Butte should remember at the polls an
administration which has made of the
flre department a religious institution
and has practically ruined IL to get rid
or certain firemen who did not stand in
with the ring. 1t is not surprising that
the people of Butte should disapprove
OF the gerrymandering of wards and
the gerrymandering of political parties
IL is not surprising that the people
should get Disguised with an alleged
party which dominates as it's candi-
dates men of various political stripes;
nor is II surprising that Ii should repu-
dlate men who run as candidates of
one party one year and of another par
~ the next year 1t is not surprising
that the people should have grown
weary of all these things. Nevertheless,
In view of the general belief which pre-
vailed that the A p. A. combination
was too strong to defeat, in considera-
ton or the discouraging view of the af-
fairs taken by leading democrats and
citizens generally, ii was a marvellous
victory.
1t must be understood that fully one
half of the democrats of Butte were
not registered, and the half includes
many of the most prominent democrats
of the city. There were a faithful few
who insisted that, by getting together
with long pull and strong pull and
a pull altogether, a sweeping victory
could be achieved; that the town was
ripe for 1t. But the most of them
thought IL was no use; that IL was sim
ply throwing time and energy away; it
was not possible to win. There were
enough old-time democrats in Butte
who did not vote to have carried every (
ward which went republican yesterday. 7
But the people did not all awake to a /
realizing sense of what a great victory |
might be won. So hundreds neglected I
to register and many who registered /
did not take the trouble to vote
IL must also be understood that the /
party strained every |
nerve for an endorsement. 1t felt the /
need of a vindication. The raise of /
price on lumber for sidewalks of 81 per
thousand and the letting of the con-
tract to the highest bidder had to be
indicated. The refusal for months. I'M /
til, in fact, just before election, to give
Ofhcer Steinborn, nearly killed In the
explosion, his old position on the force
had to be indicated. The Hale house
ordinance had to be vindicated. There
were lots OF things which the three C's
wanted indicated. Every man they
could depend on was registered and
that, too. very early. The 1900 men
who were not registered were demo-
Gratis and dissatisfied republicans, al
most entirely. and the A. p. A. forces
were all on the roll-all that were left
of them. Had a tenth part as much
activity been displayed to beat the ring
as was displayed in fighting for II,
Every ward in Butte would have been
carried for the citizens.
There were many people in Butte who
insisted that the Standard was wrong
n the statements IL has repeatedly
made that the A. p. AS were on the
iecline in Butte; that hundreds had
eft the ranks; that the Cornish were
dissatisfied and were bucking the or
"a lization of which they had formed
! very large part, and that the Junior
)rcer Of American Mechanics. formed
Mostly from former A. r. AS, was
prepared TO fight the organization at
very turn in the road. These things
we're mentioned in the Standard re-
leatedly, but many refused TO believe
hem all. The result proves the truth
Il the Standards Information. The
cornish carried the Second ward for the
democrats yesterday. while in the
eighth ward IL was a kncck-down bat [
lie between the A. p AS and the /
unior orders and the latter won.
The democrats carried every ward In
which they made fight The demo- /
rats only had candidates In five u-ards