Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-31
VINO W/LL " BEs

Since the Bozeman Chronicle fell into
the hands of the anti-Clark wing of the
democracy, and the fact leaked out that
the weekly press Of the state are being
quietly absorbed by the agents OF that
faction. the belief is growing that State
Senator Hoffman's chances for a guber-
Material nomination are being rapidly
~tabogganed into the past. The senator
is recognized as an ardent adnirer ana
ton would be a great victory for that
element Of the democratic party. The
steps that are being taken ~ early by
the anti~Clark men to head off the aspir-
ations Of the Gallatin statesman indicate
that the war is going to be carried into
Africa next year BY the contendins fac
tions.
If the anti-Clark men have decided
upon a candidate to contest with General
Hoffman the right Of way in the next
democratic state convention, his name Is
carefully guarded BY the faithful. a
number Of ~gubernatorial aspirants, in
Guiding Senator Norris, Attorney General
in the executive Office, are said to be
trolling their hooks in the political stream
that is sizzling out of the copper com
pany's geyser. The public is still in the
dark as to who is likely to land the fish.
Profting by the mistakes in political
management that made them conspicu-
the anti-Clark men do not propose to
commit any rretrievable errors in the
selection Of a gubernatorial candidate.
With a gigantic trust behind them they
can afford to corral all the available
political influences of a local character
which money can buy, and have at their
command a platoon of country news
papers that will sneeze vigorously when
they take snuff, thus putting themselves
in a position to dominate the councils of
their party.
Whatever may be their final action in
the selection of a candidate to contest
the honors Of the state convention with
General Hoffman, Of Bozeman, present
indications point to an upward tendency
in Smith stock. Having ~antagonized the
labor vote Of the state there was a time
when his ex~cellency's chances for renom-
.--4:a ~, z.,o11 ;41oo1 a-l ~ l1o = ~o
of dlis party with almost one accord look
ed upon him as a political back-number.
But the disposition on the part of labor
ing men to align themselves with an in
dependent political movement, and cut
loose from the democratic party which
they have learned to thoroughly distrust,
has changed the complexion of things.
Governor Smith as made himself solid
with the corporations that dominate and
control the democratic party, and their
only objection to him as a candidate next
year rests in his inability to secure a
certain percentage of the labor vote,
which might be necessary for his election.
IL NdS 1OI d llHlt lpditu lIdl Ills IDlIllIl-
alton would drive the laboring men as a
body to the support of the republican
nominee for governor, whoever he may
be. But if the purpose of the labor lead
ers to support a political movement OF
their own is carried out, and the votes of
laboring men are to be thrown to the
support of neither of the old parties, the
democracy will have no hesitancy in NOM
mating a man whose candidacy will re-
ceive the financial aid of the corpora
tons behind that political organization.
Thus it happens that the prospects of
Governor Smith are looking up. 1t will
create no surprise in political circles if
he is finally selected as the standard
bearer of the anti-Clark forces in the
state convention next year.