Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-20
DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.

to become a republican newspaper Is
wholly u%nfounded.
Though forced out of the democracy
three or four times by the Anaconda
Standard it watches it's chances to get
back, when the Standard isn't looking,
and preempt a seat as near the grand
stand as possible without attracting at
tention. |.
This morning it that the
democratic caucuses last night passed
off very quietly and smoothly" |,
The same might have been said about
the democratic caucuses one year ago. so
far as the smooth part of the business
was concerned.
But when quietude is added to smooth
ness the Miner thinks it is time to be
lured back.
Tonight the primaries will be held, ana
the Miner is looking forward with the
hope that "they will pass off with the
same good Feeling which prevailed at the
caucuses."
If they do, our contemporary doubtless
expects a city convention which will rec
ognize as a senator the man who was
| elected by the late democratic legislative
assembly, and who holds a certificate
from the present democratic governor.
wear e the democratic city
ton adopted a platform of principles
the chief plank of which repudiated Mr..
! Clark, with all the frills which a good
manipulation of adjectives could throw
into a document of that kind. u
If it was proper to touch upon outside
matters at that time, when nothing was
in issue but city affairs, how much strong
err is the temptation to do SO when a presa-
Dental election is pending and the pres
ent campaign becomes preliminary to a
greater one? -al +..g E4-.s saT, g
In fact, it is difficult to see how refer
ence to such a prominent matter as the
senatorial controversy can be avoided,
when the precedent of its mention was set
last year. s
To omit all reference to 1t in the demo-
cratic resolutions this year would be
equivalent to an endorsement Of Senator
Clark, as it would indicate that the sit
uation was accepted without further pro-
test.
This construction would be placed on it
throughout the state, and show that his
friends were on guard and were likely to
dictate the political situations for his
party in the coming campaign.
The placating attitude of the Miner Of
late suggests to the public that it's wires
have been carefully laid, and that it will
not be caught mapping as it was last
year.
, This morning, however, the. Standard
publishes an entire page of adverse press
, opinions on Senator Clark, which is In
i. tended to serve notice on the democratic
party that it lacks considerable of sus-
pending operations at his stage of the
: game.
q With the leading democratic newspaper
in the state-with the exception Of the
Butte Times-making a political issue OF
y Mr.. Clark, it is difficult to see just how
4 the question can be wholly avoided in the
city convention.
Unless the charges made by that paper
= are repudiated by the convention they
will probably be endorsed.
e Fol that body to remain silent would
indicate its willingness to shoulder the
responsibility for all the charges Of po-
ntical corruption which hav been made
against the democracy.
If it remains silent as to Clark It will
l, have to remain silent as to Campbell, fol-
n to endorse Campbell is to condemn CLARK
IS and to endorse Clark is to condemn Camp.
le bell.
Is To refuse to endorse either or both the
ID democratic representatives in congress
in would b. to confine the campaign wholly
j. to local issues.
n It cannot resolute on silver and othel
". questions and ignore an endorsement O.
l. the men who a been sent to Washing
ne ton by the democracy to blaze the trai
to for free coinage!
II it touches on democratic fidelity t
fver at all. 1t will look out Of place I
hak Commend Campbell, who lodged the vot
on the republican currency bill. and con
denim Clark who voted against 1t.
.rt Take 1t all In all. the job Of writing tn
he platform for the democratic city conve
he ton il a difRoult one. and will requiresth
r. best literary talent which the 9tandar
o. and the Miner can produce.