Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-03

| having been grossly insulted by the city
convention in the hands of the anti-Clark
men. But it appears that the republicans
were greatly deceived in their stimat OF
voting strength from that quarter, the
independent" vote having been cast for
the democratic nominee for mayor.
Immediately after the election the Min
err FASTENED to assure the public that Mr..
Mccarthy owed his victory to this in
dependent" vote, which the regular demo-
cracy could no: control. This morning it
repeats its declaration that the indie
pendent voters saved the day to the
nominee of the regular democracy, in the
following language:
1t was nothing but the idea prevailing
that Mayor Mccarthy would prove SUI
perior to such influences that procured
him the support of a large number Of in
dependent voters. 1t was their votes that
elected him.
The independent voters referred to were
not in the ranks of the regular democracy,
which was pledged to McCarthy-they
were not in the ranks of the republicans,
who were loyal to Kirk. They were the
followers Of he Miners independent
ticket" They We're members of the Clark
wing of the democratic party.
Having defeated the republican NOM
inee for mayor-a most worthy and capa-
bic ~gentleman-in the mistaken belief
xLaA - o~norap+ ssv-cria
prove superior" to the influences that
nominated him, the official newspaper
representative Of these independent
democratic voters now demands that the
republican members of the city council
shall take up their fight against the 9TH
er wing Of the democratic party on a
question that is purely political III char
acter.
With the Miner and its coadjutors it is
apparently Q a question of the personal
character and fitness Of the mayors APP
pointees, whom it seeks to defeat with the
aid Of republican votes, but Of whether
| they are in a political sense Clark Or
anti Clark men. 1t says:
When the official slate is made up it is
found that the new mayor has ignored the
| verdict of the people as to the cashing
of gold bricks and is prepared to make
good one of the promises made at Helena.
This post-election attempt on the part
Of the Miner to ring into the city cam
! paign an issue which vas sat upon by
the people cannot go unchallenged. When
the Anaconda Standard attempted to
| elect Mr.. Normoyle to the police magis-
tracy on the theory that he had proved
himself an honest man by voting against
Mr.. W. A. Clark, its candidate was re-
jected by the people. When the Miner
assumes that Mr.. Lamb, to whom refer
ence is made in the foregoing paragraph.
is not a fit person to serve as city at
torney because he voted against Mr.,
Clark, it's logic is on a par with that Of
fered in behalf Of Mr.. Normoyle. 1t is
ability and fitness Of men to hold public
positions from the standpoint of thei,
personal views respecting who should OF
who should not have been elected to rep
resent the state of Montana in the senate
of the United States.
The progress of the factional fight in
the democratic party is of little concern
to the public. But when republicans are
invited to pull democratic chestnuts on,
of the fire, in behalf CT either wing Of
the party, it is time to call a halt. Wher
the anti-Clark men were lampooning cit
liens right and left, and giving the state
as black a reputation as newspaper skill
and energy could paint. they were
promptly reprimanded in the columns o.
the Inter Mountain, in the interests Of
fair play to all concerned. When the
Clark men seek to use the machinery Of
local government for political purposes
and, like their democratic opponents, try
to punish those whom they canno con
troll, they are entitled to no support from
republican sources.
The people, regardless of democratic
factional fights, are vitality interested II
good local government, and should si
down upon any attempt to convert the
city hall into a bear garden at the in
stance of either wing of the democratic
party, Let our democratic friends chew
and bite and claw each other to thetl
hearts content while their differences are
in issue in the forum of political debate
But when the verdict of the people a.
the polls is announced. let peace reigr
and the energies of all be dedicated t.