Old Missoula

The Peoples Party

A County Ticket Put in the Field.

The District Judge the Only Office Left Vacant – Names of Candidates and Proceedings

The Ticket.

Sheriff – R. J. Latimer.

Treasurer – W. P. McClay

Clerk of district court – O. C. Cooper.

Assessor – Andrew Swaney

Auditor – C. A. Harnois.

County commissioners – M. M. McCauley, J. W. Popham, John Lang.

Coroner – B. J. Flynn.

Public administrator – Geo. H. White.

Superintendent of schools – Miss Sarah McClay.

Surveyor – David Low.

Legislature – S. H. Draper, H. H. Grant, F. C. Ives, W. H. H. Dickenson, T. V. Harrington.

County attorney – L. J. Knapp.

The Convention.

The delegates to the county convention of the people’s party assembled in convention at noon yesterday to nominate a full county ticket. All precincts were fully represented, and the convention was a large one, composed of representative men of the party.

Major M. M. McCauley called the convention to order, and in a brief speech stated it purpose. Frank Ives was chosen as temporary chairman and R. A. Pelkey as temporary secretary.

A committee on credentials was appointed as follows: R. Latimer, F. Webster, Thomas Foley, W. H. Reed and J. M. McEntyre.

A committee on permanent organization, order of business and resolutions was appointed as follows; S. McClay, Charles Myers, M. M. McCauley, Theo. Bedard and L. H. Dayton.

The convention then adjourned to 3:30 in the afternoon.

Afternoon Session.

The convention was not called to order until 4 o’clock for the afternoon session but there was very little time lost in getting to work.

The committee on credentials reported the following as entitled to seats.

Stevensville,

W. M. Franks, L. H. Dayton, D. F. Sharrett, J. S. Trease, F. M. Westler, S. Sedgwick.

Lo Lo.

J. F. Delaney, D. R. McClay, Sam McClay.

Cold Springs,

M. M. McCauley, Wm. B. McClay, Thos. Foley, P. J. McCarty.

Missoula.

Phil Hogan, R. A. Pelkey, Geo. H. White, Ed. Lynch, F. C. Ives, B. F. Witham, M. G. Macaulay, Chas. Betts, Chas. Myers, C. A. Harnois, J. M. McEntyre, C. G. Peterson.

Canyon Creek.

S. F. Coen, S. F. Salberger.

Carlton.

W. H. Reed, C. E. Schrader, C. W. Alls.

Frenchtown,

L. A. Bison, Theo. Bedard, Jean Androlletti, Arthur Lefleur.

Grass Valley.

J. R. Latimer, Isaac Palin.

Victor,

E. H. Keinns, V. R. Woodmancy, Birt Waylett, R. V. Jamison.

Big Flat,

David Legesse,

Horse Plains,

Neptune Lynch, Jr.

The report was received and adopted.

The committee on permanent organization, order of business, and resolutions then made its report. It recommended that the temporary order be made permanent and that the order of business be the nomination of candidates for county clerk and recorder, sheriff, treasurer, clerk of the district court, assessor, county commissioners, coroner, public administrator, superintendent of schools, county surveyor, five representatives, county attorney and district judge.

The resolutions presented are as follows:

The people’s party of Missoula county, Montana, in convention assembled puts forth in the name and behalf of the people of this county the following preamble and declaration of principles:

There must be a change in the administration of affairs from municipal to national government.

The cry of the oppressed is heard on every hand and under the constitution of the United States given us by our forefathers we have the power to right their wrongs and it is our duty to do so.

We renounce the allegiance we have heretofore shown the old parties and proclaim our fealty to the party which has for its standard bearers the illustrious Weaver and the no less Field.

We recognize that as an element of strength we have been utilized in the past by scheming politicians. We have aided by our votes in placing corrupt and venal men in office, and others, who though otherwise honorable have neglected the interests of the people to cater to the desires of designing capitalists.

We believe that the welfare of the people is the first great law and that the many should make laws for the few and not the few for the many.

In county as well as in state or national movements every citizen, however humble his position may be, should be protected in his rights and have a voice in making the laws he must obey.

We believe in elevating to office good, true and tried men, whose duty it should be to faithfully and economically administer the affairs of the office and while a competent official should receive a just and fair compensation for services, he should not be allowed to make one cent over and above the salary allowed by law.

We demand the abolishment of all fees for county officials, and where the same are provided by law that the law be so amended that they shall be paid into the county treasury; that the county official be not allowed any perquisite over and above his salary.

We claim that reformation is needed in every branch of our county government and demand that in the future our laws be so constructed that it will be impossible for our county officials to fatten at the public crib.

We demand a more careful supervision of our county affairs by our commissioners than has heretofore prevailed.

We endorse the Australian ballot law as being the greatest blessing ever conferred upon the citizens of Montana and warn our law makers that any attempt to alter or abridge it will be met with strenuous opposition.

We fully endorse and commend the registration law as being the best safeguard the ballot box has, and though it may be convenient for voters in sparsely settled districts; it benefits the majority and secures the greatest good to the greatest number and we would recommend its adoption in municipal elections as well as in county and state.

