The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-15
COURT HOUSE COMING
Anaconda Makes q Move in thu
Campaign.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
Petitions VIII Be Circulated and
Election Ordered. Then the
County Capital VIII Be
Brought to This City.

In response to the call for a meeting
of citizens to consider a question of
public interest" very representative
gathering of Anaconda business and
professional men gathered last evening
in the city hall. By common consent
the subject of public interest resolved
itself into the project of locating the
county seat of Deer Lodge county in
Anaconda. There was but one senti-
ment, and that a deep-settled convic-
tion that the seat of justice should be
located in this city, not only as the
means of the greatest good to the
greatest number but as matter OF
economy to the taxpayers of the coun-
ty, and the convenience OF those VINO
furnish the revenues for conducting
the county government.
The meeting did not call for speech
making and all talking was brief and
TO the point. Col. I. OLeary called
the meeting to order and Mayor Thorn
ton was named for chairman unani-
mously. In taking the chair he said
that he believed the purpose of the
gathering was generally understood
and that a majority of the citizens of
Deer Lodge county favored the propo-
sition of locating the county seat in
Anaconda. Now is the proper and cor
rect time to proceed in the matter The
preliminary steps, according to the
best authorities, consist of securing a
petition signed by a majority of the
qualified electors praying the county
commissioners TO order the election
held. How this should be done was
matter to be considered in some man
ner to be determined by the meeting.
He suggested the election of a secretary
and Colonel O'Leary was chosen TO that
position.
On motion of Alderman John r.
Walkup, followed by a rousing vote, 1T
was made the sense of the meeting
that a petition be drawn requesting
the removal of the county seat from
Deer Lodget to Anaconda, the petition
TO be circulated at once for signatures.
J. II. Eardley moved that the matter
be placed in the hands of an executive
committee of nine citizens to take
charge of the enterprise with full power
TO appoint subcommittee. This was
duly seconded and prevailed. The
names suggested and accepted were:
Judge NJ. ]. Fitzpatrick. Alderman
Peter Cox, Mayor w. NJ. Thornton, Aid
erman John r. Walkup, Alderman DEN
mis- Shovlin, j. II. Eardley, l.. A. King,
A. M. Scott and l.. G. Smith.
After casting about for a time of
meeting it was decided that no time
was as good as the present and the
committee was requested To hold its
first session Immediately at the close OF
the convention. The meeting then ad-
journed ITO meet again at the call of the
executive committee.
l.. A. King was chosen chairman of
the executive committee, and j. r.
Eardley was elected secretary. The
members of the committee favored ac-
ton and kept the ball rolling naming
as committee to draw the petition
Col. T. O'Leary, Senator L. d. Mats
George B. Winston. II. r. Whitehill
and j. r. Boarman. A meeting of this
committee is called for this afternoon
at 2 O'Clock at Z. d. Mats Office in the
bank building.
AS a committee to arrange for secur-
ing signatures Mayor Thorton, Peter
Cox and Denis Shovlin were appointed
No course of action was decided upon
but IL is quite likely that the petition
will be kept on file at the office of the
registry agents who are making the
list of voters for the spring election.
In this way only qualified voters will
be secured and the method is as rapid
as by other means of circulation. L.
G. Smith, John X. Walkup and NJ. J.
Fitzpatrick We're appointed a commit
tee to solicit funds to pay the neces-
sary expenses.
This seemed to be as much as could
be done at this time and the committee
ADJOURNED 10 meet when called by the
chairman.
This was the opening of the cam
paign which is entered in all confidence
by the people of this thriving city who
expect to take the position in this
county TO which its Importance in pop
ulation, wealth and business entitle IL
Anaconda of right should be the center
of Deer Lodge county legally as II is
commercially. financially and politi-
cally.
Among the citizens taking part in
the proceedings last night were Messrs.
Thornton, O'Leary, Shovlin. Cox, Ken
nedy, Scott, Griffith. Durston Reid.
Torrey. Sawyer. Eardley. Boarman. L.
@. Smith, Hardenbrook. Lappen, q. w.
Reynolds, Davidson. Fitzpatrick, Walk
up. h. Falk j. Barkovich. Giles
Brownell, A. NJ Walker, George Bar
ich. Petritz, O'Brien, King, Merrill.
Allen, Dwyer, Murray and many
others.