Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-07-17
OUR GREAT STATE.
SPEECH OF THE HON. w. "A. CLARK
AT THE GREAT FALLS BANQUET.
Mr., Clark Points With PrideItO NIOntana's
Matchless Resources He Paws n
Notable Compliment Ito the
City of Grent Falls. ..

Appended is full report Of the mas
terly speech which Hon. w. A. Clark,
president of constitutional convention,
made at the banquet here on Friday
night. Mr.. Clark, who was presented IN
complimentary terms by the chairman,
Hon. T. q. Collins, was received with en-
thusiasm. He said: t.4..4
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen: thank
you for the kindly greeting that has been
extended to the members Of the constitu-
tional convention and for the honor OF
proposing a toast to that honorable body.
And in behalf of the constitutional CON
vention of the future state of Montana l
beg to return you my sincere thanks and
their sincere thanks. Applause. In
pursuance Of an act of congress- on tue
18th day Of May the people of this great
commonwealth met at their respective
places and elected representation to
meet in the city Of Helena on the birth
day of American independence. APP
piause. And they are to frame an in
strument which shall be the great touch
stone of the liberties of the great state of
Montana. And those gentlemen there as
sembled, the representatives of these
| people, did me the honor to make me
chairman of that honorable body. Jap
plause.l l have in my experience Of one
week with that body, and in the selection
OF the members of committees, studied
the habits and the abilities and the quail
fications Of these gentlemen, and must
shy tonight that Montana may we'll con
gratulate herself upon the favorable and
advantageous selection of these gentle
men. [Applause.] One of my first duties
as chairman of that great body was to Sc
lect judiciary committee, and when I
came. to count the gentlemen who repre-
sented the ballof Montana, found there
were % gentlemen who represented that
noble calling. Applause.l And you
may welLunderstand that it was no diff
cultfunestion in my mind to pick out of
those 23 representatives of the bar of
Montana Is who should serve upon that
most important committee. took upon
myself the task, and whether have sue
ceeded' or not it is left to the people, the
members Of that convention, to determine;
but | will simply say this, that having Sc
lected those 15 gentlemen to represent
1hlSlCoU, VIC ClSlu SCuulS
men that were left who were representa-
tiyes Of the bar Of Montana .walild, make
" creuIJaple Jualc1;tfy 'ueiAmittee 10Y the
state OF Montana or any other state in
this great union. Applause.
HOME INTERESTS SAFE.
These gentlemen have met in conven-
ton, and they have gone diligently to
work to represent the interests of these
people. l have had some little eXper-
ience in these matters, having been hon
ored before by having been made the
chairman of convention five years ago
that was to frame constitution for this
great state, but which, Tor no fault Of the
people Of this country, was of no particu-
lar avail at that time; and must say that
| believe that the people have made no
| mistake; that they will represent the in
terests of all the various sections and OF
all the varied interests of this great state
of Montana. And to the gentlemen
whom it has been our pleasure to come
here and meet, the wool-growers of Mon
tana, | would say that these gentlemen
will faithfully and impartially represent
your interests. | would say to the min
| ing interests of Montana, your interests
are safe in the hands of these gentlemen
and would say to the cattlemen OF this
great commonwealth, that you will have
no fault to find, in my humble belief
when this convention shall have achieved
its labors; and to the commercial inter
csts and to all the various interests that
pertain to this country, would say, be
lieye, gentlemen, that you have made nc
mistake and these gentlemen will go tc
work faithfully, zealously and impartially
to frame a constitution that will protec
the least as we'll as the greatest industry
that prevails in this country which we are
pleased to call the land Of our adoption
IApplause.l And I believe these gentle
men will frame constitution that you
the people of Montana, will accept, anc
that there will be no further delay il
Montana taking its place among the gal
axy OF the states-and won't she be {
darling when she gets in there, A voice
"You bet"] Applause.