The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-18

who had to remain between trains,
invariably have concealed themselves
and to this day refuse to walk the
streets there.
The Capital Fight.
So much for the first question, and
the explanation of the second one is
great deal more interesting. having
to do with the most bitterly fought
political battle that ever has been
staged in the Treasure state-that in
which the location of the state capi
tol was the issue. Marcus DAILY is
said to have spent $1,0O0,OO0 to
make Anaconda the capital, and a
vast sum was spent by w. A. Clark in
behalf of Helena's candidacy. The
fight was so close that for weeks
after the election the issue was in
doubt.
When Montana became territory,
Bannack, located in Beaverhead
county on Grasshopper creek, was an
important mining camp. Sidney Ed
gerton, the first governor, had the
absolute power to fix the location of
the capital, and he gave it to Ban
mack. This was in May, 1864, and
after the creation of the territory
Meanwhile, Virginia City had been
growing and soon aspired to secure
the seat of government. On Febry-
ary Z, 1865, the territorial legisla-
ture passed an act changing the cap
ital to Virginia City.
Helena was also becoming an i'm
portant town on account of the rich
gold discovered in Last Chance
gulch. In December, 1866, the leg
islature passed an act providing for
the permanent location of the capital.
Under this act the question was to be
submitted to the people on the first
Monday in September, 1867. The re-
suit was to decide the rivalry be-
tween Helena and Virginia City, and
the latter place received a majority
of the votes and retained the seat Of
government. Another vote was TAX
en- in January, 1869, and Virginia
City again prevailed.
Helena Finally Wins.
Five years later the contest for pos
session. of the capital was renewed
Helena was candidate again. The
apparent majority in favor of Virgin
ia City was 152. In the returns from
Meagher county, however, the result
was given as SCI for Virginia City
and 29 votes for Helena. 1t was
claimed that the figures had been re-
versed, and that the change from
Virginia to Helena should have been
approved by a majority of the votes
cast. Helena Immediately instituted
legal proceedings to have the contro-
Il nt i,1n i,, 20 10
supreme court issued a writ of man
damus directed to the proper terri
torial officers, Chief Justice ID. S.
Wade and Associate Justice Hiram
Knowles concurring in the opinion
handed down by the court that man
damus proceedings were proper, and
Associate Justice Francis G.. Servis
dissenting. An appeal was taken to
the supreme court of the United
States. After more than year the
appeal was dismissed on the ground
that the court had no jurisdiction.
The entire Montana territorial SUI
preme court, meantime, declared in
favor of a re-canvass. This was made
and showed that the returns from
Meagher had been reversed and that
Helena had received a majority.
Governor Benjamin F. Potts there
upon issued a proclamation declaring
Helena to be the capital, adm to that
city it was removed.
When the constitution of the state
was finally ratified it contained the
following provision:
"At the general election in the
year 1892, the question of permanent
location of the seat of government is
hereby provided to be submitted to
the qualified electors of the state,
and the majority of the votes upon
said question shall determine the To-
cation thereof. In case there shall
be no choice between the two places
for which the highest number of