Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-10-23

his WedpOn ana dlmeQ IL
point blank at Montana's future gov
ernor, only a few feet away. A by
stander leaped to the mans side and
flung his arm upward just as the gun
exploded. The bullet buried itself in
the ceiling. The would-be murderer
escaped in the confusion and was
never captured.
1t was not long after this incident
that White won his first elective Office,
that of clerk and recorder of Oneida
county, Idaho. The victory followed a
bitter political campaign, in which a
religious issue vas predominant.
In the late COS, he became associated
with a group of Malad men in the
manufacture of salt, mined at Soda
Springs and shipped to COrinne, Utah,
and the mining camps Of Montana and
Idaho. 1t was a profitable venture,
as salt was a luxury in the territory.
In Virginia City and Bannack, for in
stance, it brought a dollar a pound.
When the Utah & Northern railroad
began building north from Utah in the
late 70's, the future governor turned
his attention from salt manufacture to
freighting, establishing his headquar-
tiers at each successive terminus of the
road. Later, in 1880, he became a
member Of the firm of Sebree, Ferris
g. White.
The railroad reached the Beaver
head valley in the fall of 1880 and
White was n of the group Of de-
termined young business men who
formed a toWnsite company for the
purpose of acquiring the ranch of the
obstinate Richard Deacon, who had OPP
posed Utah e. Northern officials in
their effort to secure a right of way
across his place. The transaction was
negotiated Sept. IA. A townsite was
hurriedly and a little roughly laid out
on paper and the sale Of lots was
started the first day. Before two
weeks had passed, a thriving little
town had sprung up, and the original
stockholders had realized most of their
investment from the sale Of lots.
1t o became apparent to fore
sighted men that Dillon was to be a
permanent town and the firm of Sc
bree, Ferris & White in the early win
ter of 1880 founded the city's first bank.
Mr.. White was named cashier. He
was actually the head of the institu-
ton, however, as Howard Sebree, the
president, devoted most of his time to
extensive interests in Idaho.
In 1882, a little over a year after
he had taken up his residence in Mon
tana, he became the nominee of the
republican party for representative in
the territorial council. He was con-
coded little chance of election. Bea-
verhead county, ever since its organ
ization in 1865, had been Overwhelm-
ingly democratic. Besides, the Bour-
bons put forth their strongest man to
oppose him.
But the political complexion of this
particular section Of the territory was
0 to be changed. The republican
candidate had been a participant in
strenuous political campaigns before
and knew how to combat organized
opposition. When the votes were count
ed, he had a majority of 300, truly
remarkable considering the compare
lively small lumber of qualified cleo
tors in the county.
The legislative session of 1928 was
an historic one, passing numerous
measures which were later to have a
profound effect on the development of
the territory. incidentally, it was
probably the only Montana legislature
that was ever %snowbound. Shortly
after Representative White left Dillon
for Helena, assuring his wife that he
would return home each weekend, a
severe blizzard swept over the territory,
and Helena was cut off from the south
by mountainous snow drifts. No rail
transportation existed between Butte
and Helena at that time and it was
six weeks before the Beaverhead repre-
sentative was able to return to his
home. Other representatives from the
south were in the same ~predicament,
presumably.
His first legislative service established
the Dillon banker firmly as one Of the
territorial leaders, and he became in
creasingly influential during the next
few years. 1t was in response to popu-
lar demand that he was nominated for
governor of Montana by President Har-
rison in 1888. The nomination was
confirmed by congress, March 20, 1889.
A reception was held at the newly
constructed White mansion in Dillon
the evening that word Of the on
firmation was received. 1t was a great
night for the little Beaverhead metro
polls, everyone proud of the distinction
that had come to their leading citizen.
Even an old enemy of the governors,
who had hardly spoken to him for
years, called to offer his co%ngratula-
tons, forgetting his grudge.
The story is told that musicians who
were scheduled to be present at the
reception were late in arriving and the
new governor, smiling slyly, excused
himself from his guests for q few mo-
ments. He returned with an old fiddle,
and even friends who had known him
for years were dumbfounded when he
seated himself and for half an hour
rendered familiar old tunes with the
hand of a master. He had learned to
play the instrument while he was a
sailor, but even members Of his family
seldom had heard him make use of his
acco~mplishment THE incident is inst,