We arraign both of the old parties for their cowardice in regard to silver and claim that no man who believes in the free and unlimited coinage of silver can vote either the republican or democratic ticket without being a traitor to the cause he claims to espouse, and a traitor to Montana.

We condemn the practice prevailing in this county and state of appraising railroad lands for taxation at much less than their value, and demand that they be taxed at the same valuation as like lands held by private individuals.

We denounce the policy of the republican and democratic parties which by their oppressive legislation, have resulted in the gradual impoverishment of the people, and we arraign the republican and democratic parties as enemies to agricultural classes as well as organized labor.

We endorse the platform of the people’s party as adopted at the national convention at Omaha, July 4, 1892, also the action of the state convention.

Sam Maclay, Chairman.

L. H. Dayton,

M. M. McCauley,

Chas. Myers,

Theo. Bedard.

This report was adopted unanimously, Chairman Ives said he thanked the convention heartily and considered it no small honor to be chairman of the first people’s party convention ever held in this county. The hour was late and he would say nothing more than that while the ticket to be named would not in all human probability be a faultless one, it would still be a good one. This little speech was received with enthusiasm and the business of making the nominations was at once commenced. For county clerk and recorder the names placed in nomination were Chas. Felton, Theo. Bedard, O. C. Cooper, O. M. Baldwin. The first ballot gave Felton, 10; Bedard, 17; Cooper, 3, and Baldwin, 10. There having been forty votes cast, twenty-one were necessary to a choice and another ballot was taken in which Bedard received twenty-four votes and was declared the choice of the convention.

For sheriff, R. J. Latimer, W. P. McClay, and Thos. McClung were named. The first ballot gave Latimer, 20; McClay, 16; McClung, 4. The second ballot gave Latimer 22, and he was declared the choice.

For treasurer the names were H. H. Grant, W. P. McClay, and J. E. Gharrett. The first ballot gave Grant, 10, McClay, 17, and Gharrett 13. The second ballot gave McClay 22, and he was declared the choice.

For clerk of the district court the names were Wm. Spurgin and O. C. Cooper, and Mr. Cooper was chosen by a vote of 22 to 18.

For assessor four names were presented and the contest was a lively one. The first ballot gave W. H. Ree, 14; Sig. Chaffin, 6; W. W. White, 10; Andrew Swaney, 9. The second ballot gave Reed 19, and a third ballot was taken which gave Reed 16; Chaffin, 1; White, 4; Swaney, 19. The fourth ballot gave Swaney twenty-five votes, and he was declared the nominee.

For auditor the names were Barnett Fawcett, C. A. Harnois and W. W. White. The first ballot gave Fawcett, 3; Harnois, 23; White, 15; and Mr. Harnois was declared the choice.

The convention then took a recess until 6 o’clock in the evening.

Evening Session.

The convention was called to order at half past seven [?]. Ballots were taken for three county commissioners. Those placed in nomination were Mar. M. M. McCauley, Missoula, J. W. Popham, Corvallis, Isaac Palin, Grass Valley, Phil Hogan, Missoula, W. H. Reed, Carlton, John Lang, Egan.

J. F. Delaney of Lo Lo made a motion that candidates be voted for separately, districting them. The motion was carried and a motion to reconsider this motion was lost by a vote of 15 to 14. In the first district the candidates were Hogan, Palin and Maj. McCauley. Maj. McCauley received the nomination by a vote of 23. The candidates for the second district were W. H. Reed and J. W. Popham, the latter gentleman receiving the nomination by a vote of 24. John Lang being the only candidate from the third district, he was nominated by acclamation.

For coroner there were B. J. Flynn, Dr. S. P. Ives and V. R. Woodmancy. Mr. Woodmancy declined to run and Mr. Flynn was declared nominated after one ballot by a vote of 29.

Balloting for public administrator resulted in Geo. H. White, of Missoula, receiving 24 votes as against 15 for Geo W. Dunkle and he was declared nominated.

It required two ballots to decide he nomination for superintendent of public instruction. On the first ballot Mrs. Emma Blanchard of Grass valley received 8 votes, Miss Sarah B. McClay of Carlton 18, and Miss Harriet Hord of Missoula 12. Miss Hord’s name was withdrawn before the second ballot was taken, which resulted in Miss McClay’s nomination by a vote of 21.

Carl T. Jones of Corvallis and David Low of Missoula were the candidates for nomination for county surveyor. Mr. Low was nominated by a vote of 24 on the first ballot.

There were ten candidates for the legislature. Before proceeding further R. A. Pelkey made a motion that, in order to expedite matters, the three receiving the lowest number of votes on the first ballot be dropped. The motion was seconded and carried. The first ballot resulted as follows;

Neptune Lynch, 15; S. H. Draper, 20; H. H. Grant, 27, F. M. Westler, 14; Chas. Felton, 10; F. C. Ives, 27; W. H. H. Dickenson, 23; Wm. Spurgin, 16; N. R. Woodmancy, 15; J. V. Harrington, 19, Twenty being necessary to a choice but four were nominated on the first ballot. They were Messrs. Draper, Grant, Ives and Dickinson. Inasmuch as there was a tie between Mr. Woodmancy and Mr. Lynch, a motion to reconsider the former motion relating to the dropping of the three receiving the lowest number of votes was carried and those candidates not having been elected on the first ballot were entitled to still remain candidates. The second ballot resulted as follows; F. M. Westler, 9; Chas. J. Felton, 3; Wm. Spurgin, 10; V. R. Woodmancy, 8; J. V. Harrington, 6. A motion was then made by W. P. McClay that the two having received the lowest number of votes on the second ballot be dropped. This was carried.

