The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-09
Republicans Have an Energy
Born of Despair.
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR
Two Democrats Will Contest for the
Honor of Nominat!on-The Repub-
licans and Populists May
Attempt Fusion.

]
spair. They have issued a call for the
primaries to be held on the evening of
March IA, while the convention is to
follow on the evening of st. Patrick's
day, March II. Why this latter date
is chosen by the republicans is difficult
to explain Opinion seems to be di-
vided as to whether it is intended as
a sop to voters of Irish descent or
whether it is not merely to emphasize
the position of the party generally on
matters relating to certain secret or
| ganizatton. Apparently there are rea-
| sons for either view. The democrats
have not as yet made any call, and as
to the pupulists, there is a growing un-
certainty in this community which has
existed since the campaign of last
fall whether there is any such party
| organization.
At the approaching election there are
| to be filled all of the elective city Of
fieces and those of four aldermen.
Mayor Fitzgerald retires after two
years of excellent democratic admins
tration. In the First ward Matthew
| Dunn, elected as a populist on a fusion
| ticket, ends his term; William Grills,
| democrat, also elected on a fusion tick
| ct, in the Second ward; c. o. Jarl, pop
ulist on a fusion ticket, in the Third
| ward and in the Fourth ward w. Fl.
! Roberts, democrat on a fusion ticket,
| go out So far as the outgoing alder
ment are concerned it is probable that
| their respective parties will give them
| the opportunity of running a second
| time for the office if they so desire. The
democrats have two principal candi-
| dates for the office of mayor
The first is the present incumbent
of the office, who makes his canvass
on his official record and also on that
| made while alderman for term and
half. o. F. Wadsworth, ir.. the pres
ent alderman from the First ward. is
being pushed by his friends for the nom
ination and has very strong follow
ing. Either man will undoubtedly, if
elected, as is most probable, represent
his party thoroughly and with honor.
During the past several campaigns
| there has been a fusion between the
populists and the democrats. 1t is as
yet too early to predict a fusion or none
at all. Certain it is, however. that at
the present time a considerable portion
of the democratic party, at least, is
strongly opposed to the idea although
they may be won over to it later. On
the other hand the republicans, with the
drowning man grasping at any straw
theory, are now said TO be attempting
dicker with the populists. The idea
ly opposite as the principles of the two
parties are, but one can never tell what
party which has as many standards
as did the republicans last fall will do.
and the populists, as has already been
intimated, are thoroughly disintegrated
Among the names proposed for candi-
dates for aldermen is that of David
Doty, manager for the Driver Bradley
Drug Co., and strong democrat He
is mentioned for alderman in the First
ward and If he is put up would un-
doubleday carry that precinct against
any opponent. Thomas F. Green, a
merchant, and w. M. Johnson, an en-
ploye of the Montana Brewing compa-
n.y. are mentioned as possibilities in the
Fourth ward. and either one would be
acceptable and would not only prove
strong candidate, but an efficient alder
man. There seems to be absolutely no
opposition in the Second ward to the re-
nomination of the present incumbent,
William Grills, and in the Third there
seems to be lack of men willing to
take the place on the ticket, though
Charles Wegner is conceded to be a
good man if he would accept. For city
treasurer two good democrats are
spoken of: one is Charles Wegner who
has lived in this city for a long time
and has always been a hard worker for
the interest of his party, and Harry
Skinner who also has had a long resi-
dence here and a business training
which fits him for the office.
Among the republican ranks there are
numerous candidates for everything.
although the prominent men of the
party do not seem particularly anxious
to come to the sacriticial altar They
prefer to leave it to the men who have
in the past done the work. supplied the
funds-and have been forced to be con-
IN 4
other highly ornamental. but unrc-
munerative functions. No man living
at this end of the nineteenth century is
enough of a seer to safely predict
whether there will be one republican
party or IA in this campaign. No one
can say whether the different breeds
of republicans, spotted, striped, solid
color, goldbug, silverite, on the fence.
German silver, quicksilver. silver, silver
for revenue only, etc, etc, will fight
under different banners for this springs
scanty loaves and fishes or whether
they will bury the Ratchet for the pur-
pose of getting another whack at the
public treasury. One fact is undisput-
ed, for it is matter of figures and of
record, that democratic adminstra-
ton in this city means the most rigid
economy in administration and re-
trenchment in all lines of expenditure,
while republican rule has always stood
dering upon the Doodle tint Every tax
payer in the city is now burdened to
pay off the debt incurred by the out
rageous steals of past republican ad-
ministrations, and it is only by con-
tinued democratic rule that the burden
will ever be lightened.
Some of the Sacrificial lambs whose
names are spoken by republicans are
Attorney Fletcher Maddox. NJ. l.
Bridgman, l.. G. Phelps, Frank Coombs,
John A. Collins, Jack Huntoon and e.
Stackhouse. If these are not sufficient
the privilege is extended to any one to
add other names. In fact no two re-
pubicans in the city agree on the can
didate for mayor, and neither of the
two is very enthusiastic over the
prospects of his man or very earnest
in pushing him. The few mentioned
above have varying degrees of excel
lence, and there is no copyright and
no rights reserved on this particular
republican candidacy. For treasurer,
w. S. Frary, the present and retiring
official. is a candidate. So, too, are