Fergus County Democrat., 1912-07-23

mated, are placed on the general elec-
ton ballot and are voted for just as
are the candidates for governor and
other state offices. The name of the
candidate receiving the highest vote
at the general election is duly certified
to and submitted to the state legisla-
ture when that body assemblies the
first of January following the general
election in November. 1t is then up
to the legislature to elect or reject
the peoples choice selected in this
manner.
The shrewd politicians who framed
this bill had in mind only the elimina
ton of the Hon. Thomas J. Walsh and
the Hon. Joseph M. Dixon as candi
dates for the United States senate.
They felt confident that the enemies
of these two men would easily control
the conventions of both the demo-
cratic and republican party and nomi-
nate candidates who are not SO OBJ
jectionable to the machines of the
two parties. These machines, it is
needless to say, are backed and but
tressed by the Amalgamated Copper
company, and that powerful corpora
ton has no time for either Walsh or
Dixon.
From present indications, the plans
of the machine men are going to work
out beautifully so far as the elimina-
ton of Dixon is concerned. 1t is ad-
mitted that the MissOula senator has
little, il any, chance of receiving the
nomination by the regular republican
convention this fall.
With that part of the program work
ing to their satisfaction, the Amalga-
mated interests are now concentrating
their efforts toward encompassing the
defeat of Walsh at the democratic
convention. They have their agents
at work in all portions of the state
trying to work up anti-Walsh senti-
ment. They are sure of controlling
the delegations from most of the
larger counties and are turning their
attention to counties in which the Hell
ena man is admittedly the favorite.
The managers Of the Amalgamated
| know that Walsh is the first choice
| of the rank and file of the party by
| a big majority over any other man
| whom they might suggest. They are
depending for success on the liberal
use of ready cash and the effective
working of the old tried and true
political tricks. Nothing will be over
| looked by them in their efforts to con-
troll the Great Falls convention.
| 1t is now up to the democrats OF
this state to determine whether or not
| they are going to permit the Amalga-
mated Copper company to control
| their party's actions. The Well-laid
plan of the corporation interests can
be defeated, but only by prompt Or
ganization combined with the utmost
| vigilence. Let the counties OF the
state wherein the Amalgamated dOmi-
nation is not supreme get together,
control their county conventions and
select as delegates to the state con-
vention only men who can be depend
ed upon to support T. J. Walsh, as
against the choice of the Amalga-
mated, and victory will be theirs.
Now is the time for the democracy
of Montana to place itself on record
with the democracy OF the nation
against boss rule and the domination
by corporate influences. The republl.
cans are going to nominate a reac-
| tiOnary for the United States senate.
The only hope of the progressive DEM
ocrats and progressive republicans
will be the nomination of Walsh by
the democratic party. The issue be-
tween the Amalgamated and the peo-
pie may as well be fought out during
this campaign as at future date. 1t
is high time for the people to deter
mine whether they are going to run
the affairs of this state or have their
affairs run for them by one great cor
poration with headquarters at 26
Broadway, New York City. Partisan
ship does not enter into the issue, for
the Amalgamated has no party. 1t
seeks to use both old parties for its
own particular benefit. The people
have been too long blind to the real
situation. 1t is time for them to open
their eyes and to get busy.