The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1912-09-20

OF all the political conventions ever
held in the United States there can
be no doubt that the one held by the
Democrats OF Alusselshell county in
this city last Saturday takes the whole
bakery lor the farcical manner in
which it was conducted, the things 1t
did which 1t shouldn't have done, and
the things 1t should have avoided
which it made no effort to cvade. 1t
was a performance that was worth the
price Of dozen comic operas to be-
hold.
AS predicted by The Record last
week the Nix faction dominated the
convention from the time it was called
to order until it adjourned, every cam
uidate nominated with one exception
and every action taken bearing the
unmistakable label of the Nix ma
chine The organization crowd was
never able to grasp the reins but
for a moment and that was when Jos.
l.. ASbridge was nominated for sena-
tor. Bill Nix OF this place was the
uiitiisputed general Of the convention
and he dictated its policy. named the
candidates and controlled it's deibera-
tions. Bitter fights We're INDUCED in
jealousy, hatred and rancor displayed
is probably without equal in the his
tory OF the state Charges OF treacl-
cry. double-dealing and bad faith to
the party were common among the
delegates. AS a result OF the conven-
ton the Democratic ship OF Mussel
shell county that has been sailing the
political seas with SO much confidence
! u a.,
to stern and will be ready to sink be-
meath the waves OF oblivion for at
least two years on the fifth day OF
next November. Bill Nix, the machine
boss, is charged with scuttling the
ship and leaving it to await its dis
NAL fate.
In the selection OF their ticket the
Democrats lost all sight Of the fact
that the city OF Roundup does not
constitute the whole of Musselshell
county, and their ticket as consc
Quence is distinct slap at the out
! lying towns and districts Of the county.
The entire ticket, with the exception
OF two of the commissioners, which
of necessity had 10 be distributed
around to give the public an idea of
some semblanee OF justice, is COM
posed of Roundup men or men with
in close proximity to this city. That
this action is resented will be shown
by the vote in November.
AlthO the Democratic appOrtionment
called for II delegates, only about 55
We're present. The delegates present
from any one district We're entitled
to cast the entire vote which the dis
trict was entitled to under the call,
and this is one reason why the ma
chine built up by Bill Nix in one week $
time worked SO smoothly and without
skipping a cog.
In the absence of T. j. Mathews,
chairman of the Democratic central
committee. Joe Asbridge took it upon
himself to call the convention to or
der at 11:27. The traditional reading
OF the call was overlooked, and the
onlOOker who was not wise did not
know whether II was a Democratic,
Socialist or PrOhibitiOnist convention,
or what the purpose of the gathering
was. No temporary roll call had been
prepared. making 1t decidedly risky
business to take a vote on any ques-
/ tion which the organization crowd
fully realized. With the aid of the
press gang a rather freakish roll call
was finally gotten together by the
chairman and the matter Of clecting
a temporary chairman taken up.
The first skirmish of the big battle
to follow occurred over the tempo
rary organization, the Nix faction
showing their control of the conven-
ton in the resulting vote. Mr.. Nix
nominated c. +. Dawson of this place
fIv f.h nd
Jacobs placed in nomination Judge
Henry Ostrander of Fattig. Dawson
was elected by vote Of 80 to 35 All
thru the preliminary proceedings Mr..
| Asbridge felt his strength slipping
away and his opportunity Of controll-
ing the convention becoming more and
more an absolute impOssibility, When
the temporary chairman was elected
Mr.. Asbridge was extremely loath to
give UP his place to the regularly
elected man, and not until motion
was made that the chair appoint a
committee to escort the new chair
man to the chair did he step down.
At this stage Mr. Asbridge presented
a really pathetic figure.
Realizing that they We're beaten the
organization now made a move TO adj
journ the convention without elect
ing a temporary secretary or appoint
ing committees. the usual procedure,
SO as to give them an opportunity to
recruit their forces. The move was
blocked, however, and Harry p. Lam
bert was chosen as secretary by accla-
nation, and the Nix faction conceding
the chairman's privilege of selecting
the committees. each delegation was
given authority to name member of
the various committees Adjournment
was then taken until 200 O'clock
during which time the organization
crowd was extremely busy bringing
the weakened delegates up to room