The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-19
AFTER A MOST BITTER FIGHT
THE MANTLE WING WON OUT
Connections With Clarks Barrel Established by the Clever
Manipulations Of the Inter Mountain Wire Pullers.
A Scathng Denunciation Of Those Who
Sold Out to the King Boodler


with the Clark wing of the republican
party, sometimes styles the administra-
ton or gold republicans, the Mantle
wing of the silver republicans had a
cut and dried plan to let the silver re-
publican members of the legislature
down easy for having voted for Clark
and thereby leave it possible for the
disafected Clark element to support
the republican ticket. The plan under
which the two wings of the republic
cans were to get together was, that the
silver republicans would put no ticket
in the field, and while they would hold
| a. separate convention they would sup
port the ticket nominated by the
straight republicans. The silver repub-
| licans were, as a whole, sufficiently
anxious to get together with the other
wing, to be willing to accept this
proposition, but in order to get Clark's
support 1T was necessary that nothing
should be said about bribery in the
resolutions, thing which many of the
delegates were radically opposed to-
The Mantle wing were willing to mild
ly censure the silver republicans in
the legislature for going outside their
party and voting for a democrat for
the senate, but they would go no fur
Their, nothing must be said that would
make it impossible for Clark to support
the republican ticket. The Mantle fac
tlon had their forces well organized and
the scheme was adroitly manipulated
by A. B. Keith editor of the Inter
Mountain, and Senator Nantes politi-
cal manager. The prearranged plan of
running the convention prevailed
throughout. In fact, it might more ap-
propriately have been called the Inter
Mountain convention than the silver
republican for Manager Berger of the
Inter Mountain presided as temporary
chairman and named the committee
previously selected by Mr.. Keith, who,
OF course, headed the resolutions COM
m1ttee and did the resoluting, which
was all that was done. as there was
no opposition to the plan of putting no
ticket in the field and after resolutions
SO providing and softly scolding the
boys. as one delegate called the silver
republican legislators who voted for
Clark, had been adopted. and a cen
trai committee chosen, the convention
adjourned.
While the Mantle forces carried the
day, they did so only after one of the
bitterest fights ever witnessed in a con-
vention in Butte. There were delegates
in the convention who placed honor
above everything else and could not
stomach the dose of palliating what
they regarded as traitorous in their
representatives in the Legislature for
the sake of attracting the support of
Clark's barrel to the ticket they were
expected to support: and these fought
to the last ditch the Mantle propa-
ganda and for the adoption of resolu-
tons condemning in unmeasured terms
the traitors to their party. During the
discussion of the resolutions, those who
opposed the Clark Mantle scheme were
accused by innundoes of seeking to in
dorse the democratic cause. These
were replied to by open assertions that
the accusers had their "mits'' out and
were only actuated by hankerne
after a divvy from the barrel J. r.
Gallagher E. S. Booth, Elmer Metcalf
and W. II. SWEET were among those
who saw no allurements in the barrel
and who could not condone the offense
of those who had represented the silver
republican party in the legislature In
their remarks they castigated their
party members in the legislature in
scathing terms and addressed them to
those who would not now condone thar
offense in language that was in no
wise vanished. but pointed and out
spoken in the extreme. Mr.. Gallagher
openly pointed out whom he regarded
as bribe-takers and charged them with
playing for an opportunity to get at
Clark's Darrell But no amount of ora
tory could change the conceived plot.
for the Clarl-Mantle forces were in
the majority and it was carried
through
w. H. SWEET. chairman of the city
central committee, called the conven-
tion to order at 2:20 and called on w.
D. Fenner to act as secretary In the
absence of Secretary Thomas Richards.
Mr.. Fenner proceeded to read the call,
but had not proceeded far when j.
Chauvin called attention to the fact
that he was reading the regular repub-
lican call. The chair remarked he made
a mistake that Is very common. He
merely forgot silver. The correct call
was then read. The chair ruled that
until the convention was organized the
delgates whose names were published
as having been elected would be allow
ed to vote.
A. B. Keith nominated NJ Berger for
temporary chairman and W. Suite
named Elmer Metealf. The vnte was
by ballot. Only about two-thirds of
those whose names were calla1 re-
sponded. Berger was chosen ny a vote
of "a to II. Elmer Metcalf and A. B.
Keith We're appointed to escort Mr.
Berger to the chair. Thanking the con-
vention for the honor, he said he would
refrain from making a speech and an
nounced nominations for temporary
secretary were in order.
Colonel Jerks nominated c. S. French
and as there were no other nominations
Mr.. French was chosen by acelama-
ton. He was escorted to the chair by
]. B. Gallagher and Joseph Silver.
e. S. Booth moved the appointment
by the chair of three committees of
five each, on credentials, platform and
resolutions and permanent organization
and order of business. The chair read
the members of the committees as prev
iously stated as follows:
Committee on credentials-H M Pat
terson. W. Haskins, w. S. Watson, D.
J. Giard, Elmer Metcalf.
Committee on pla torn and resolu-
tions-A. B. Keith. j. C. Chauvin, W.
H. SWEET, w. d. Fenner S. M. Davis.
Committee on permanent organiza-
ton and order of business--E. A. Booth,
c. f. Su1ly, Joseph Silver, J. p Hen
bricks, C. w. Ellingwood.
On motion of D. ]. Giard a recess was
taken to $3.50 to give the committees
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