P. S. HARRINGTON NAMED BY JUDGES
TO FILL VACANCY ON COUNTY BOARD

Peter S. Harrington, retired grocer and for 20 years an active figure in public life and affairs in Silver Bow County, was yesterday appointed county commissioner to succeed the late James M. Riley by District Judges McClernan, Donlan and Lynch.  His selection to fill the vacancy was unanimous and but one ballot was taken by the judges, Mr. Harrington has two years and five months of the unexpired term of the late Mr. Riley to serve.  He filed his bond yesterday and the board will be organized this morning. When the judges met yesterday morning shortly before 10:00 o’clock to consider the 16 application files for the position they met in Judge McClernan’s courtroom instead of the law library, as had been previously announced.  Thus, they secured privacy and avoided the crowd of anxious ones which had gathered in the law library.  A few minutes after they had taken up consideration of the applications, they emerged from the room announcing that Mr. Harrington was the successful candidate.  They were congratulated upon the wisdom of their choice by a score or more of those about the courthouse who had predicted such action from the time Mr. Harrington’s application was filed.

The judges declared that it was their effort to secure the best qualified man for the place and that in Mr. Harrington they saw a man who on account of his business acumen, long residence here and experience in public life, was splendidly fitted to meet the exacting deeds of the position.

The new commissioner has resided in Butte for 30 years.  For a long period, he was engaged in the grocery business at Granite and Ohio streets.  He is a man of family, having two grown daughters and as many sons.

Between 1897 and 1899 he served as mayor of Butte, succeeding Mayor Thompson.  After that he served for several years as alderman from his ward, being an active participant to the affairs of the council.  He is a staunch and lifelong democrat and has ever been active in the affairs of his party.  Last April he was re-elected to the board of school trustees and, recognizing his executive ability, his associates on the board named him as chairman.

In addition to the applicants already published, the applications of Pete Naughton, Frank Early, Barney McGrade, Maurice Kain, William Early and J. W. Marshall were filed with the judges yesterday morning before their selection of Mr. Harrington.