The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-16

NJ. j. t~ltZpatrlck placed IN NOMINAL
ton the rame of w. r. Allen as sec
rotary. The nomination was made by
reclamation.
A committee on credentials was then
appointed as follows: ]. NJ. Sigh, II.
II. Nell. f. A. Kenney. w. S. Turner
and Warren E. Evans.
The following committee on perma-
nent organization and order of busi-
ness was then appointed: NJ. ]. Fitz-
patrick, j. S. Wisner, Z. s. Maxwell,
j. II. Eardley and o. b. O'Bannon.
Upon motion of Mr.. Eardley a recess
vas then taken until 2:30 o'clock.
When the convention again assem-
bled there were a good many more
people in the room than there had
been at the previous session. The re-
port of the committee on credentials
was the first order Of business, and II
resulted in a bitter fight.
The report was read by DIR. Sigh,
the chairman of the committee. The
report recommended hat all of the del
egates be seated except two delegates
in the Fifth ward, whom the commit
tee did not believe were entitled to
seats in the convention, inasmuch as
there were seven delegates returned,
while he call provided for only five.
The committee recommended that Del
egates Wisner, Edwards, Axleson,
Place and Burg be declared entitled to
seats. He explained that IL was pos
sible that the county central commit
tee had made a mistake in the appor-
tionment of the delegates. The COM
mittee, however, considered its duties
merely clerical. and for shat reason
they had allowed the Fifth ward only
the Hve delegates provided for by the
call. There was also a contesting del
egation from Mill Creek.
Upon concluding the reading of the
committee report, DR.. Sligh moved
| thA the TpnOrf he 11Onfnd nr aicar
moved in amendment that all of the
repor be accepted except that portion
relating to the Fifth and Mill Creek
precincts. DIR. Sigh did not consider
the repor Invisible, and if there was
an objection he would like to know
where 1t was. Judge O'Bannon also
wanted TO know what the objection
was, as the delegates from the outside
were ignorant of it's nature.
Or. Lesser arose to give a little infor-
nation. He said that he had been in
formed that after the central commit
tee had fixed the apportionment, the
committee thought there was an error
IN the number of delegates from the
Firth, five being too small. lie also
understood that permission had been
given to add two more. He would like
TO nave the merits of the case ~investi-
gated.
DR.. Sigh said hat If what DR.. Lesser
said about the additional two delegates
was true, the delegates should be seat
ed, but he had been informed that the
central committee a given no such
permission.
w. 5. Turner, one of the central COM
mittee. stated that he had no knowledge
or any such permission having been
granted.
j. X, Eardley, secretary of the central
committee, rose to explain. He said
ina nothing had been done by the COM
mittee as a whole. He said that one of
the delegates came to his office and
stated that the Fifth precinct had NOT
been treated right in the apportionment,
Mr.. Eardley explained to him that the
committee did not feel like increasing
or decreasing any delegations, but hat
II the precinct wanted two more dele
gates, he advised that two names be
brought before the convention for ac-
ceptance or rejection. He further told
Mr.. Walsh that he was not a delegate
until the convention acted on their
claims.
DIR. Lesser asked that both the dele
gates in question be heard upon the
question. After a lot of discussion. DR..
Lesser called for the vote upon his
amendment. DR.. Sigh opposed this
method, and in doing so said that IL the
TWO additional delegates from the Fifth
were seated it would be an extremely
dangerous precedent, as any other pre-
cinct-and there were lots of them
could come in and ask for an increased
membership The convention ought to
stand by the call as prepared by the
central committee.
Mr.. Ebenhack, one of the contesting
delegates, said that if Mr.. Walsh would
consent, he would withdraw.
The vote was then called for upon
the amendment. DR.. Lesser asked that
voting be done by roll call and secret
ballot. The chair appointed J. w.
James and NJ. b.. Hendricks as tellers.
The ballot resulted: Total number of
votes cast, 81; for the amendment, 26:
against the amendment, 25. Thus the
report OF the credentials committee ex-
cept that portion relating to the Fifth
and Mill Creek precincts was accepted.
DR.. Lesser then moved that the con-
testants from the Fifth be given the
privilege of the floor.
DR.. Sigh asked Mr.. Peck, as chairman
of the central committee, to explain the
call. Mr.. Peck said that the ommitte
when preparing the call a labored
under considerable difficulty, owing TO
the lack of data upon which to base
the a~pportionment. The a~pportionment,
as fixed, the committee had concluded,
was just and equitable, and had been
made as honestly as the committee
could make it. He knew nothing about
he's additional delegates to the number
fixed for the Fifth.
DR.. Lesser said the Fifth ward was
the largest in the city, and yet ii had
only been accorded five delegates, while
the First had seven, the Third seven.
the Fourth nine and the Sixth six.
Mr.. Davidson said that DIR. Leiser's
argument was not good, inasmuch as
the Fifth had always been a strongly
democratic ward and the Third a re-
publican ward. 1t was unrea sonable
to expect that the Fifth ward should
have as large a representation as a
heavy republican ward. He bought
the convention ought to stand by the
call. IL the fifth precinct were given
additional representation, it would be
an extremely dangerous precedent, as
other precincts would want more dele
gates.
Mr.. Eardley said that If two dele