The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-17
POLITICS WILL FIGURE IN CITY
ELECTION.
BOTH PARTIES TO ORGANIZE
Each Decides to Place Ticket in Field
and Make Regular
Campaign.
Saturdays Daily Gazette.

v In the opinion of those more prom.
inently identified with the leadership
of the political parties of the city the
time has come when city elections
should be decided the same as those
OF the county or state, on straight
party lines. They believe that Bill
ings has grown too big to longer have
it's affairs administered by officials
responsible to no n except them
selves. AS stated further on in this
article, the democrats met last night
and decided to force the issue and this
afternoon the republicans concluded
to accept the gage of battle and give
their hereditary enemy a fight.
A meeting was held at the office of
Doctor Prickett, which was we'll at
tnded, considering the short notice
given. The Honorable Paul McCor-
mick was chosen temporary chairman
and called the meeting to order. After
a little preliminary talk Colonel A. L..
Babcock was elected to preside and
H. G. Crippen was selected as Sec
rotary.
In a short speech the Honorable o.
F. Goddard said that it had been stat
ed that it would be a good thing if
the republican party would organize
for a city campaign and make a fight
for the election of officers on strict
party lines. This was done in all 9th.
er cities of any size and Billings
should not be behind the rest. Many
| things in connection with the ap-
preaching city election were to be con-
sidered and the feeling was common
be responsible to some organization
for the manner in which they admin
istered the trust reposed in them.
The democrats had decided upon a
party campaign and the republicans
could not afford not to do likewise.
AS far as the matter of the gen.
tlemen who are already nominated by
petition was concerned he believed it
would be doing no injustice to them
to hold a convention for the purpose
of making nominations in the regular
way. They could come before the con-
vention and take their chances the
| same as all others. He was in favor
Of calling a meeting at an early date
for the purpose of selecting a city
central committee, holding primaries
and electing delegates to a city con-
! %vention. Two years ago the demo-
Gratis had forced the issue and be-
| cause of their superior organization
had succeeded in electing their can
didates.
Judge Fraser said he was one of the
men who had been nominated by Pc
tition, but happily his petition had
not yet been filed and it would not be,
if the republicans decided TO hold a
convention; he would take his
chances there and if nominated would
take off his coat and make a fight. If
some one else got the nomination he
would light just as hard.
Judge Goss and F. H. Hathhorn
doubted the wisdom of injecting pol
ed the best results were not to be OBJ
tanned in that manner MI. Hathhorn
said that in view of his political ex-
%perieDce he did not think the move
would be successful; he had known
men to take part in county and state
conventions and then support candi-
dates on the opposing ticket and no
reason existed for believing that the
anne would not be done if a city ticket
were placed in the field. He believed
with Judge Goss that it would be a
mistake for the republicans to enter
the field on party lines las it would
have a tendency to disrupt the party
and pave the way for disasters in
really important elections later IN.
The Honorable Chris. Yegen took
the opposite view. He favored MAX
ing the v on party lines. He
wanted the election of city officers
made a political issue. "Let the dem
ocrats or republicans be responsible
for administering the city's AFFAIRS
he said. His sentiments were en-
dorsed by his late colleague in the leg
islature. the Honorable G. C. Bever.
Mr.. Mccormick thought that, perhaps
/. 4 -.-.11 - IL .-.-
Gratis intended to do before any fur
Their action was taken. If they or
ganized, then the republicans should
do the m
Several other speeches were made
and finally a motion by Mr.. Goddard