The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-09-28
DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL
Visitors To County Convention Have
Visions Of Victory.

Visitors To County Convention Have
Visions Of Victory.
Among the arrivals in this city
Wednesday morning were delegations
of democratic politicians from various
parts Of Chouteau county, who were
chosen to represent their respective
precincts in the democratic county
convention. They are an exception.
ally optimistic bunch, the 'news from
Maine'' being q topic of discussion
that gives them visions of victory in
Chouteau county and other localities
where defeat has been frequent on for.
mer occasions.
These Chouteau county democrats
are good fellows, anyway. and their
republican brethren are always glad
to meet them. AS co.workers for the
common good, but holding different
views as to how the desired result
may be accomplished, good.natured
rivalry is the only sentiment that
should enter into the controversy.
There r many old.time. familiar
faces among the several delegations
Chouteau county citizens who have
grown up with the country, and who
have participated in the work of pro.
gress and betterment. There are no
ofice.eoarred veterans among them,
but the votes Of the Cnoutesu county
electorate are mainly responsible for
that condition.
Conspicuous among the visitors is
the picturesque Colonel Sam Robert.
son. of Chester, who was a resident Of
this city in the early eighties. and who
has recently started q democratic
newspaper at Chester. The colonel is
about seventy years of age, and for
the past half century has fought and
perspired on behalf of the democratic
party. IT long and loyal party SER
vice deserves recognition, the colonel
should stand fret in line for any dem.
ocratic nomin alton he may desire.
Another arrival from the northwest.
ern part of the county is "Hank':.
Loranger, OF Chester, an old.time
knight Of the larist who roped the dem
ocratic nomin alton for county asses.
sor two years ago. On that occasion,
according to political rumor at the
time, there was q tacit understanding
between Mr.. Loranger and Mr.. Cries.
bach, his republican opponent, that
neither would solicit votes, but soma
busybody informed Griesbach that
Loranger was conducting q gumshoe
campaign. and Henry kept the trail
hot from that time to election day.
Henry J. Meili, of Havre, the tall
sycamore OF Bull Hook creek, looms
up among the visiting delegates. Mr..
Meili is an experienced democratic
campaigner, and according to the
election returns OF four years ago
commanded the support of a large
number of protested Havre republi.
cans for state senator. The reputa.
ton of Mr.. Meili as a shrewd poll
tician is recognized by his opponents
as we'll as by his friends. Some years
ago Mr.. Meili was q candid ate for the
Office of clerk Of the district court of
Cascade county on the populist ticket,
and was assessed by the populist com.
mitttee for campaign expenses. He
stood them off by giving a promissory
note for about $500, and when the note
was presented after his defeat at the
polls Mr.. Meili refused payment. Suit
for collection was brought in the dis.
trict court, but Mr.. Meili set up the
defense that the note was given with.
out value having been received, and
was therefore worthless. He proved
his contention to the satisfaction of q
jury and won the suit-much to the
chagrin of the grafters who attempted
the holdup.
j. G. Baily and G. W. Young, who
are members of the Ravre delegation,
are familiar figures in democratic
county conventions. They belong to
the "old guard" have no desire for
political preferment for themselves,
but are ever ready to give hearty sup.
port to their friends.
Small In stature but large in energy
and mental alertness. Louis Newman.
the little giant of Havre politics, is
prominent 10 democratic convention
proceedings. Mr.. Newman has been
in many q political fght-municipal,
county and state-and has tasted the
sweets of victory as we'll as the bitter.
ness of defeat. As mayor of aavre,
his record entitled him 10 the graft.
tude and esteem of his, fellow towns.
men, the results of his administra alton