The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-09
THE RIVER PR

party organs Supposing it does. How
would that affect the newspapers, except by
giving the printing Con the superstition that
they would 80 give it, to the paper which
represented the political sentiments Of the
people who placed the commissioners in of
fce-a sentiment which apparently animates
the Independent to the exclusion of every
other, if we are to believe its utterances, and
which we must confess is the only thing in
it's editorial consistent with Democratic prin-
ciples, but which, if its editor admits it, des-
troys his argument, for the reason that most
of the county boards are Democratic.
It would be equally as just for the Legis-
lature to empower a board compelling the
county commissioner to buy their wood of
any certain man, as to compel them to
take its printing from any authorized source,
and We believe the action of the Legislature
empowering any board to SO act is illegal and
could be proved to be illegal.
Choteau county is q Democratic county,
and the measure is asked by q Democratic
member Of the House of q Democratic Leg
~islature, and backed by a Democratic board,
supported by q Democratic constituency, and
as q Democratic measure Of economy, which
has, we believe, been the special hobby of
Governor Potts and the independent. And
the last election in Choteau county was fought
on the issue to rescue the finances from the
clique which had a hold on them, and against
a paper which the Democratic party has con-
demned, through its central committee.
We heard a prominent Democrat remark:
81 believe that if this matter is not grant
ed that Choteau county will at the next electlon
be going as a Republican county to q Re-
publican House, asking the passage of a
Democratic measure of economy which was
refused by a Democratic Legislature in the
interest Of correct county government, and
not for the support Of party organs and
INDECENT newspapers"
In another issue Of the independent it is
stated that the M5ner and MadjsonSan are in
favor Of the law as it stands-ssThe Miner
has, on several recent occasions, avoWed it
of Democratic papers, and that it ought to be
upheld for that purpose" The Mlner has
been on every side of the fence during the
last year, and sometime may be found under
it. While it had the printing it was in favor
Of the law, when it lost the printing it was
opposed to the law, and now that it sees a
chance, through the division Of the county,
to get the printing, it is likely to be in favor
of it again, and Willbe until the printing is
given to one of the two other papers of
Butte, when it will be again opposed. As for
the MadSsonian, if its attitude has changed,
it is possible the flop is due to the same cause.
On the heels Of the independents criticism
Of Kennerly's bill, comes a howl from q
sheet that has never made a howl only when
its tail was tread upon. It is natural that
when a gun is fired by a party leader Ono
matter whether Democratic or Republican,
on q matter which by q rare chance affected
the Record, that it should initiate it by a fee
bic squirt Of its own. It was sarcastic at
Kennerly for introducing the bill. 1t was
sarcastic in speaking of county boards, and
it was sarcastic when it spoke of anything in
connection with Kennerly and his bill, and
as usual it was pointless and silly. 1t takes
the high moral grounds Of party loyalty and
self interest. It does not resort to argu-
ment, because argument is not within its ca
pacity. 1t only questions the wisdom Of
tampering with anything that interests the
Rec0rd, and to throw the cover of its own
imbecility over its wishes for the spoils OF
Office.
1t is a paper which has the imperial cA5Que
to call itself independent, While at the last
election it pretended to float the banner or
Democracy, which party, to save its charac-
ter, was compelled to reprimand it for its IN
blushing mendacity, and to condemn It as
unworthy of Democratic or other support
since which time it has had the modesty to
remain quiet until it was awakened by the
firing of the gun, when it followed suit with
q squirt.
This bill should pass, or some other that
would give the county some means to pre-
vent the recurrence Of the disgraceful condi-
ton of the public printing in Choteau county,
no fair minded citizen will oppose 9 doubt.
Here there is not need of great expense, yet
there is printing enough ahead in the
..oho+o ;ndro,a and county clerks Office