The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-27
Political Review of Montana

Special to The Tribune
HELENA, Mont, juno 26.-The politi-
cal situation in Montana has undergone
little II any change within recent months,
and normally the treasure state is Re-
publican by from 1000 to 5000. Because
OF the fact, however, that the next leg
islature Will elect n successor TO Thomas
M. Carter as United States senator, more
than usaul interest attaches TO the out
come of this falls elections. Everything
considered, IL seems a safe prognostica-
ton 10 forecast his return to the upper
branch of congress.
This belief is based largely on the
iact that Democratic prospects in this
state never seemed brighter than at the
last presidential election with Bryan at
the head of the ticket, and yet with the
exception OF a single office-thc Repub-
licans elected every man on their state
ticket, and TAFT carried the state by
handsome majority, The Republicans
lost the governorship by only 400 plu-
ralIty. while they elected an associate
justice, auditor, attorney general, sec
retary of state. railroad commissioner.
treasurer and superintendent OF public
instruction by plurali,ies ranging higher
than 5000,
Again. practically all OF the influx in
TO the state has been agriculturalists and
statistics collected al the bureau of pub
licity show that by far the heavier por-
publican states as North Dakota, Mime
sofa. Iowa, Washington, Oregon and wy
oming. Naturally, the inference is that
they VIII continue their support of the
predominant party in their own states. or
at least the major portion Of them. And
the influx has been little short OF marvel
Gus in northern, eastern and central Mon
tana.
Paraphrasing the New York description
down to Harlem" Moutana's case may
appropriately be determined as down
| 10 Butte" That is, Butte Is the Demo
cratic stronghold OF the state, and It is
simply question to how strong the
Republicans come there In determining
their majority. Ordinarily. II Is sui
hcent 10 overcome any Democratic plu,
rality, and with the additions referred
10 II seems morally certain that the
Republicans will materially increase their
customary supremacy
The jnsurgeut movement in Montana
has assumed no great proportions. Only
| one Republican of promineDce-William
Lindsay Of GIeudive-has fathered the
movement, although II is rather strenu-
mer private secretary 10 Senator La Fol-
lctte who is the publisher OF weekly
| paper In Helena. That Lindsay Wlll oe
found in line this fall is the general pre-
diction even in his home county: Lind
| saw was the Republican candidate for
governor six years ago: being deteated pE
Joseph X. Toole, Mayor Edwards r9a @ OF
| Carter, but his influence is local
Al q meeting here last week Of the Re-
! publican state central committee, ~ was
! The sentimcnt that the first thing 10 90
was to win a party victory and then set
! Tic senatorial and other matters after :
ward This. beyond peradventnr"; IL
brought about. means the return OF III Sai.
ter TO the senate. The Republicans nave
another material advantage III Inc SEN
atoriaI situation in that they nave d
| plurality of seven In hodoVer senator's.
| on the other hand, silver BOW county
| b, Icn,
| Democratic members of the legislature
whose membership is an even huhdreu'
Lewis and Clark coanty, WIN seHtn Nnf
members In the lower house. seems saIS
| ground for tho Republicans. altnousU
the Edwards detection may result IN tne .n
election Of few Democratic representa-
| Silver Bow and Lewis and Clark "oulu
apparently balance. thus leaving the res.
OF the state as a battle gronna, ata !, ,
is in the so called cow counties 1nds i
the Republicans have always shown Their heir
strength. Thus. II the Repuolcans h%i" i[,I
their own. the recollection oil hePuon-
can senator seems assured. ,.,,s
II is believed that the ncAt .enS", ',,d
Will give Montana two congressman. anu %
this fact Will have great "cight 1 ~
solidifyinR the Republican ranks. ior r aoal
that II might result in Democratic ecr
rymander should The opposition Dc suG1 ,Vor,
cessful Montana is great protectloI
state on general principles, Win It's srea' sl.,s
wool. lead, cattle AND otnsr nt No '.n sold dur.
Ing the last Democratic adminlstir59. III, .lo,
will long live In the minds OF resiaenE y
OF Montana. and again Garter ~, Ero,, q,
achievements for tho state i'll the form n'
the $50. 600. 900 irrigation project cer',ii- III,
cato bill. his postal bank measure; me
fight Tor the long and short maui cIause ',s
In tho railroad measure and numerous
other legislative acts which are near tc
the heart OF ordinary Montanians are
not without great weight. Tor IL Us reh',
lzcd that even were q Democrat elected
! II would take him ten years TO reach inc