Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-10-28
From the Atlantis, Ind, |


| Minnesota has six members of Congress-
two Senators, three Representatives, and
Delegate The Delegate is generally sent
there by the people of Montana to represent
| Minnesota, or rather certain parties who re-
side in that State.
| This is a somewhat startling statement, but
we submit that it is supported by the facts.
Major Maginnis came to this Territory from
! Minnesota, where he was an ardent Repub
lican He changed his politics with his loca-
ton, but he did not change his affinities.
Since his election to Congress- if we except
| the time that he devotes every other year to
securing his reelection, he has spent more
| time in Minnesota than in Montana. And
| every year before Congress assemblies he re-
ports at St. Paul as one who goes to receive
his instructions, while at the close of the ses-
sion he returns there seemingly to give an
account of his success in promoting the inter-
ests of his masters.
The explanation is easy. There resides at
ST. Paul one A. II. Wilder, who is Repub-
lican in politics and by occupation an opera
tor in army and Indian contracts through
the Northwestern Territories. In this busi-
ness he has amassed fortune of not less
than three millions of dollars The relations
between Mr.. Wilder and Major Maginnis are
very intimate-thOugh they are Ostensibly of
opposite politics-and how this connection
operates will appear from few facts.
Take for example Fort Assinniboine, for
the building of which post Major Magin-
mis- assumes to have great claims upon the
people of Montana. The troops that were to
41a boI haH no
tory before stock OF goods was sent on by.
Mr. Wilder for the traders store. Obviously
the spirit of prophesy was upon him, for in
due season his hired man, BrOadwater was
was chosen Post Trader. Then an immense
military reservatiOn-the largest in the
United States-was laid out to keep off all
competition, and the profits of the trade of
soldiers and Indians, estimated to be from
$4,000 to $4,000 per year. 60 to Mr.. Wilder,
at st. Paul, less such expenses as he may in
cur in securing the reelection of Major Ma
ginnis to Congress.
At the last session of Congress, Major Ma
ginnis-we have his word for it-secured a
further appropriation for Fort Assinnibone
to be expended for building additional quar-
ters for troops Has this sum gone to the
benefit of the people Of this Territory? BY
no means. One hundred and fifty mechan-
les have been sent to the post from St Paul
to do the work. What is left OF their wages
after they have paid two or three prices for
food, clothing, etc, at Mr.. Wilder's suffers
store, is sent back to their families.
A new post has been established or rather
Fort Logan has been moved to McDonalds
Creek and re-christened Fort Maginnis Two
months ago Mr.. Wilder had his outfit for the
traders store landed at the nearest point on
the Missouri river and it may be safely
assumed that by some name or other he will
be appointed sutler, take in all the desirable
contracts and absorb the appropriations.
The history is perfectly uniform one
When Fort keOgh was established Mr..
Wilder captured the sutlership in the name
of Jim. Hubbell and, with other partners,
got away with some big steals on the trans
pOrtatiOn contracts. Then came Fort Custer.
where Wilder has the leadership in the name
OF BOrnp, a st. Paul man, and cleans up every
thing about the post that is worth having
To sum up, we believe the statement to be
quite within the bounds of moderation that
of the appropriations for the posts named,
three-fOurths has been gathered in by the
St Paul partners and not to exceed one
fourth has gone to the benefit of any citizen
of Montana, unless it may be the partners of
A. Fl. Wilder We believe, too that in
securing appropriations Mr.. Maginnis has
regard first to the interests of his Minnesota
friends and that he subOrdinates to these the
interests of his own constituents.
We repeat the inquiry Isn't it about time
to have Montana represented in Congress?