The third ballot resulted as follows; T. V. Harrington, 13; V. P. Woodmancy, 4; Wm. Spurgin, 10; J. M. Westler, 8. Necessary to choice 10. George H White then made a motion that the two receiving the lowest number of votes on foregoing ballot be dropped. This left Messrs. Spurgin and Harrington as the contending candidates. Harrington received 22 votes which made him the choice for the fifth representative.

When the question of nominating a county attorney came up R. A. Pelkey moved that this nomination and that of district judge be not made, because it did not appear that the nomination could well be made. The motion was put and lost by a large vote.

L. J. Knapp and C. H. Musgrave were then placed in nomination. Then followed the naming of H. S. Stiff, but that gentleman being present at once arose and, while thanking the convention for the honor, declined it. P. J. McCarthy then arose and inquired if the other gentleman who had been named could be vouched for as willing to support the people’s party. B. F. Sharrett, who had nominated Knapp, said he thought he could vouch for him, and the balloting proceeded. Mr. Knapp received twenty-five votes out of thirty-four cast, and was declared the nominee.

For district judge the name of Judge McIntyre was placed in nomination by C. A. Harnois. R. A. Pelkey here made a motion that the nomination for district judge be not made. The motion was lost by a large vote. R. J. Latimer then placed in nomination the name of H. C. Stiff. Mr. Stiff arose once more and said he was not a candidate on any ticket. He thought the men of the convention were honest men, representing an honest movement, but he must nevertheless decline. He was a democrat, and though he had run on another ticket in the late municipal election he had done so only at the solicitation of friends, and with the distinct understanding that he was and would remain a democrat. He would not be able to pledge his support to the entire ticket of the people’s party and would therefore ask that he be not requested to run. Mr. Stiff’s little speech was applauded and at its conclusion the motion to pass the nomination of district judge was once more renewed and carried.

Wm. Kennedy, the people’s party candidate for governor, was then called upon to address the meeting. Mr. Kennedy said he did not falter in the fight because it looked as though the people’s party might not be successful this year. All movements met defeat at first; some were in time victorious, and this movement would eventually be so because it had a vital principle in it. He thought people were beginning to think and study and that there was a fair prospect of partial if not complete success. The prospects of national success even did not seem so gloomy as had been supposed. If the presidential election is thrown into the house, even then the chances are not all gone. Mr. Kennedy showed how the silver question was working through the west and south in favor of the people’s party, and reiterated his belief that the results of the fall election might be found surprising. The speech was received with applause.

On motion the chair appointed a committee of five to choose a county central committee of fifteen. The committee, named by the chair, was R. J. Lattimer, R. A. Pelkey, M. M. McCauley, W. M. Franks and S. F. Coen.

A resolution was introduced and adopted authorizing the central committee to fill such vacancies as might occur on the ticket between now and election day.

The committee appointed for the purpose then reported the following names as those who are to constitute the county central committee:

Flathead – J. B. Harrington,

Horse Plains – G. W. Dunkle,

Frenchtown – Moise Reeves,

Grass valley  – Isae Palin,

Missoula – Frank C. Ives (chairman), R. A. Pelkey (secretary), Chas. Myers, Wm. Spurgin, Ed. Miller,

Riverside – S. F. Coen,

Stevensville – S. Sedgwick,

Victor – V. R. Woodemancy,

Grantsdale – B. T. Blodgett,

Carleton – S. Wagner.

The above article appeared in The Missoula Weekly Gazette on August 10, 1892.

No populist candidate from Missoula County succeeded in getting elected that November.

County results can be found at the following link:

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349566654

New Newspaper

A Missoula Populist Newspaper was announced in the Missoulian on November 27, 1892:

“The prospectus for the Missoula Populist is out. The first number will appear Thursday, December 1, and regularly every Thursday thereafter. What the paper proposes to be may be judged from the following excerpt from the prospectus:

It will be handled by men fearless, honest, conscientious and consistent; men who are not tied down to the dictates of the millionaire, aristocrat or political bulldozer; men who will not toady to the whims of the capitalist or cringe their knee to the wand of him who has patronage to offer. Men who will go on in the even tenor of their way doing greatest good for the greatest number; men who are ready to stand upon the merits and fruits of their labor.

Frank C. Ives will be business manager.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349568215

http://mtmemory.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16013coll27/id/1164

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349610054

[1892 – Nominees: Pelkey, Latimer, McClay, Harnois, McCauley, White, Flynn, Low, Draper, Grant, Ives, Dickenson, Harrington, Knapp, Cooper, Knapp, Kennedy, Popham, Swaney, Lang]