The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-23

Ine COnNentlOI, WHICH ilOsl VI the
delegates seemed to agree in character
izing as the best democratic convention
ever held in the state of Montana, came
to a close at lis o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon, when the last business was dis
posed of. 1t was certainly the most
held in many years. There seemed to
be no discordant elements in the con-
vention, or if there We're any, they were
kept hidden. The delegates declared
that in such a delightful city as Ana
conda it would be quite impossible for
harmony not to prevail.
When the delegates first gathered,
there had been fear that the question
of fusion might occasion discord. But
that question settled itself by the other
parties making such preposterous de-
mands that the most earnest advocates
of fusion in the democratic ranks were
the most emphatic in refusing to nego-
tiate longer. Every one seemed pleased
at the result and there was complete
harmony when the convention went to
bed Wednesday night.
The convention awoke yesterday
morning in the same harmonious frame
of mind. There was still the unsettled
matter of the selection of a candidate
for congressman, and those who all
through the convention had been look
ing for the anticipated battle between
Lewis and Clarke county on the one
hand and Deer Lodge and Silver Bow
on the other, thought that the test
would surely come over this nomina-
tion. The leading candidates were A. ].
Campbell of Silver Bow and +. G. Day
of Lewis and Clarke. But here again
harmony prevailed. Lewis and Clarke
decided not to present the name of Mr..
Day, and Governor Toole of Lewis and
Clarke county snatched from Silver
Bow the honor of presenting the name
of A. ]. Campbell. The best of spirit
resulted. The Lewis and Clarke and
Silver Bow banners were placed side
by side as a sign of unity, and before
the session closed all the county BAN
ners were grouped around that of Sill
yer Bow. 1t became a regular love
feast. in which Lewis and Clarke got
all the love and Silver Bow got about
all the feast.
Next to the nomination of Mr.. Camp
bell, the most drama tic incident of the
day was the return to democracy Of
Governor r. B. Smith. When the gov
hall and was called to the platform, he
mounted il in a rather novel way,
climbing up over the footlights in front
instead of coming on the stage from the
wings like other speakers. The gov
ernor has been so recently a populist
that ii is difficult for him to immediate
ly shake off the populistic habit of in
novation. The governor was heartily
welcomed back to the fold, and the pro-
ceedings were in no sense marred by
! the cry of Traitor which came from
/ a populst in the rear of the hall.
The only contest of the day was over
/ the nomination for clerk of the supreme
! court, for which there were six candi-
! dates 1t was a long contest, the nomi-
| nation finally going to Mr.. Rickerts of
Jefferson. Those who watched the ball
| loting marked the influence of the big
counties when we'll handled. Deer
| Lodge county. with the third largest
| delegation in the convention, voted uni
| formly and solely for Rickerts, and
| finally landed its man. Lewis and
! Clarke. with the second largest delega-
| tion. also had its candidate. for which
| IL voted almost solidly, and while ii did
not land its man, ii had the satisfac-
| ton of really settling the nomination
| by turning its vote to Rickerts at the
| critical moment. Silver Bow county on
| the other hand, with the largest vote Of
| all, dissipated it's vote 50 that IL did
| no good to any one. Silver Bow, by
voting unitedly. could have turned the
! tide in favor of any one of the six can
| didates. but by dividing its vote the
/ county had no more effect in determin-
/ ing the result than Valley or Dawson.
The delegates were uniformly pleased
| with their treatment in Anaconda and
| their accommodations. and the express
1 sions of hope were many that the party
would assemble in convention in Ana
| conda again before many years have
passed.
1t was 1920 o'clock when the band
/ ceased playing and Chairman Campbell
| called the convention to order.
The next order OF business" said the
/ chairman. q" is the nomination of a can
didate for congressman"
Mr.. Chairman" called Joseph X,