The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-29
HARD BLOW AT MACHINE.

0An0 0IOW Al WANTsuIN6s
If they are to be accepted as pos
sessed of any significance whatever,
certain events transpiring at Helena
last week must be taken as significant
of at least one thing-the republicans
of that bailiwick have grown tired OF
machine rule, and the blow they struck
at it's demolition was a lusty and
vigorous one; it also may be found to
having been decidedly effective so far
as results elsewhere are concerned.
While the fight was primarily of a
local character, it will be found to
be far reaching in it's influence and
fruitful of other eventualities.
Accepting as true only a small por-
ton of all that has been heard con
corning Mr.. Edwards, the fact forces
itself upon the observing mind that
resentment toward Mr.. Carter and
his assumption of dictatorial powers
was great enough to outweigh any
other considerations that may have
been involved. The fight seems to
have been not so much Edwards and
anti-Edwards, as it was Carter and
anti-Carter. This conclusion is war
ranted by the fact that in spite OF
his supposed power and influence Mr..
Carter was forced to submit to the
modification of seeing himself de-
feated in every ward in his home city,
except one. Logically followed out,
the events at Helena mean that when
the republican legislative ticket is
nominated in Lewis and Clarke county
it will not be composed of men friend
ly to the ex-senator and his ambition
to return to the senate. Without be-
ing in possession of all the details,
at this distance the fact crowds itself
with obtrusive insistence upon the
mind that upon this issue the gage
was thrown and the battle fought;
both generals seemingly so understood
it.
With a majority of the republicans
of his own county now on record as
unfriendly to him, Mr.. Carter and
his friends will undoubtedly feel the
handicap imposed upon him when ap-
peal is made to the party in other
counties to rally to his support. After
all possible may have been said in his
favor the fact still stands out boldly
and painfully that he is a d%iscredited
nan in his own community. Those
who have been openly opposed to him
will take new strength and courage
and continue their fight with greater
, yigor and effectiveness thar ever.
Mr.. Edwards may have no influence
beyond Helena, as has been asserted
by one of the former senator's demo-
cratic newspaper friends, but what
he accomplished cannot be said to be
without influence. The example he
set. will have followers all over the
state, and they may prove equally as
successful. Should it be attempted
to put into play the much talked of
trump card' and nominate Mr.. Car
ter at the state convention it will un-
doubtedly be found that some one
handled the deck and that other cards
OF more value have been dealt, and
that they are in the hands of PLAYERS
bound to "stick" the other side. Such
steps as ne may now take to minimize
the effects of the blow delivered at
home will probably result in very
little good. The mischief has been
wrought and to repair it will be found
one of the most difficult tasks ever
undertaken by the gentleman. AS one
OF the privates in the ranks, working