Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1912-08-20
SITUATION IS
!. BADLY MUDD[ED
REPUBLICAN LEADERS MEETING
WITH SLIGHT SUCCESS IN COM.
PROMISE PROPOSALS.
WILL Be THREE TICKETS
Progressive State That They Will Es-
tablish New Party in Fergus Coun-
ty and Have Nothing in Common
With the RepubIcans-Democratic
Convention Next Monday.

With the convention dates all less
than ten days away, the local politi-
cal situation appears no nearer a solu-
ton than it was week ago, or imme-
diately following the publishing of
call for the Independent party conven-
tion. The Independents, or progress
sives, rather took the old republican
leaders by surprise by issuing their
call. 1t was generally believed that
all Of the third party talk would die
out before the opening Of actua hostili-
ties and that there would be but two
tickets in the field, those Of the demo
cratic and republican parties. The re-
publican leaders confidently believed
that, after they had held their conven-
ton and nominated their ticket, the
progressives would fall in line and the
battle would be fought out as in for
mer campaigns.
Nothing in Common.
But the progressive, or independent,
party leaders assert that there is no
more in common between their organi-
zation and the republican party than
between the independents and the
democrats. They point out that the
independent party is separate and
distinct political organization, stand
ing for distinct political principles,
and that no possible alliance or un-
derstanding can be entered into with
any other party.
Going Out of Business.
Right now it appears as if the great
er number of the rank and file OF the
republican party in this county have
deliberately abandoned their old po-
litical moorings and sailed away into
new, if more or less uncharted, seas.
The remnants which are left of the
once proud and puissant organization.
although including practically all of
the old leaders, are in a sad dilemma
as to the best course to pursue. They
have before them the alternatives Of
going through by holding convention
and nominating a complete ticket,
W u1Cl, Ill oil AuAldA
would be defeated, or following the
lead Of the festive Bull Moose and
bidding the 6. p. a fond farewell.
In other words, it seems as if the Bull
Moose has swallowed the elephant in
this particular section of the state.
| Democrats Unconcerned.
! The democrats are wholly uncon-
cerned over the situation. They are
ready to confront any possible de.
velopment with the same effective,
united, militant lighting force that has
been winning victories in Fergus coun.
ty during the past four campaigns,
There will be, perhaps, more than the
usual number OF aspirants for the var
ious nominations before the conven
tion and the usual good feeling after
the convention has adjourned.
Convention Next Monday.
The democrats will hold a county
convention next Monday to select q
delegates and 81 alternates to the
Great Falls convention, which con
venes Thursday of next week. 1t now
appears a certainty that the Fergus
delegation will go to Great Falls
pledged to vote first, last and all oi
the time for T. J. Walsh for United
States senator and w. B. George fol
governor.
For Walsh and George.
The county committee of Mussel
shell county met last Saturday al
Roundup and selected six delegates
and six alternates to the democratic
convention in Great Falls. Resolu
tions binding the delegates to the sup
port of Hon. T. J. Walsh for United
States senator and Hon. w. B. George
for governor were passed.
j Is Not Candidate.
A local paper last week gave the
name of T. A. Berkin, deputy state
game warden, as a possible candidate
for sheriff on the democratic ticket
Mr.. Berkin desires to announce
through the Democrat that he is MOI
a candidate and has no intention Of
entering the race. He expects to take
his usual active and effective part II
local politics, but will confine his eff
forts to campaigning for the men Sc
lected as candidates by the conven
tion. Mr.. Berkin's decision not to en-
ter the race will be regretted by {
large number of friends, who recognize
that he would make formidable can
didate if nominated, but his mind Ii
thoroughly made up and, he states
under no circumstances will he be &
candidate.
Allen Will Accept.
Charley Allen, one of the old-timt
residents of Fergus county, is the mar
most frequently mentioned in conec