The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-13

the end he insisted. A vote was taken.
the amendment was voted down, the
Neill caucus arrangement lost its con-
troll of the committee. II never recov-
cred. it was the minority on every prop
osition from her on. Its programme was
completely upset.
For instance, there was the question
of the place for holding the coming
state conveption-it transpired that
Helena was out red hot for the meet
ing, and Mr.. Neilrs caucus had Helena
s~lated-that would be something nice for
Helena; besides, IT would keep the con-
vention well away from all the silver
influence. in places IKE Butte or Ana
conda, which possibly might seek to
keep the democracy Of Montana in har-
mony with the suggestions of the silver
leaders at Washington. Mr.. Neilrs force,
still flattering itself that II was the COM
mittee's majority. had Helena slated.
Mr.. Mcconnell was commissioned to
run the thing through. His ridiculous
proposition was that each member write
on a ballot the name of the city of his
choice, n that in case of no election
on the first ballot, the two highest towns
be taken, etc. A member inquired what
the matter was with a simple roll call,
since there were only two cities which
had been thought of. Mr.. Neill said
there were four cities, and that state
ment proved to be not true.
Now, there never had been a moments
effort made to get the convention for
Anaconda. The Anacondans at the
meeting were in some doubt as to
whether they cared even to ask for the
convention. except that Colonel O'Leary.
as committeeman, naturally felt like
standing up for his town. Anaconda
was presented and Helena. In fact, Hell
ena was so strenuously urged by Mr..
Mcconnell, the a~bsurdity of whose plea
was so manifest that he couldn't dis
guise it, that Colonel O'Leary remarked:
Anaconda would be pleased to have the
state convention. but Helena seems
really to need it, and the committee is
now informed that Anaconda is no.. a
candidate" Thus Anaconda was with
drawn, but Mr.. Cochrane Of Beaver
head. who had presented Anaconda in
a vigorous talk, wouldn't consent to that
arrangement. The absurd ballot plan
was permitted to be carried through,
with the result h a Anaconda was the
choice.
In the little contest over the selection
of the place for the holding of the state
convention. there was nc thought, as
far as the people of the two cities are
concerned, of a return to old quarrels.
n facts simply are that in 1889 Ana
conda had the democratic state conven-
ton. Since that year Helena has had
the convention twice. and Bozeman,
Butte, Great Falls and Missoula have
been complimented. In a natural sort
of way, the convention seemed to fall
to Anaconda; and among the citizens OF
Helena there was 10 thought of pushing
that town for the honor this year. Nor
was the action of the Lewis and Clarke
membership in the state committee, in
seeking to take a fling at silver's friends
by putting their communication on the
table. a proceeding that finds favor
among the democrats of Helena-on the
contrary, they nav spoken in many in
stances in condemnation of 1t.
AS for the meeting of the sub-com-
mittees representing the three state
committees, the force and effect of Mr.
| Neills plan would have been every.
where regarded as an announcement OF
ina action on the part of the demo-
Gratis, whereas the whole question OF
fusion is one that belongs to the state
conventions, and not to the state COM
m~ittees, to deal with. The force and
effect of the action taken means that
the committees. not assuming any re-
sponsibility, left the matter in such
shape that the conventions can decide,
each for itself. whether it cares to en-
terrain propositions for fusion or not.