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

candidates Tor speaker of the mex
house OF representatives, which Is 1,
convene in Helena on January 2, 1905
They are Hon. A. J.. Bennett, of Mad
S county, and Hon. WHY'S A
Hedges, of Fergus county. Both al,
excellent gentlemen, well equipped /,
discharge the duties of the office, anC
each would make an able and efficient
presiding officer of the house.
"Gallatin county is situated in The
central portion of the state, adjoin
ing Madison county on the north, anc
II might be assumed. from a neigh
borly standpoint, that this paper, as
representing this county, might natur
ally be expected to favor the candi
dacy of a next door neighbor so &c
speak. II this assumption held good
we would of course advocate the
cause of the Hon. A. J. Bennett, and
We could do so with the best of grace
in the world because of the gentle,
mans high standing and personal mer
1t, but We are frank to admit that we
are not going to do so, because we be.
leye that there are other considera,
lions which outweigh any presump,
tive duty there might be from that
point of view.
These considerations are purely
political in their nature, and we be.
lieve they are such as to impose on
us a duty in the interest of future
party success"
The Courier then recites the names
of those who have been reelected 10
this position in Montana and the coun.
ties from which they came, continu.
ing:
by right the northern and eastern
portions of the state ask for the cleo.
ton of Mr.. Hedges, and in the light
OF the showing made in favor of those
sections, both as to its failure of past
consideration, and its substantial con.
tribution to party success, we believe
there should be no ifs or ands" about
the matter.
las before stated, we could with
equal pleasure, from a personal stand.
point, give u hearty support to
either Mr.. Bennett or Mr.. Hedges, but
in consideration of the fact that Gal.
latin county is a part and parcel of
that section of the state which has
heretofore been unrepresented in the
distribution of the honor in question,
We believe it our political duty to
out in the open and advocate
the election of Mr.. Hedges"
The Helena Independent Demo
~cratic) views the situation as follows.
Judging from the surface indica.
tions, Representative-elect A. j. Ben.
nett, of Madison county, will not be
in the race for speaker Of the house
in the Republican caucus. Owing TO
location and to his experience Wyllys
Hedges, of Fergus county, has almost
the united support of the Republican
papers of the state for the honor. The
Republican daily papers have not ex-
pressed any preference as to a candi-
date, but the weekly papers, and they
are better indications of the sentl-
ment throughout the state than the
dailies, are advocating the Hedges
candidacy almost without exception.
Away down in Glendlve the Inde-
pendent has a good word TO say for
the Fergus county man, and out on
the western border. the kalispell In.
ter-Lake, referring to the Hedges can
didacy, says no better selection for
that important position could be
made
"Of course, the papers do not elect
the speaker, and it may be Mr.. Ben.
nett is doing business with the Re.
publican members-elect. and not with
the newspapers. Southern Montana
stands by him, and In the two weeks
OF more preceding the caucus he may
get support from other sections, but
to make a showing he will have 10
have some heavy gains over his fol
lowing Of today"
From Big Timber, the following
earnest Endorsement was given by J,
E. Sheridan, editor of the Pioneer:
Hon. WHY'S A. Hedges, of Fergus
county, is mentioned for the speak
ership Of the next Republican house
of representatives. No better choice
could be made. Mr.. Hedges has had
extensive experience i'll the legisla'
ture, and he is a a Of unimpeach.
able integrity. Moreover, he is in nc
wise connected with any of the large
interests which may appear before
the legislature contendlng for favors.
He is one of the substantial stock
raisers of the state and Is learned In
law, literature, parliamentary usage
and practical affairs. Every member
of the legislature would be fairly treat.
ed by WHY'S A. Hedges and the Re-
publican party could be proud Of its
speaker. Moreover. northern and
eastern Montana and the great farm.
ing and stock raising interests should
be recognized in the important posi-.
ton of speaker. The lieutenant gov.
ernor who will preside I've the sen.
ate is a lawyer from the town Of Dill.
Ion in southern Montana. Hon. ID. +.
White, the last speaker, was from
southern Montana, and an honred
member of the banking fraternity OF
the state. Without disparagement to
any candidate for the speakership
from any other section OF the state.
northern and eastern Montana partic'
ularly, and the farming and stock,
raising interests of the state gener-
ally, nave ldlT tduot W ooh NV ~
publican members of the house 10
elect Mr.. Hedges. s~tockgrower and
farmer, to the position OF speaker,
Northern and eastern Montana have
not been recognized in the speaker
snip of the house since the organic
alton of the state. II will be recalled
that In the first legislative assembly
Hon. Harry r. Comfy was speaker OF
one branch and Hon. Aaron C. Writer
OF another branch of the house. The
Witter branch was finally recognized
by the United States senate. Mr.
Witter was from Dillon and Mr.. Com
ly from Helena. In 1908 Thomas
Matthews. Of Butte, was speaker: In
1895 Willis Sweet, of the same place
was speaker; in 1897. ]. NJ. Kennedy
in 1899. Representative Stiff, Of Mis-
soula; in 1901. Mr.. Corbett. Of Butte
and in 1903, Mr.. White. Of Dillon. II
will Tins he nerceiypd that nOrthnrr