Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-19
Contests In The
Democratic Ranks
1--WE CONTRASTING COUNTY DELE
GATIoNS-NO DEARTH OF
CANDIDATES.
Special to Inter Mountain,

Special to Inter Mountain
Helena, Sept. 19.-This city is alive
with delegates to the democratic and
populists and labor party state conven-
tions, which are called to meet here to-
day. They began to arrive yesterday
afternoon and continued to flow in un-
til in the night Many of them are BEN
evolent looking gentlemen. Since the
arrival of the democratic contingent the
quotations on wet goods have not tiuctu-
ated, because the majority brought their
supply OF moisture with them, but the
price OF beds has increased fully fifty
percent. They wish they had also
brought their blankets.
or the two delegations from Silver
Bow county, the Bankers We're first to
land. They took quarters at the Helena
hotel, While later on the Hill contingent
pre-empted the GrandOn. AS soon as
they were comfortably housed emisa-
ries were sent into the camp of the enc
my to ascertain how things We're work.
ing. On the other hand the Bank dele
cation is watching the Hill contingent,
and the members of both are keeping
overlooked.
The state central committee held a
meeting last night, and although the
session lasted from O'Clock until after
IL, very little was accomplished.
The committee first took up the mat
ter of contesting delegations, of which
there We're five, Silver Bow, Granite
Meagher, Deer Lodge and Ravalli
counties. Granite was the only one in
which a decision was made. The Bank
contingent in it was knocked out in the
first round, the vote Of the committe to
seat the other delegation being unaim-
GUS.
The debate over the Silver Bow and
Ravalli county squabbles was highly en-
tertaining. In the case of the former,
Congressman Campbell and c. F. Kelly
represented the Hill faction and Frank
E. Corbett the Bankers. Mr.. Corbett ex-
planned to the committee how the play
came up, starting at the root of the
trouble and gradually working into the
branches. Mr.. Kelly and Mr.. Camp
bell made strong appeals in behalf of
their delegation. The former stated
that his portion of the democracy of Sill
Yer Bow county had six thousand votes
up it's sleeve, and Mr.. Corbett helped
him out by telling the committee he had
known the Hill contingent to poll at the
primaries alone, more votes than the en-
tire county contained.
Mr.. Kelly flashed on the committee
letter written by Chairman Neill to P. j.
McArthur in which the writer had ad-
dressed Macarthur as Chairman of the
Silver Bow county democracy. The Hill
delegation presented each member of the
committee with a printed copy of
statement of it's side of the case, and in
order that the statement might be read
the question of which of the cOntending
factions was entitled to seat in the
temporary organization was not put to
vote. This dampened the ardor of all
prospective candida, tes for nomination,
for it necessitated the purchase of
drinks for two sets of delegates from
contesting counties during the balance
of the night.
Prior to the morning session of the
central committee, prospective candi-
dates for something within the gift of
the party We're backward about an
nouncing themselves, and their identity
was difficult to establish; but after the
contests had been disposed of they
bobbed up on all sides and in the middle.
In the lobbies of the hotels, last night,
C. w Hoffman, of Gallatin county, was
generally talked of as the nominee Tor
governor, as We're also Joseph K. Toole,
of Helena. and Hon. Henry l.. Frank
and Hon. Henry Mueller of Silver Bow.
For associate justice of the supreme
court, the name of Llewellyn Luce, of
Gallatin county was prominently men,
toned.
G. w. Meyers of Custer county is at
ter the nomination for attorney general,
and F. l.. Mann of Yellowstone would
not scorn the nomination for state aud
itor.
A prospective fusion of the three par
ties however, has caused a feeling of
uncertainty in the ranks of candidates.
This morning the boom for H. l.. Frank
for governor began to take on strength,
and before the noon hour arrived it ap-
peared to he foregone conclusion that,
fusion or no fusion, Mr.. Frank would be
the nominee. His friends are increasing
in number at every turn OF the political
wheel.
Hon. Henry Mueller says that under no
circumstances will he accept the nonin-
alton for gubernatorial honors.
The central committee met again at
$50 o'clock this morning and at n:4O
concluded it's business by recommending
the seating of Bank delegation. from Sill
yer Bow county, the ParberEy delega-
ton from Meagher, and the Ward dele
cation from Ravalli. The vote on the
Silver Bow contest stood 15 to 8
In the Deer Lodge contest no argument
was made. but each side reserved it's
right to present its case to the commit
tee on credentials. The committee also
decided upon Walter Cooper of Bozeman
as temporary chairman, and Harvey
retary The convention was called to or
der by Chairman Neil, who introduced
Mr.. Cooper. The latter said he would
not attempt to make a speech to hungry
democrats.
After the committee on organization,
credentials and order of business had
been chosen, the convention took recess
until o'clock.
Rumors of possible split in the con-
vention provided the decisions of the
probation of opposing factions were rife
during the morning hours, but they were
without foundation. Before the deci-
sions were rendered some of the Bank
delegates from Silver Bow county openly
expressed themselves on the proposition,
saying that SO far as they were con-
cerned, if the decision of the committee
should be adverse to them they would go
home and support the party as demo-
Gratis Thes rumors had much to do with
prospective candidates keeping them
selves in the background in the earlier
stages of the game.
Had a. split occurred it is doubtful II
enough democrats could have been found
to accept anything more than a frigid
hand or an invitation to participate in a
smile. This afternoon candidates are
playing all sorts of horse with the dele
gates, but some Of the more distinguish