The Washington times., 1906-05-06
FIGHT IN MONTANA
FOR CLARKS SEAT
Five Candidates Now in the
Field for Senate HOnors.
BATTLE TO WIN LEGISLATURE
Republicans Now in Control and Look
ing to Increase Majority at
Fall Election.

The political situation in Montana
relative to a successor to Senator Will
la A. Clark, whose term of Office ex-
pires on March 3. next. is being waged
in local Montana circles with much
force, since MIR Clark's announcement
that ne would not be a candidate to
succeed himself has been made known.
Already there are five candidates in the
field: two Republicans and three Demo-
Gratis. 1t is possible that there will
also be an independent candidate. n.
L. Frank. of Butte, a prominent mine
operator and friend Of Senator Clark;
Joseph H. Toole, present governor. and
a former Delegate to Congress, and W.
q. Conrad, a banker and stock raiser of
Great Falls. are the Democratic aspi-
rants. Their success depends upon the
result Of the coming fall election.
The swo Republican candidates are Lee
Mantle. of Butte, and Joseph NJ Dixon,
of Missoula. They are both compare
lively young men, although Dixon is
many years the younger of the two.
Mantle has been well known in national
councils for many years, while Dixon
has come into prominence but recently.
Mantle Montana Pioneer.
Mr.. Mantle has resided in Butte since
the early days OF the camp. He was
the leading spirit in founding the Butte
IntermOuntain. which newspaper he
practically owned and controlled until
1900. He is a man Of independent means,
and an enterprising citizen of his home
town. He is recorded as having repeat
edly been chairman Of the Montana ter
ritorial and also the state Republican
committee AS early as 1884 he was a
delegate to the Chicago convention
which nominated Blaine He was at that
time shoulder TO shoulder with Theodore
Roosevelt in supporting George F. Ed
munds for the Presidency.
When Montana became a State Mantle
became candidate for the Senate The
first election he was unsuccessful. In
1893 he was again candidate and final
ly secured his party caucus nomination
over Wilbur +. Sanders, then a candf-
date to succeed himself, but the Iegis-
lature was Democratic. The Democratic
majority did not avail because of the
party split incident to the old-time and
bitter contest between Marcus Daily and
W. A. Clark. The Legislature having
adjourned without electing a Senator.
the governor, a Republican, appointed
Mantle to succeed Sanders.
Appointed Senator by Governor.
This brought forth the Senate election
case of Lee Mantle. His right to a seat
under the appointment led to a pro-
tracted debate. the Senate finally decid-
ing adversely TO the appointee. thus In
effect holding that the failure Of a
Legislature to elect a Senator did not
create a vacancy which the governor
could hll by appointment. This left
Montana with only one Senator from
1853 until February. 1895, when Mr.. Man
tie was elected by the LEGISLATURE to
fill the vacancy. His term expired
March s, 1899.
In the meantime the. memorable Bryan
Mckinley campaign had been fought
and Mantle had become the chairman
of the Silver Republican committee Of
Montana. Notwithstanding he had join
ed the Bryan forces. he was not regard
ed as Democrat and in consequence
failed to secure the necessary votes to
re-elect him. W. A. Clark being the sue
cessfuI candidate
Thenceforward Mr.. Mantle co-operated
with the Republican party. of which he
Is at present chairman of the State
committee. He is remembered in the
Senate as an affable, seIf-contained, and
industrious Senator. His speech in IA
vor of an arrangement of the wool
schedules favorable TO the wooI-growers
was his chief effort in debate. and it's
perusal shows that Mr.. Mantle is a very
close, logical thinker.
Dixon a North Ca1olinian.
Joseph NJ. Dixon is a native of North
Carolina. who reached Montana in the
early nineties. He Is a lawyer by pro-
fession, and has been very successful at
the bar. He is thirty-nine years old
and is serving his second term in the
House Of Representatives. Dixon is a
good campaigner and a very popular
young man. Like Mantle he joined the
Bryan forces in 1896. feeling that the in
terests of the State would be best served
by the election Of the Nebraskan to the
Presidency. In 1900 ne reunited with the
main body Of the Republican party and
has since been recognized as an ardent
party man.
Mantle and Dixon are both astute and
capable political manipulators. and if
the Republicans carry Montana. which.
according 10 reports, they are likely to
do, the contest between these two gen.
tlemen will be quite interesting.
Legislature Now Republican.
At the present time the State Legis-
lature is Republican by a majority Of
fifty on joint ballot A new Legislature
viii be elected this fall. It is expected
to go Republican. Eleven members OF
the senate will be hold overs. of these
eight are Republicans and three Demo-
Gratis. OF the sixteen State senators to
be elected thirteen will come from dis
tricts which went Republican at the
last election. Fifty-four of the present
members of the lower house are Repub-
licans, twelve were elected on the Inde-
pendent ticket, and seven are Demo-
Gratis.
Montana Republicans now in WASH
ington predict a complete victory for
their party in the State this fall
THE MAN WHO MOVES.