Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-02
CARRIERS REPLY TO SANDERS.

aeter rs not 10 d To the Joys OF the
Yuletide season in the latter's home.
Mr.. Carter demonstrated that the ''old
War Horse was not the only N who
could WELD a vitrolic pen when heret
was great provocation for SO doing.
While the ARGUS regrets any rupture
or discord in the Republican ranks of
Montana and has no desire TO lend any
aid in that direction, we believe, with
many Republicans, that Mr.. Carter has
been wrongly accused in many ptrticu-
lars and that his letter states many pal
pable facts that will be difficult for Col
Sanders TO combat. We yield to no
one in our admiration Of some Of the
qualities of Col. Sandorss and there are
hundreds of Republicans in thi5 state
who would delight to SEC him honured
with a high office. and that hc'ias not
been before now is no fault Of theirs,
lie could not be elected.
Mr.. Carter. in his open letter, which
is too lengthy forour columns. presents
many rcasoHs why the colonel has not
led the party to victory in this state.
While Mr.. Sanders fine sarcasm and bit.
ter irony when hurled at the enemy is
interesting IL not discreet. IL could be
tolerated If not turned upon those intis
own party,
Nothing could hc farther from the
truth than Ia state that senator Carter
was responsible for Republican defeat
in Montana. No Republican in his
| sound mind expected 10 carry the state
| for Mckinley, though il was hoped 10
greatly reduce organs majority, which
was done. Had Clark and his barrel
been eliminated from the campaign the
state and Legislative tickets would UNI
doubtedly have been elected. Upon
this point Mr.. Carter states the facts
very clearly when he says;
'In 1896 the vote Of Montana for
President Mckinley was only 1890,
whereas in 1900 he received 9i.a73, an
increase of lI,ss3. In 1896 we sue.
cceded in clecting only seven members
OF the Legislature, whereas at the recent
election twcnty-scven members of the
legislature were elected by substantial
pluralities and a number OF candidates
were defeated by such narrow margins
that achangc OF les, than four hundred
votes in certain close counties would
have given the Republicans control IF
both branches of the Legislature by safe
majoriticS,
"lu ls96 nearly all our party friends
were driven from the county offices,
while in igOD close calculation will,
think, show that the Republicans ear
rird a majority Of the county Offices"
To Col. sanders charge that mo
more shameful campaign was ever con-
Quoted by a lot of federal Office holders
than was conducted in Montana in 1899
and lpoo." senator Carter absolutely
di,nrovcS them when he says; Mr..
Webster, the chairman of The state
committee, accepted that position nj
the unanimous request OF the commit
tie and Immediately resigned the
office held by him. Neither Mr.. Bur
lingame. the secretary, nor Mr.. Tllcm,
the treasurer, held any other Office. OF
the t~wrnty-four chairmcn Of county
committees, | only recall two federal
ollicrholders. Not 4 federal appotntec
was placed on the delegation TO the
national convention. The mcubcr of
the national committee is not a federal
oliceholdcr."
Mr.. Carter takes the opportunity Ia
emphatically deny the check story
| which has found circulation in this
state. lie says: You further say
that an item of $4,000 was contributed
by some person or combination. The
statement is simply false. You evil
IDENTITY have in mind the silly campaign
lie about $4,000 in thirteen checks,
said to have been signed by me with
only a portion of my name, and given
by me to members Of the Legislature
and payment thereof stopped after my
election. IL never seemed to me that
any person In the state of Montana or
elsewhere was sufficiently devoid Of
ordinary perception not TO discern tn,
utter absurdity of that charge. Tn,
authority for it could not be traced
but it undoubtedly emanated from som
point not far distant from the braiI