Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-08-02

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other.
The appointment OF Mr.. Weaver
was expected-the ARGUS announced
it last week-for 1t was a reliably re-
ported rumor at least two days be-
fore election that certain leaders I'm
the Democratic party councils had
pledged TO the saloon proprietOrs
that Mr.. Weaver would be namedfor
this place and their support of the
ticket was solicited with this under
standing. In fact, one gentleman Of
undoubted integrity said Friday be-
fore election that a certain saloon
proprietor had told him that 1--WE
meaning the saloon men) are going
to support Barnes. because II he is
elected Jim Weaver will be appointed
marshal and WE WILL GET PRO-
lection" Mark the words!
When Mr.. Barnes was named by
the Democratic convention for mayor,
citizens, regardless of party, received
the news With pleasure, believing
that II chosen he would cOnscien
tiously discharge the duties without
dictation from any set of men and
that his appointecs would be men Of
good character and having the undi-
vided respect Of the community. We
do not believe that Mr.. Barnes char
acter has changed-neither do we be-
lieve that Mr.. Viewers views IN cer-
tain subjects have changed during
the past fortnight.
In a nutshell, it was a case where
the Democrats had to have The sup
port of the saloons to elect their
ticket, and to gain that support
pledges were necessary. Certain lead
ers-''Doc" or"Jeff" probably-made
the pledge, and Mayor Barnes has
not had the moral stamina to refuse
to approve the contract and Celiver
the goods.
1t il almost needless To recite the
objections to Mr.. Weaver; every
reader knows what they are. With
Marshal Weaverpersonally the ARGUS
has no quarrel and never has had: il
IL to the business in which he has
been engaged and his habits since a
resident of LewistOwn which render
him uni to enforce the laws of the
state and the ordinances of the city.
Since he left the range he has been al
most exclusively In the saloon bust
ness, 40 far as we u remember; he
has been one of the dispensers of the
fluid which has carried men deepi into
the mire, broken up homes, disgraced
wives and children. lodged men in
jail and made their names a disgrace
to their former friends. We say he
has been One of the men; any other
one would have been almost equally
unfit for the place to which he has
been appointed. Not long since 1t
was a notorious fact that gambling
games were being conducted in the
second story Of the establishment
operated by Mr.. Weaver, and Sheriff
Shaw was obliged to give the dealers
warning that II they did not desist
the anti-gambling law would be rig
Idly enforced. Possibly Mr.. Weaver
was ignorant OF this. But can a man
whose ignorance IL SO dense OF whose
law-abiding qualities are 30 warped
be a tit man for such a position?
Be 1t said to the credit of Alderman
Corcoran that he opposed this nomi-
nation-he had gladly approved that
oi Treasurer Murray. Mr.. Corcoran
wisely said that he did not believe
that a saloon man was the proper
person to act AZ marshal, to which
Mr.. Barnes-forced to so soon come
to the defense Of his appointee-stat-
ed that he understood Mr.. Weaver
had sold out his saloon interests.
What a miserable subterfuge.
And what a the good Methodist
brethren of Mayor Barnes think OF
the appointment? He was cam
paigned as a strictly moral, sober
man; one who would appoint none
but equals to positions of trust and
responsibility. The idea OF Mr.
Weaver being named for marshal was
flouted at.
: And M street commissioner. What
: does Mr.. Weaver know about streets
1t Is very much doubted If he eve
, even worked out his road tax-h'
probably hired 1t done.
The appointment merely show
t that when the good lie linked will
evil the evil always gets the best o
II, hut we confess we are disappolnt
ed In Mayor Barnes.
This IL a Democratic administra
tion, though, and the first taste ma.
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