The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-24
LOTS OF CANDIDATES
Republicans Willing and Anxious to
Serve Their Country.
FROM GOVERNOR TO MAYOR
The Crop Is Unusually Large, and
II All the Aspirants Could
Run Ii Would Be
Long Race.

Missoula, Feb. 23.-In the list of the
resources of Missoula, candidates for
political preferment occupy promi-
nent place. The Missoula valley pro-
duoes immense crops of hay, grain and
fruit, but, wonderful as these yields
are, they are not to be compared with
the crop of candidates that can be
turned out here on short notice. The
number of these candidates Is not only
great but they all aim high. On very
slight provocation and in short time.
Missoula can prepare full state tick
ct that would attract attention any
where. More than that, 1t would be
acceptable-at least to the men whose
names were on the ticket. Reference
was recently made in these dispatches
of the unusual number of candidates
that had appeared here this year.
Since then there has been no decrease
in the number. On the contrary. there
have been numerous accessions to the
list until now it is a formidable one.
The boom of George E. Boos for the
nomination for state auditor has not
been very noisy of late, but II is under
stood that II is progressing favorably.
The friends of Fred w. Jones are more
confident than ever that their candi-
date is a winner and are receiving as
surances of support from all over the
state. There is a quiet movement on
foot in favor of S. G.. Murray for at
torney general, which Is being en-
dorsed by many politicians.
There are some boomlets that are
being carefully nurtured that will be
sprung when they are ripe. This early
sunshine seems to be favorable to the
embryo booms and they are flourish
ing. The latest announcement In local
circles IL that w. H. Smead, state SEN
ator from this county, is among the
aspirants for the gubernatorial chair.
While that gentleman denies that he
is a candidate for such high honors.
numerous prominent republicans
throughout the state assert that they
have received letters inquirtng as to
their attitude toward Mr.. Smead's can
didacy. II may be that Mr. Smead has
some unknown friends who are pre-
pairing to enter him for the race. That
is the only possible explanation of the
letters, since Mr.. Smead himself denies
their authorship. But there is nothing
very surprising in this candidacy OF
Missoula's senator. one candidate
more will make no difference. IL Mis-
soula has one or two candidates for
each Office on the ticket, some one of
them may win out
In the midst of all this excitement
regarding the fall election, II seems
that the spring election of city officials
has been overlooked. If there are any
aldermanic candidates in grooming for
this event. they are keeping very quiet
about IL. Up TO date there is but one
candidacy that has been discussed at
all prominently. Ever since the Fourth
ward mass meeting last summer, when
William Jourdan was made spokes-
man for the long-suffering school sec
ton people. the friends OF that gentle
man have been convinced that he Is
lust the man TO represent the Fourth
ward in the city council. 1T is under
stood that Mr. Jourdan himself is will
ing, provided his neighbors insist upon
his accepting the grave responsibilities
of an alderman. The other wards have
thus far made no returns.
AS to the position of police magis-
trate not much is being said. Missoula
being a third class city under the new
codes. there is not much in this office
TO induce a man to make campaign
for II. The new law abridges the per-
quisites of this Office until II is far from
being a desirable one. Still, there never
was yet an Office so mean that there
was not a candidate for II. and there
will probably be some aspirants for
this position as spring advances.
But IL should be clearly understood
that, in the matter of candidates, Mis-
soula is strictly in IL as far as the re-
publican ticket Is concerned. There
does not seem to be much activity this
early among the local democrats in re-
gard to candidates. There may he
some blossom out later but none have
yet appeared, since Frank G.. Higgins
denied that he is a candidate for COVER
nor.