The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-24
REPUBLICANS PLANNING TO
CARRY CITY NEXT SPRING.
HAVE MANY STRONG ISSUES
Names Of Half a Dozen Of the Strong
est Workers Considered for the
Mayoralty-Hints on Hell al
ena Politics.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)

Helena, Dec. A.-While Helena's NIT
nicipal election is yet three months in
the future there has been not little dis
cussion among prominent party men Of
the candidates and the issues. Ia
AS yet there has been no avowed cam
didates, although several of the party
Wheel-hOrSeS have been considered and
when the convention is held there will
be no dearth of available timber for mr4-
nicipal honors. ga
For four years Helena has enjoyed
republican administration and a good
record has been made and even the
more conservative believe that another
victory is assured by a large majority
Helena is nominally republican. and
with strong candidate and live issues
there can be but one outcome when the
ballots are counted on the evening OF
April l.
The issue upon which the republican
party will 60 to the polls next spring
will be good clean city government, and
probably plank declaring for munici-
pal ownership of public utilities. A
start has been made in this direction
through the recent purchase of the
water rights of Beaver creek. There are
several suits now pending in the courts
in which the city has sought to secure
water rights on Mcclellan creek and
elsewhere
Will Speedily End Litigation.
1t will be the purpose of the republic
can party to secure a speedy settlement
of the litigat ton over the present water
contract, as well as to take up and pay
what are known as the illegal warrants
issued by the city amounting to some
thing more than 100000 81
>ho o,ty ~ hoox, ~,1&l T..
because they We're issued in excess Of the
statutory limit of Indebtedness, which Is
between 100000 and 100000. The pays
ment OF these warrants and the settles
ment as soon as possible the seemingly
endless litigation, which has for the most
part been inherited from previous demo-
cratic administrations, will be the sloA
gan during the municipal campaign. e
The issues named are important onet
and every one who has the welfare OF
the city at heart is anxious to see the
settlement of the litigation, and either
the purchase Of the present water plant
at reasonable figure or the establish
| ment by the city of an adequate water
supply and plant of it's own.
Business men, irrespective OF politics,
are all interested in bringing about these
results and it is generally agreed that
the republican party is the best able to
obtain the desired end, especially in the
| light of past experience with previous
| democratic administrations. ,, =.
! The price asked by the water company
| for it's plant is regarded as entirely too
high. 1t is possible. however. that
compromise may be arranged, and to
| this end the republican party will bend
it's efforts in the future. If compromise
| is not effected the issue will be to es-
a oh ind
ply. So much for the issues.
Speaking Of Possible Candidates.
!, Among the many stalwart 'republi-
! cans who have been strong party work.
ers in the past there are a number of
men, any one of whom would prove
strong candidates. Mayor Edwards will
doubtless be candidate for reelection.
Some opposition to his denomination has
been developed by those who claim two
terms should be sufficient.
| Among the other men who are reG
garded as available timber are Norman
B. Hotter, w. E. Fredericks,' R. c..
Wallace, c. C. Newman and F. S. r.
Lindsay. Any one of the men named
would give the city a good clean and
business like administration. City Treas
urer Kirdendall and Police Magistrate
Walker have both made an excellent rec
ord in office and there is no doubt but
they will be renOminated to succeed
themselves by the republican city COM
| vention. ;.
The terms of Alderman A. Wendek
George o. Freeman, L. ]. Henry, M. D,
Rider, A. c. Dorner and C. H. Riefenr
rath expire the first of April. Three are
| republicans.
The democrats have been talking of
nominating Edward L. Flaherty for
mayor. Mr.. Flaherty IS regarded as one
| of the strongest democrats in Helena,
| and has served several terms in the
council and has many friends among
| his party men.
McGovern and Lavigne.