The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1900-09-26
REFORM FORCES UNITE,
Democrats Labor People and Popuss Agree On One Ticket
OPresdental Electors--For Bryan and Stevenson
Mill Save The State From Standard Oil Company Control
ne Straight Democrats From Rava Seated-The COMPANY
Rumpers Join the Boilers and Organize New Party

cast off the domineering clutch
OF the corporate elements that within
its organization have for years tainted
and corrupted it and placed it in a
false light before the people. The
cancerous growth has been torn from
the body and rejuvenated by gladstone
hope in the future and assisted by the
allied reform forces, the party now
stands ready to do battle with it's
giant foe and save the state from the
greedy naw of the Amalgamated Cop.
per Company, the 1usty Offspring of
the dreaded Standard Oil trust and
which is operating through the repub.
lican party Of the state.
Practically a complete fusion of
the reform elements was effected
The democrats and populists united
upon a ticket and the labor people
placed none in the field with the excep-
ton of one candidate-J. A. Ferguson
of Missoula for governor.
The democratic state convention was
called to order at Helena last Wednes-
day by J. S. M. NeiH, chairman of
the state central committee. Walter
Cooper of Bozeman was chosen tenn
porary chairman and HarveJ Bliss of
Big Timber, secretary. This organ
ization was afterwards made perma-
Hnent.
The night before the opening of the
convention the state central commit
tee heard the contests and decided to
place upon the temporary roll the
regular delegations from Meagher.
Granite and Deer Lodge counties, the
Clark delegation from Silver Bow and
the Crutchfield delegation from Ra-
yalli county,
,gsae- next day the committee on ere
dentials confirmed the state commit
tees report with the exception of Ra-
yalli. The regular delegation was
seated and the Crutchfield delegation
was turned down.
When the credentials committee re-
ported, John Il. Toole, chairman of
the Deer Lodge delegation and leader
OF the Amalgamated democracy, asked
time to present the case of the Silver
Bow delegation before the convention.
This was granted and Attorney c. f.
Kelley presented the side of the Anal
gamates and Attorney Frank Corbett
that Of the Clark delegation. The
question of the adoption of the report
OF the credentials committee then came
to vote resulting in it's adoption by a
vote OF 244 to 81, the contesting dele
cations from Deer Lodge, Meagher
and Silver Bow not voting.
immediately on the announcement
of the result, Delegate Toole took the
floor "Mr. Chairma and gentlemen
of the convention,' said Mr.. Toole,
"you have borne patiently with us,
and from the bottom of my heart l
thank you. For the honest consider
alton Of our case, by honest men, and
conscientious verdict, we have no
fault to find. But want to say that
the 5000 democrats represented by the
contestants from Silver Bow and by
the 5000 democrats represented by the
delegation from Deer Lodge, will be
grievously hurt at this decision. do
not believe I can farther participate
in this convention. l desire to bid
you cordial goodbye, and will invite
all those who feel about this matter as
we do, to meet with us at Englehorn
hall at 10 o'clock, and there we will
consider what our future action will
be-"
When Mr.. Toole had concluded, he
walked around in front of the first row
of benches, and started toward the
door, He was followed by 60 of the 62
mem bers of the Deer Lodge delega.
tion. Not another regular delegate
participated in the bolt. Mr.. Toole
and his delegation proceeded to the
business college where they were join
ed by few of the jumpers from Ra-
valli and other counties and Col. w.
F. Sanders, r. B. Smith, Congressman
Skeleton Key Campbell, Boss Bolte,
Hartman and few other sympathz-
ers and pow WOW was held, an ad
dress to the 'honest democrats a greed
upon and the first steps toward the
formation of the new independent
party taken.
Meanwhile the democratic conven
ton proceeded with its regular order
of business.
A conference committee was appoint
ed by Chairman Cooper as follows
John McGinnis, of Silver Bow; N. w
| Mcconnell, of Lewis and Clark; C. o
Gruewell, of Yellowstone; Frank Hig
gins, OF Missoula, and d. X. Peeier o
! Flathead.