Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-01
NO MORE L~ANDSL/DES.

In discussing the outlook for 1900 in this
state the Butte Miner of this morning
gets down to the serious side of the situa-
ton and expresses itself in an interesting
manner. 1t tells the democrats plainly
that they do not want to count upon
such a tidal wave as that of 1896, when
Micky the Greek could have been elected
governor" And then, upon further re-
Election, it adds:
But with the one-time silver republic
ans mostly returned to the republican
party-according to excellent silver re-
publican authority-there is not going to
be such a landslide on the state ticke as
will carry through ANY old thing" The
democrats should keep this fact in mind,
and it is we'll to begin thinking it over
now.
In the light of its past efforts to belit-
tie the strength of the silver republican
party. it is refreshing to note the confess
sion of our morning contemporary that
the inability Of the democrats to control
their votes in 1900 will make another
landslide in this state an iinpossibility. II
the landslide in 1895 was made possible
by the assistance of silver republicans,
as the foregoing implies. the Miner can
rest assured that the operation will not
be repeated in 1900. Its. advice to demo-
timely.
In 1895, when the question Of continu-
ing the policy Of cooperation on the part
of the silver parties was in issue, the
Inter Mountain clearly showed the nu-
merical strength of the silver republicans
in the contest Of 1896, but so intent upon
destroying that free coinage organization
We're the leaders of the democracy that
every showing of that kind only intensi-
fled their zeal to protect the pie-counter
from any possibility of infection from
outsiders. The democrats assumed to re-
ject the policy of cooperation in 1898 on
the grounds that the silver republicans
claimed too much in the division of Of
fees which naturally and properly form
a part Of all political combinations.
Now comes the Miner, the leading spirit
in the movement to repudiate the policy
of 1896, with a confession that the land
slide of that year was due to the aid
which silver republicans gave the demo-
cracy, and that it cannot be repeated in
1900 because the silver republicans can
not be depended upon to kiss the hand
that smites them. If the present position
of the Miner is right as to the part played
by the silver republicans in the landslide
of 1896, the democratic contention that
they claimed too much under fusion in
1898 falls to the ground. The recognition
of the political equities comes late-alto-
gether too late to be appreciated-and
only because, in the opinion of the Miner
the democrats should begin to think il
over
Our morning contemporary has reached
tai perspiration, that Micky the Greek
annot be elected governor by the demo.
Gratis in 1900. though that gentleman
might have pulled through in 1896. Il il
a pretty tough blow to the present demo.
cratic executive of this state to indicate
that Micky the Greek, a character about
town, might nave been elected with
equal ease in 1896 had he been placed ir
nomination. 1t is equivalent to sayine
that Governor Smith had no persona
strength of his own, and was carried
through purely perforce of the tidal wav,
resulting from the cooperation of tn,
silver republicans on Bryan.
While the Inter Mountain agrees will
Ats democratic contemporary in it!
present estimate of the politica
strength of the silver republica,
movement in 1896, we cannot be unfai
enough to rob Governor Smith of hi
personal strength in that eventful cam
paign. The excitement over the silver is
sue was at fever heat, and Mr.. Smith
leaving his local campaign in Montana t
take care of itself, went abroad to aid tn
cause of Bryan and free coinage in othe
states. This devotion to duty, at the ap
parent expense of his own political inter
ests. was h masterstroke of a politica
tactician. He not only avoided the worl
of farming put the appointive offices II
every town in this state where he woul,