Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-07-09
Political Lightning Rods Are Hardly
OBSERVABLE, Though the Campaign
Must Soon Open.
A LITTLE QUIET WORK DONE
In the State at Large Only a Congress.
man and Associate Justice
Are to be Chosen.

N~Nh hAN SAAAOhN vi Ut VI
of July has cleared away il is usual
for political lightning rods to attract
the attention of voters, but this year
there appear to be few in sight. Per.
haps it is because the Republicans are
confident and the Democrats afraid.
or perhaps the ~canvassing for polIti.
cal honors is being SO quietly done
as to attract as little attention as
possible.
Political conventions for the naming
OF candidates will hardly be held be-
fore September-two months cam
paign being generally considered am.
ple-but long before that candidates
become active. Disclaiming any al
thority whatever for announcements
the ARGUS attempts to uncover some
OF the modest ones and by so doing
may succeed in smoking out others
not yet willing to admit that they are
candidates. Come forward. gentlemen,
and let us all have a look at you.
This year the head of the ticket will
be a congressman and who's to be
it, in either party will have to be
learned outside of Fergus county.
However, il might be recalled that
some months ago a correspondent of
the Democrat residing at Utica-pre-
sumed to be a very intimate friend of
the gentleman in question-suggested
John d. Waite for Republican nomi.
nee for congress. And there will be
many mentioned who would not make
nearly as good a run or as good a
congressman after the election as the
genial Jack"
An associate justice is to be chosen
also to succeed Justice Pigott, who
announces that he will not be a can
didate.
In Fergus county the ticket will be
headed by a successor to State Sen.
ator S. S. Hobson. Republicans men.
toned are E. w. King, Wyllis A..
Hedges and J.. ID. Waite. Mr.. King
is understood to be much averse to en-.
tering politics, Mr.. Hedges says he is
not a candidate for anything and Mr..
Waite. well. he can't run for congress
and for senator too. In Democratic
circles the choice will probably be
between David Hilger and ]. p. Barnes,
good, brainy men but not very fast.
Candidates for the lower assembly
are nowhere apparent. Alex. b. Leh-
man has not. so far as we have heard.
contradicted the report that he will
not allow his name to be used. w. A.
Hedges has made a fine record and
might be induced to accept another
term. but his warmest friends would
prefer that he be advanced to the sen.
ate if nominated at all. w. L. Cort
is suspected Of a desire to be the Dem.
o~cratlc nominee for judge two years
henceand on that account doesn't want
TO be beaten this year. and up L date
defeat has been uniformly his. And
james Weaver says, I've got enough"
Judge Cheadle, Clerk of Court
Wright and three county commission.
ers are all followers.
As usual the fight will probably be
centered about the position of sheriff.
Tom Shaw only succeeded by a few
votes two years ago and has stated.
numerous times, that he would not be
a candidate this fall. His undersher-
if, Len Slater. is making a quiet can.
yass for the nomination and il is ri.
mored that he has a walk over, "if
Tom don't run again. but there's the
rub. BY some the continual opposi-
ton to the third term idea. which the
Democrat offers, is suspected of being
a well planned boost for Mr.. Slater,
more than an attack upon any posi-
bic Republican nOminee-a sly attempt
to strike Sheriff Shaw over some one
else's shoulder. Some time since 4.
E. Nichols was mentioned as an aspir.
ant for the Democratic nomination,
but little has been heard of this lately.
The Republicans have at least two
men looking out for the place, John
c. Bebb and d. ]. Kane. 1t is hardly
likely that either will withdraw be-
fore the fight is won in convention
and there is possibility of a dark horse
coming out OF the south.
Treasurer Croft win doubtless be a
candidate for denomination. His
principal antagonist two years ago
was y. l.. Poland and as that gentle
man has since landed a commission
ership. he may be considered out of
il. Not that Mr.. G. w. Cook is be-
lieved to be a candidate for treasurer.
for We have learned that his leanings
are rather toward the post of sheriff,
but right here he may be mentioned
as a possible aspirant for place among
the Republican winners. Possibly our
ears are short but up to date the only
Democrat mentioned for treasurer
within our hearing, is B. c. White OF
Ubet. Mr.. Burke, the candidate oil
two years ago is not at present act
lively engaged in business and would