The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-10-18

1t is only four short years ago since
Col. Sanders was a candidate FOR dele
gate to congress (the fourth time he was
defeated by the people of Montana) II
at that same identical time Mr.. VIII
Hanks was editor and publisher of the
Great Falls TRIBUNE, then, as now, IA
democratic paper. Mr.. Hanks was at
that time an enthusiastic j.. X. Toole
man and his opposition to Sanders was of
the bitterest kind, and he ever took time
occasionally to pay his respects to San
ders' llckspittle, Rolfe. Mr.. Hanks was
then in favor of "home interests" and he
believed that no greater evil could befall
Great Falls than the election Of Sanders,
who was then as he is now lin disguise)
the attorney for the Northern Pacific
railroad company.
As showing what Hanks thought of
Sanders then we publish a few extracts
from his pen, which appeared in the
TRIBUNE in September, 1886:
After listening attentively for an hour
and forty-seven minutes to his discussion
| of the issues between the natural parties,
every one waited with earnest solicitation
for the grand climax, when the old wal
horse would step out tlat-footed and de.
clare himself for northern Montana aud
its railroad interests. Then was his
supreme moment to have placed himself
in u position to at least claim some of the
votes of Great Falls. But he did not
dare, in the face of his well-known al
lance with the N. p. II. r., to dwell upon
the all observing topic of interest with
us. Hitherto we had been inclined tc
believe that his insulting reference to },
j. Hill, our great patron, was the result
of an i'll advised attempt at Righteousness.
But now we Can see it was Il premeditated
deliberate attempt TO helitt!e the great
railroad magnate. 1t only goes further
to show that If by any misfortune he
should happen to be sent to Washington
he would take that opportunity to favor
his particular friends and pay off his OLE
grudges to those who have at any timt
been conscientiously opposed to him.
In the first place Wilbur +. Sanders i!
not personally popular in his OWN party
Those politicians WIN know him best ant
have had the most experience with hin
are his bitterest enemies. They stanl
ready to knife HIM during the campaign
His overbearing 'rule or ruin" policy ha
created disorder in republican ranks.
In the second place Col. Sanders is es
p~ecially known IN Montana as the repre-
sentative and champion of the Northern
Pacific railroad. With due appreciation
for the benefits which that road ha
brought the territory, Montanians ar
ready to show their gratitude by givin!
1t a share of support; but when it under
takes to become dictator of the whole ter
ritory and impedes the advent of al
other roads, they take sides with prog
ress, They propose to send a delegate 7
Washington who will represent his Who'll
constituency instead of being the retain
ed advocate of any one corporation.
In the next place the republican, Cal
didate for delegate cannot carry the vot
t of the laboring men. They were give
no recognition in the convention. TIL
~workingmen believe in actions NJ
words. With so vulnerable a standar
bearer as Sanders, the assurance of
democratic victory in Montana this fall
made doubly sure--the sold wal horse
and the "N. p. iron horse are too closel
allied to warrant the support of Col San
ders in northern Montana. 1t will be a
up hill job to grind out Sanders musi
which will allure the voters of this sec
ton to vote against the interests of GreH
Falls which means hard times for them
solver.