Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-12

public office on several occasions and
experienced defeat but once. This was
when, in 1888, he was a candidate for
governor. The state then was strongly
democratic, and the opposition ticket
was swept to victory. In 1878 he was
elected to the first territorial consti-
tutional convention and in 1884 he
was chosen delegate to the national
republican convention.
Elected to U. S. Senate
1t was during the first session Of
the Montana legislature, in January,
1880, that Senator Power and the late
Wilbur F. Sanders we're elected to the
United States senate. On Dec. 81, 1889,
the seth day of the session, proceed
ingS were started in both houses of
the assembly for the election of Mon
tana's first two senators. Sanders re-
ceived the vote of the eight state
senators, and on the following day
they proceeded in a body to the house
OF representatives to ballot in joint as
sembly. Sanders received the votes of
all those present, 38. On Jan. 2, SEN
ator Power was elected, the vote on
the previous day having been scattered
and divided between Lee Mantle, John
E. Richards, then lieutenant governor,
DR.. Leavitt Of Silver Bow, B. Plat
Carpenter, L. H. Hershfield and Sen
ator Power.
A Memorable Session
This session of the Montana assem- |
bly, was unique In political history. The
democratic members bolted and con-
tinued as absentees. In the meantime, |
Senator w. A. Clark Of Butte, and
Martin Maginnis Of Helena, had been |
named as United States senators by |
the eight recalcitrant democratic mem
0ers Of the state senate and the demo- |
cratic house including five contested |
from Silver Bow county, I
all meeting In joint session. The con-
test over the United States senatorship
was then transferred to congress and
TO its committee ON privileges
and elections. On March "A. 1890, that
committee submitted its report, rec
ommending that Wilbur F. Sanders
and T. G. Power be admitted to seats
N the United States senate from the )
tate Of Montana. Senator Power drew
he long term and Senator Sanders
he short term.
Senator Power served six years In
he upper house Of congress, and
proved one Of the most practical states
men and legislators In that distin-
pushed body. He was q member OF
he most important committees while
n the senate and was enabled to do
affective service and to shape import
mt legislation relating TO the north
vest. Among the committees on which
le served were public lands. mines and
mining, railroads and transportation.
1e brought about the appropriation for
he locating and building Of Fort Har-
ison near Helena, the federal building
a Helena, the first Of its kind In the
tate, and other projects. He assisted
he state agricultural college at Boze-
nan.
interest Never Ceased
At the expiration Of his term in the ,
enate, Senator Power returned 70 |
Selena and devoted his energies to
be supervision OF bis wide and far !
eaching interests, at the same time
aktng an active and always percep-
bile interest IN the affairs Of the city !
nd state. 4
Senator Power was married 10 Miss
fairy q. Flannagen Of Dubuque, Ia {
4 1867. One son, Charles Benton
over, was born 10 them After fln-
hing his education at Georgetown
onege, Washington d. O., and Co