Page 62 - Cornelius Hedges Story

49 The Cornelius Hedges Story

On July 22 and 23, he attended the convention during the
consideration of the Judiciary bill. On the 23rd, he wrote in his diary,
with no small sense of accomplishment since he was not a delegate
“I got through one amendment.”194 Needless to say, Judge Hedges
was an influential person. When they considered the education
provisions of the proposed constitution, his journal reveals that
he was very disappointed and dissatisfied with the convention’s
action, especially with their refusal to retain school lands.195

Judge Hedges’ acknowledged ability as an orator was again
utilized on the occasion of the Silver Anniversary of territorial
status for Montana. He was the featured orator at ceremonies held in
Helena on May 25 at Ming’s Opera House. The celebration was held
the day before the actual date of May 26, which fell on Sunday.196

On August 17, 1889, Cornelius Hedges was named Republican
nominee for State Senator from Lewis & Clark County. He was
nominated on the second ballot at a Republican Caucus from a
field that included A.M. Holter, T. H. Kleinschmidt, and W. A.
Chessman, and at one point he wanted to decline.197 On the day of
the election, October 1, Hedges was concerned about the negligence
of the County Republican Committee, and at one point he thought
“There were signs not only of negligence, but treachery.” On the 2nd,
he led by a meager majority, and the results were still inconclusive
on October 9. However, upon returning from a Presbytery meeting
in Missoula, Cornelius learned he had won by a majority of 121
votes.198

On November 8, 1889, as a very proud Montanan, Hedges wrote
“Montana was admitted as a State today at 10:40 and news received
here by 11 a.m. Great rejoicing; All the flags afloat!”199

In his Masonic Grand Lodge Correspondence Report for 1889,
he further elaborated on his proud, but somewhat over optimistic
opinion of Montana’s potential:

“With Statehood and the control of our resources in our own
hands we may reasonably expect a larger ultimate, if not rapid
growth. Our area is equal to that of the empire of Japan, with
its 37,000,000 inhabitants. We have single counties larger than
Maine or Indiana, and our sagebrush desert lands, with only
water, would yield more wheat, acre for acre, than the richest
bottom lands in any part of the Mississippi Valley. It is the
destined home for millions in the great future. Stored away in