The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-12-12
WEDNESDAY, DEC. IL, 1906.
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.

In view of the claims advanced on
behalf of rival republican aspirants
who wish to succeed Senator w. A.
Clark, it is unfortunate that the peo-
pie of Montana have no statutory pro-
vision by which they a express their
choice for United States senator.
Most OF the members of the legislative
assembly will vote upon this matter
without, instructions from their con-
stituents, and in some cases their vote
may not represent the will Of a ma.
jority of their party in the respective
counties.
Realizing the desirability OF ascer.
tanning the wishes of his constituents
in this connection, DR.. l. A. Leigh.
ton, one of the members-elect from
jefferson county, is making q postal
card canvass ofithat!parto of Montana,
each voter being requested to state his
preference for L. S. senator on the
postal cardland;mail!it to DR.. Leigh.
ton. When these returns are all re.
ceived and tabulated, DR.. Leighton
will be pretty well!informed as to the
prevailing sentiment of Jefferson
county republicans upon the senator.
ial question, andswill vote according.
ly.
Many Of the state newspapers are
indulging In a discussion Of The ena
torial question, and favoring the cleo
ton Of n or the other Of the rival
candid ates-in some cases, appar-
emily, without regard to the wishes OF
a majority OF their party voters in
their ownscounty. A canvass of the
voters, such as isibeing made in JET
ferson county, would be more reliable
than a newspaper verdict that may be
intluencedl by..various considerations.
Some sensible remarks upon this
matter0are made by the Livingston
Enterprise, which says in part:
With the;approach Of the tenth leg
islativelassembly of Montana. candi.
dates for the seat in the federal SEN
ate now held by w. A. Clark, OF
Butte, are:being frequently mentioned,
among those..favorably spoken OF be-
ing Congressman Joseph Nj. Dixon,
Hon. Lee Mantle, Hon. William
Scallon, Of Butte, and Judge William
H. Hunt, of the federal court. OF
these mentioned both Congressman
Dixon and Mr.. Mantle are avowed
candid ates.
Within the past week various pa
pers throughout the state, especially
in the IcOw counties, have come out
openly for eitheruMr. Mantle or MIR.
Dixon. Usually a cut of the papers
choice is accompanied by Il lengthy
write up or the merits of the candi-
date, followed by an editorial setting
forth reasons why the azores aid a
didate should.receive the support of
the republican Emajority in both
houses.
Now thatsthe ELECTION is over and
one of the best3 and most representa-.
tive bodies of:men has been selected
to elect a senatorland frame laws for
the benefit of ithe:.people, the Enter
prise believes it both unwise and fool
ish for countyspapers throughout the
state to attempt ITO influence legisla-
tors by declaringtfor either of the can
didates mentioned. The Enterprise
believes that . largelmajority of those
who voted flor republican candidates
did so with no NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. than
that their candid ates, If successful,
would vote for a representative repub-
lican for the position. The state con-
vention had refusedsto interfere in the
matter; the county conventions in most
counties passed the matter up; and
there was no endorsement of either
candidate for the people to ratify or
reject.
Another thing, this paper does no,
believe that the endorsement of a
candidate by any paper is going to il
the least influence any member of the
gislature. 1t does not believe tina
men like William Scallon, II. G. Maj
shall, n. j. Bennett, w. Il. Allen
and a core of other new and hold
over members are scanning the page
OF the county press to get a tip on tn
senatorial situation. The men chose,
at the recent election are in nearl,
every instance far above the average
they are sufficiently intelligent t
know what they want to do: and it i,
. safe prediction that at the presen
time nineteen out OF every twenty know
who their votes will be cast for whel
the first ballot is taken in the repub
q caucus.
But there Is one thing that the re
publican papers can do that will no
rebound to the credit of the party
and that is to stir up strife amons
those who are not taking any fnrthe,