Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-12-16

this state by congress when a bill
creating the Montana territory was
signed by President Lincoln on May
90. 1864. Congress did not decide upon
this name, however, until after consider
able debate and then only because the
republicans, who were in the majority
in both houses, championed it. The DEM
ocrats wanted to call it Jefferson"
Most of the earliest pioneers to come
into what is now Montana and Idaho
were southern sympathizers who had
been defeated in the fighting in Missouri.
After the discovery Of gold in Alder
gulch, when the movement was started
in the Idaho territorial legislature to
slice off a new territory from the east
ern end Of Idaho, 1t was asked that it
be named jefferson. This request, how
ever, was ignored.
So far as it is known, the name Of
Montana was accepted in good spirit by
all of the residents of the newly created
territory, and nothing more was heard
Of the proposal to call it Jefferson until
the constitutional convention which was
held in Helena from July 4 to August II,
1889. The matter came up in q petition
which was presented by George O.. Eaton,
a republican delegate from Park county.
The petition was signed by 20 persons
living in Canadaigua, N. Y, who believed
the new state should be IAN im~perishable
monument to Jefferson"
According to the minute of the con-
~stitutional convention, the reading of
the petition was frequently interrupted
with applause and iaughter"-the APP
plause evidently coming from the demo-
Gratis and the laughter, probably derisive,
from the republicans. A motion was
made by Timothy E. Collins, democrat,
a delegate from Cascade county, that the
petition be referred to the committee on
boundaries, whereupon Walter A. Bur-
leigh. republican. q delegate from Custer
county, suggested that the motion be
amended to read referred to the super
intendent of the insane asylum Finally,
1t was referred to no committee. The
records show that by a majority vote the
clerk was ordered to dispense with fur
ther reading Of 1t. which gave the petit
ton the status of never having been re-
ceived.
What the Petition Contained
There were some interesting ideas in
the petition, however; ideas that were
worth considering. The petitioners said,
in part:
According to national surveys and
highest authorities. Montana (Which
means mountainous) is far less noun
famous II elevated, on the average.
than many other states n territories
of the great west. The mean elevation
is only 1850 feet, whilst even the lakes
in the wonderful national park are
7,788 feet, or about twice as high as
Montana. More than half of Montana
is on a comparatively low level. Apple
tons great encyclopedia says nearly
three -fifths lie thus low Not true to
name, or name not true to the facts,
seems to be indelibly written upon the
immense territory of Montana This
name is misleading. as 1t leads even the
most intelligent people, if they do not
investigate, to believe a liel-that is, to
believe that Montana is the name of the
most mountainous region of North Amer
ical Whilst Montana would thus be, for
all time, a most glazing misnomer, an
other name most fit, true, and patriotic,
invites you attention.
This month of July, forever synony-
nous with freedom and independence, al
most thunders forth the right name.
Great Washington, destined to stand
evermore upon the grand northern from
tier west Of you. giving his name to q
new state, re-echoes the laundering de-
mand-Place me not here alonei Station
to the east of me my great secretary of
stated For him / waited 100 years ago.
On him l leaned. jefferson, that writer
OF the immortal declaration of independ-
ence. That purchaser of your immense
territory. and of the many immense
states stretching from the gulf to the
fs90 VA lld
."Other Patriots Echo Demandp
And still louder Washington thun-
ders: Make your great state an imper-
lshable to Jeffersonl Thus
prove to all ages, and to all nations. that
the greatest republic of the world is not
ungrateful.'
franklin and the Adamses, with the
Wnole army OF departed patriots, would
JOIN With Washington in appeals from
the heavens, saying: Give not to that
magnificent state the misleading name
or Montana Give 1t the immortal. his
toric name of Jefferson
Lincoln n all the martyrs for lib
erty, have their blood crying from the
ground, demanding the same thing. Not
merely that we name a splendid state
Tor the patriot who penned the declara-
ton, and who made the Louisiana nlr-
chase, but who also penned the ordinance
OF 1877 for great free territories north
west OF the Ohio. The benign power of
Jnat secured q free northwest
and gave to great republic the inn
mortal patriots Lincoln, Grant, Sherman.
2herluan, the Harrisons-and universal
Freedom"
1t is Of interest to know that the nama
Montana" went Begging before congress
mace 1t n designation of the territory
mat was ultimately to become the great
treasure state. Tt was considered and
rejected as a name for both Colorado and
wyoming. Yet. in the form of Montana
dei Nort@"-Montana Of the North-this
was tne name given by the Spanish ex-
plorers to the entire mountainous country
OF the west.
James M. Ashley, chairman Of the COM
mittee on territories of the house In con-
gress, who later became governor of Mon
tana, had been a consistent
o. the name Montana" and that was
the name given to the territory of Idaho
by the bill reported back by his commit
tee on Feb. IL, 1868. In the senate. how
ever, this name was rejected. Ashley pro-
posed the name again when another ter
litory was 10 be created n his success
this time was probably due To tbe In
sistence Of the democrats on the name OF
Jefferson" =
Another champion Of the name Mon
coaches" by 1radlpv coropapy -