Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-28

'"i' COUNTY Tor that position. FROM
the standpoint Of fitness, location and
IN consideration OF the bestowal OF the
honor upon those representing other
parts OF the state in the past, Mr..
hedges Is the logical candidate OF
the party for the speakership. And
we say this without d~lsparagement OF
any other candidate for the place.
ron the southern part of the state
comes the announcement that the
Hon. A. ]. Bennett, of Madison county,
is a candidate for the s~peakership.
Mr.. Bennett is a capable man and
an earnest Republican and we believe
when he sees the strong sentiment
manifested for Mr.. Hedges from the
major portion of the state he Will
surrender any ambition he has enter
tanned for the honor and give earnest
support to Mr.. Hedges, recognizing
the sterling merits OF the latter as
well as the just claims of northern,
eastern and central Montana as re-
CARDS locality. The region east OF the
main range of the Rockies has been
very modest in its demands for recog-
milton in the past, though it has been
.steadfast in its Republicanism.
From the birth OF the state to the
present time the speakership honors
have gone to the "west side and the
names Of those holding the office from
both parties and their places of resi-
dence, show that they were not from
eastern or northern Montana.
A. C. Witter, the first speaker, was
from Dillon. At the sessions of 1895,
1895. 1897, 1899. 1901 and 1903, Messrs.
Thomas Matthews, of Butte; Willis
Sweet, of Butte; ]. NJ. Kennedy, of
Anaconda; ii. G.. Stiff, of Missoula;
Frank Z. Corbett, of Butte, and B. f.
White, of Dillon, were successfully
chosen to preside over that body.
When the above record of facts are
duly considered no Republican in the
state will justly say that Fergus coun-
~ and eastern and northern Montana
are asking anything unreasonable in
seeking a united party support of Mr..
Hedges for the ~speakership.
In this connection II is also well to
call attention to the fact that al
though elected on the Democratic
ticket, the lieutenant governor comes
from Beaverhead county, so that when
ii comes to a division Of the political
honors the south and western portion
of the state are largely in 1t. Then,
again, there is no Republican repre-
~sentation on the state ticket elect east
of the Belt range of mountains, out
side of one presidential elector.
When these facts are given calm
and fair consideration it will be found
that the candidacy of Mr.. Hedges APP
peals strongly to every Republican
representative as well as to the peo-
pie they represent.
The splendid record Of Mr.. Hedges,
his experience, ability and high in
tegrity, are too well known to require
further mention here. He deserves
and no doubt will receive the earnest,
hearty support of his party and be
triumphantly chosen speaker.
We cannot believe that among the
splendid, representative body of men
chosen last November to represent an
honest Republican constituency, there
is one meditating betrayal of his party
or conniving with the enemy to defeat
the well defined will of the majority
in the matter of organization. What
is the nature of the allurement and
what could be the gain to any Repub
lican who would think Of such a thing
Stand fast and strong and true fol
the right and for your party, that the
standard of political honor and virtue
may again be raised In Montana.