Butte semi-weekly miner., 1886-05-08
Hon. w. A. Clark Talks About Hi
Recent Pilgrimage to the Na.
.tional Capitol.
Montana's Prospects Of Becoming 1
State in the Near Future Marred
by Dakota's Conduct.
Silver Coinage Safe For the Present
The Business OutloOk-Capi.
tai and LabOr-Etc.


roads. He spent a few days at Los Angelo
and San Francisco, and then came bacl
to Butte feeling better for his trip. Hi
appearance denoted perfect health whel
he was met yesterday by Il MINER repre-
sentative and subjected to an interview
HIS MISSION.
'The object OF my trip to Washington
was double one," said Mr. Clark. "Twe
years ago, at a meeting in Helena, I wal
appointed Chairman OF Committee to ad
vance Montana's claims to Statehood
and last January was appointed by the
National Bimctallic Association it's repre-
sentative in Western Montana. 1t WAS for
the double purpose OF advocating and
otherwise promoting Monts mas admis-
sion to the Union and to assist in the de.
Tense OF silver coinage that / went to the
Capitol"
MONTANA's 3 ADMISSION.
'What are Montana's prospects of at
tanning Statehood in the near future?" was
the first query propounded by the inter-
viewer
'Not very bright was the reply.
'Montana's progress in that direction is
retarded by political complications
evolved by the claims OF her neighbors who
are also knocking at the door for admission
There's Dakota. for instance. Dakota as
whole is Republican, and Dakota wants to
go in as two States. The people OF South
ern Dakota refuse to cooperate with the
people OF the Northern portion OF the Ter
ritory, and vice versa. Sometime ago the
Southern element held convention.
framed and adopted a constitution and
sent two Senators to Washington, but OF
course, they were not seated It is the
e of na1, L.
creating all the trouble. The people don't
seem to care much whether Dakota be-
comes a State or not-at least, they don't
exhibit much interest in the matter But
Washington and Montanas admission is
influenced to great extent by the Dakota
imbroglio. A few weeks ago the bill for the
admission OF Washington passed the SEN
ate ashington is Republican, you know
but Delegate Voorhees, amendment to
that bin, including Montana in the admis-
sion, was rejected. But Montana's out
look for entrance is far from hopeless
| found ma jOrity OF the Congressman
thoroughly acquainted with our Territory g
claims, which they seemed to regard favor
ably"
''You laid those claims before the Presi- |
dent, did you nOt?"
eyes; l had several interviews with the
President, and presented him with a COPY
OF our constitution. | was cordially re. |
ceived and assured OF his hearty co-opera- |
ton when the subject comes up for action
THE. WHITE METAL. |
it regarded IN Washington" inquired the |
reporter.
Il found great change in sentiment to.
ward the white metal from that which ex-
listed during my previous visit year ago."
said Mr.. Clark. "The pro-silver speeches
by our able statesmen-especially the great |
speech by Senator Beck-opened the eyes
OF many OF the peoples Representatives. to |
the disasters which would surely fol- |
low sill ,er's demonstration. This agree. |
able change in feeling was exhibited by the |
vote on Mr.. BANDS bill for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver, which sho we'd 163 |
members in favor OF the measure. The con-
version OF many members to the pro-silver
cause is due to the indefatigable efforts of
the National Bimetallic Association. This
excellent organization has worked aesdu-
ously to keep the gentlemen in Congress ad-
vlsed as to the feeling OF their constituencies
in regard to silver coinage, and with the
best results. Tons OF irrefutable pro-sllver
literature and several logical orators have
been scattered broadcast among the farmer
and artisan classes OF the South and East
and the intelligent people have awakened
to the hardships which would be imposed
upon them by contracted currency The
result OF all this has been the presentation
Of petitions to Southern and Eastern mem.
bers instructing them to oppose all
attempts to debase silver. In the New
England States, however, the people are
hard to convince that silver is their friend,
and from these States-the industries OF :.
which are controlled more or less by Wall
street.-The chief opposition to the silver in !.
terest emanates. But a healthier feeling
in regard to silver coinage is beginning to
manifest itself all over the world--even in +;
those hotbeds OF mono-metallisn, England 4
and Germany-and l doubt not that as
gold becomes scarce the world will realize '
the fallacy OF retaining it alone as a
monetary Standard o
us the Bimetallic Association as well !.
equipped financially as it should be to en-
counter such wealthy element as that 9
which seeks to demonetize silver" =
"The Association is not as well supplied =
with working capital as it ought to be, Z" =
was the reply. "Its expenses are very .
heavy, and its only source OF revenue is =
voluntary contributions. The Executive q
Committee meets once week to plan :.
operations and devise means OF susten- :,
anee, and at a recent meeting a COM :,
mittee-of which was made a member
was appointed to raise funds. This CON-
mittee consists OF three members, one from
Colorado. one from Utah and myself"
THE BLAcKFoor RESERVATION.
while in Washington you lent helping a
hand to the movement now on foot for the e
opening to settlement OF the Backfoot fl
Reservation, in Northern Montana did b
you not, Mr.. Clarke H
"Yes. Mr.. Toole introduced measure e,
which, ii passed. will open to settlement ci
2, 900, 900 of the %, 900, 900 acres of rich h
grazing and agricultural land now occupied c;
as the Blackfoot Reservation. The bill q
was referred to the House Committee on W
Territories, and in company with Delegate ia
Toole and Major Maginnis | waited on m
,he Committee and advocated the measure. I'll
We also visited Secretary Lamar and set b
orth to him the injustice OF keeping such a
arge tract Of valuable land locked ND, el
while its opening would give homes to hun p
lreds OF settlers without injury to the ce
Indians. We were attentively listened to HI
~ the Committee, who subsequently IN
the bill, and Mr.. Lamar's de-
neanor very encouraging l believe the 81
and will be open to settlement in the near y
uture."
THE PANHANDLE. fr
"Another subject which demanded my at -,
ention whilei in Washington, said Mr. Clark, ~
was the proposed annexation of the
egion known as the Idaho Panhandle The
legislature OF Washington memorialized
Congress to include in that Territory the
and the Legislature of Idaho n
seconded the request. This memorial was hi
'bly advocated by Delegate Voor- in
ices, and the matter was referred in
20 the House Committee on Terri st
,ories. Then the people of the Cpur or
1 'Alenes held a monster meeting at Murray us
Ind unanimously petitioned Congress to bl
annex their country to Montana, setting in
orth very logical reasons why their request ex
should be granted. They showed that tn
hey are mining community, and that tw
his Territory is provided with courts. pl
avs etc., specially established to meet the Wi
equirements OF mining community. ar
While Washington, on the other hand, is at
grazing and agricultural Ter TO
itory, whose laws are inadequate to meet
he wants OF a people whose pursuit is
mining. In addition to this. the memorial
howed that the Panhandle section geo. A
should he portion
# Montana. Delegate Toole received g,
he memorial and attempted to attach it 0p
g an amendment to Mr.. VOORHEES,, bill,
ut il was rejected by the Committee on Nj
,orr;toriaa and now Mr. Toole nronosoo to 4b