Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-05
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.


In case the charge is made some time
in the future that the election of a man
to represent the state of Montana in the
senate of the United States, by the Sixth
legislative assembly, was brought about
through bribery, let it be remembered
that the accusation was first made by
the Anaconda Standard-the newspaper
organ Of the dominant wing of the demo-
cratic party in this state. With an over
whelming democratic majority on joint
ballot, with both the legislative and ex-
ecutive branches Of the state govern
ment under democratic control, the lead
ing newspaper organ of that political or
ganization raises the cry of doodle"
Upon the very threshold of the senatorial
election.
1t is a serious charge to Make against
any body of men in advance of definite
knowledge as to the giving and accepting
of brides. The Inter Mountain is 10th to
believe that the democratic party elected
a Doodle legislature last fall, notwith-
standing the corrupt campaign methods
resorted to by many of the leaders of that
organization to insure the election of
their ticket. But while there was no
doubt as to the practice of fraud, coer-
cion, intimidation and bribery at the
polls in some quarters, it does not neces-
sarily follow that the legislative assem-
bly,, as such, is of the corrupt type indi-
Gated by the Standard.
When it states that the air in Helena
is thick with Doodle, that it is being
sought after by members of the legisla-
ture, that brides have already been ac-
copied and the work is still going on, it
casts a reflection upon a dignified body
of lawmakers which no amount of
journalistic soft-soap in the future can
erase from the pages of Montana history.
To make the charge that there are bribe-
takers, without giving their names and
causing their arrest, is a direct imputa-
ton Of dishonesty that points the finger
of suspicion toward every member of
that body.
This is certainly an unfortunate con-
dition of affairs. The democrats won
out in the late election in this state by a
creditable majority. and the people
placed the responsibility of power in their
hands in the belief that the confidence
reposed in them would be respected with
dignity and honor. Yet the legislative
assembly was in session less than three
days when the leading democratic pape
in Montana, the recognized spokesman
of the dominant wing of the party in this
state, makes the double-leaded declara-
ton that bribery is at work shaping The
senatorial election in that body.
-
No newspaper outside the democratic
party has made this charge against thu
democratic members of the Legislative
assembly. The disposition of the pres:
throughout the state has been to give t.
the victors in the late election a free field
and a fair opportunity to discharge tn,
obligations assumed, to the credit O
themselves and the benefit of the state
During the campaign the public wa,
taught to believe that democratic ascend
ency meant the welfare of Montana. TIL
Standard used this argument with effect
and even went SO far as to endorse tn
dishonest york of packing the Butt
primaries in order to insure the election
of honest men to the legislative assembly
Presumably, like methods were used else
where on the theory that t h end justi
legislature that was absolutely above re