The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-25
Republican Opportunity in Montan,


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Republican Opportunity In Montana
The approaching campaign in Mon
tana promises TO be one Of the most ex-
citing in the history of the state. That
is saying a good deal: for with two
wealthy mining men figuring In poll
tics, each with ample means TO 'jolly
up the boys and add zest to the con-
tests by liberal distribution OF the
sinews of war, the workers have long
been accustomed to look forward TO
high old times after the fight was once
under way and the bungs were started
by those entrusted with authority to
paign. For some fifteen years Messrs.
Clark and DAILY have been able to make
nearly every state campaign anything
but dull. and there are those in Mon
tana who look back on the Helena
Anaconda capital fight and the more
recent campaign for members of the
state legislature as glorious periods,
when the strenuous life of the Montana
political booster was a life worth living.
This year the poor and needy are
looking forward to another season Of
plenty. The leaders have much at
stake. and the probabilities are that
they are willing to pay for what they
are anxious to get. A full state ticket
is to be chosen. which includes three
presidential electors, a congressman
and a legislature that will elect two
United States senators. A successor
will be named to Senator Carter and
some one must be chosen to complete
the term begun so inauspiciously by w.
A. Clark. Mr. Clark now holds an APP
pointment from the lieutenant gov
ernor. and Martin Maginnis holds an
appointment from the governor. but
neither is likely to be seated before the
Montana legislature meets; and the
senatorial contests in prospect are
something that no doubt make the up
to-date Montana politicians mouth
water.
The Indications are that the mining
kings propose to make this a fight to a
finish. While there are many people In
the state who have hoped and prayed
that the commonwealth might be
purged of its rascals and that political
scandals might be eliminated from fu-
ture campaigns. the prizes to be dis
tributed are too important to be given
up without a struggle. and a struggle
in Montana means only one thing. All
the Democrats in the state are reported
to have taken sides for the approaching
battle and with laree-stzed barrels al
ways on tap no efforts win be spared
20 keep the followers In line. News
papers have been bought or leased right
and left. and thousands Of dollars win
be spent through the literary bureau
alone, II was thought at one time that
the disclosures of the Clark investiKa-
tion would serve as a lesson 20 the peo-
pie OF Montana and make repetition
OF those political scandals an inpossi-
bflity for a time al least. but the sec
ond chapter promises TO be az fun OF
demoralizing incidents "a the first, and
the outlook for the CRATER was never
more encouraging.
II would seem that the Republicans
ought to take advantage Of this great
factionai ight to regain control OF the
state and send men 70 washington who
will be in accord with the next ma
tional administration with the Dem
ocratic house 50 divided against itself
u ought to BE- possible to bring about a
Republican victory. something tina,
would help both the nation and the
state and pat an end TO the aisgracefal
practices that have made the Clark
Daily political feua 40 notorious