The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-09-24
Vaudeville Show as Political Campaign
Aid introduced by Claggett i'm 1870

singers and that DIN song were
Claggett came to Montana in 1867
in the practice of law. The following
year he toured the territory with Col.
A. K. Mcclure Of the Philadelphia
Times, making political speeches, dur
ing which time he made many friends
and achieved q reputation as a speaker
Of rare ability. It was Col. W; F.
that he was elected to congress in 1871
by Montana democrats who admired
him for his ability as an extemporan-
eous speaker and OnServatiOnalSt. p"
Claggett was public spirited, man
of good character and excellent habits.
In 1872 Claggett accompanied Gen.
dian commissioners to the Fqathead
reservation at which time the treaty
was made with the F1atheads by which
they were removed to JockO. During
his term in congress he succeeded in
having the Yellowstone region set aside
as national park. He also introduced
the bill for the establishment of a
United States assay office in Helena.
Claggett, strong union man, was
member OF numerous and influ-
entail family in Maryland. Before the
Civil war he Stumped the southeastern
part of the United States for the Whig
party.
Once while he was in congress for
Montana, a grand jury was In session
appeared before the jury and demanded
the removal of the Indian agent on
the reservation. He addressed the jury
through an interpreter and made an
imprisoned speech in which he &C
cused the. agent of almost every crime
on the calendar, and threatened to kill
him if he was not taken away.
Claggett was asked by the Montana
authorities to take the matter up in
ring was too strongly entrenched at
Washington to secure action in that
manner and suggested that the In
dams statement be taken in writing
and that two copies be made. One, he
said, should be filed with the Indian
department. and the other given to the
pastor Of the church which President
lister who was credited with having
much influence with the president.
The congressman told his constit-
uents that if the complaint were sent
to the president through regular chan
nels, that he would never receive it.,
so great was the power of the Indian
ring. His advice was taken. The preach
ident, and within two weeks the In
dian agent was removed and Maj.
Peter Roman installed in his place.
Roman remained in that capacity until
his death.
Claggett was born in Prince Georges
county, MARYLAND, Sept. 81: 1888. The
and there young Claggett went to
school, studied law and was admitted
to the bar in 1858, before he was of
age. He practiced law there for several
years and his first political speeches
were in support of Stephen Douglas
in 1860.
In 1861 he went to Nevada. In a
he became woodchopper for time:
That same year he Joined the gold
stampede to Humboldt county, along
with a party of whom Mark Twain
was one. The humorist tells of the trip
in "Roughing It." and mentions Clag-
gets name. In Humboldt county Clag-
gett mined, and got a start at prac-
the territorial legislature of Nevada
and was again elected to the legislature
in 1864 after Nevada was admitted to
statehood. He stumped the state Of
Nevada IN support Of w. M. Stewart
for United States senator. After the
legislature was over he settled down
City.
In 1866, Claggett and w. w. Dixon,
later widely known lawyer and Judge
IN Butte, came to Montana, stopping
first at Helena. They remained there
only. short time, however, before go
ing to Deer Lodge, where they opened
2 law OFFICE. In 1870 Claggett was NOM
mated for congress and defeated War
rem Toole in the election. He was de-