Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-23
THE MATTER SETTLED,

AS no steps were taken yesterday by
the gentlemen who have been opposing
the MAYOR in the matter Of combinations,
looking toward legal action to prevent the
work of last Saturday night from stand
ing as a finality, it ma be assumed that
the matter is settled and that the new
appointees will be permitted to take up
their respective duties without further
question. Republican members Of the
board of aldermen mae possible the con-
iirmation Of the nominees Of the mayor.
thereby relieving the political party to
which they belong from any response
bility in the scheme to force the mayor
to surrender the p~rerogatives Of his Office.
The original plan t. compel his honor to
forego the right to select his own asso-
ciates for the several executive depart
take. Thirty days Of wasted time has
emphasized the error into which several
of the members of the city council fell,
and it's final correction through republi-
can channels, is creditable to the sober
second thought Of the gentlemen who re-
fused to continue to tie grass across the
pathway Of the mayor.
From the .outset the Inter Mountain
maintained tina the mayor was respon-
sible for the character Of the services rem
dered the city in the subordinate posi-
- L .a o~J
that in contemplation Of this fact the law
made it his duty to select men to fill such
offices, the veto power resting with the
council only as a check upon incompe-
tent appoirtees. TO this paper it seemed
unwise that republican members of that
body should seek to share with the may
or q responsibility that belonged to that
officer alone, and endeavor to folst upon
him assistants that were not Of his own
choosing, thereby making themselves
chargable with any failure on the part Of
the administration to do it's full duty
to the people.
TO take up either side of a democratic
family fight that had found it's way into
the council chamber was political folly
to say the least. and it was certainly a
mistake from the standpoint of sound
public policy when it caused delay in the
welfare of the community. 1t is there
fore gratifying to mote the termination
of the deadlock through members of the
republican party, who recognize that the
mission Of the political organization to
which they belong is too far reaching ard
important to be tied up with either wing
of the democracy. 1t goes without say
ing that the irreconciliable differences of
the democratic party are forced into every
phase. of our public and political life
where each wing of that organization is
represented; but it is the duty Of republic
cans to champion neither side in the sense
of aiding and abetting it in the execution
of its revenges and the infiction of it's
punishments, when such a course means
the interruption of public business and
a laying aside of the interests of the peo-
pie as a whole.
If either wing of the democratic party
is incidentally profited or punished by a
course of procedure that is consistent
with the public good, it must follow as
a matter of course. The question of
whether a public act will aid or injure
either wing of the democratic party
ought not to be raised by a republican
ofiiceholder The highest function of his
stewardship is to "hew to the lirc, let
the chips fall where they may" To per-
mt the mayor to name his assistants,
unless the character of the nominees is
avowedly in question. is a right under
the law that would not have been for one
moment disputed had not the senatorial
fight in the democratic party projected
itself into a sphere where it did not be-
long. ard where it was most woefully out
place. sr1r sH
was or was not confirmed as city attor-
.ey has nothing whatever to do with the !
wrong. OF Mr.. Clark's election to |
The senate: 1t has nothing to do with the
Of the case upon its merits