The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-22
TWELVE PAGES.
THURSDAY. SEPT. %. 1898.
The First Day.

GAA 49,
the democratic state convention,
as soon as II got fairly at its
work yesterday. vas one in favor Of
a fusion OF this states forces in behalf
of silver. The men who have been de
claiming against fusion in these recent
days might as well never have uttered
a word. as far as influencing the opin-
ion of the delegates was concerned-not
even an echo of all their loud talk was
heard on the convention floor.
What there was Of the recently
boosted prowess of the democratic anti
fusion element in the body was hardly
more than a remnant; 1t has no effect
i've voice In any Of the preliminaries
incident TO the organization Of the con-
vention. The delegates moved into their
work. yesterday. with precision, with
admirable spirit and with business-like
method. Indeed. II may be said, in
passing, that the manner in which bust
ness was progressed. was the subject OF
much pleasant mention. In the Office
of temporary chairman. state Senator
Edwin Norris. of Beaverhead county.
was a shining success, putting the dele
gates at ease from the first by his IA
miliar1ty with the rules of procedure
and by his manifest spirit Of fairness.
Quite as fortunate was the convention
in the selection OF its permanent pre-
siding oficer-Mr. A. ]. Campbell is a
master Of the parliamentary manual. he
pres1des with the completest fairness,
and under his guidance the business of
the convention moved without a jar.
such is the testimony of all the dele
gates.
AS we have said. the fusion spirit
that is 10 say. a sentiment for fusion
along just and reasonable lines-per-
vaded the convention. quite early in
the permanent session the delegates
moved bravely up to the point where
they were face 10 face with that ques-
ton. The vote in favor Of the appoint
ment OF a committee TO meet commit
tees VI the EllNtt IflNblltdile anu the
populists was so overwhelming as not
10 require a division Of the house or a
roll call-it was decided by a viva voce
vote: the STANDARD believes that the
affirmative scored fully eighty-hve per
cent Of the conventions membership.
A fusion committee Justly represen-
tative OF both shades OF convention
sentiment was named. 10 meet with the
other committees At the head Of the
democratic committee was Mr.. John
r. Toole, Of whom II is no news 70 an
nounce that he has been the steadfast
n active advocate OF fusion along
any lines that were reasonably Just 10
Montana democracy; Mr.. Toole had
been willing to go a long way toward
the accomplishment Of fusion.
Returning from last evenings con
ference, Mr.. Toole submitted the com
mittee's report in a manner so terse
and so decisive that the situation was
cleared in an instant and. incidentally
the convention made Mr.. Toole's clever
presentation OF MS report lhe matter
of applause in personal tribute to him.
The Standard need not summarize here
the terms Of the fusion committees re-
port-given in full on another page
There sat democrats ready, willing and
anxious, for silver's sake. to go very
FAR toward meeting the other political
organizations of the state IN PROPOSE
tons believed to be for the advantage
of free coinage-democrats who, while
well-grounded in the conviction thai
they could carry the state unaided
stood prepared to consult the wishes
of men whose illogical position is and
has been that they can serve the silver
cause better BY maintaining an organ