The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-27
Tho Farmers Alliance Men Oppose
the Reclamation Of West
ern Arid Lands.
Congressman Bynum Opens His
Canvass In Washington for
the Speakership.
"Wil the Women, God Bless 'Em, Com
tinue to Vote the Democratic
Ticket, General ?'

fights in congress this winter will be ovel
the irrigation question. The success of the
| Farmers' alliance in the late elections hal
wakened farmers generally to a sense Of the
power they can WELD on this policy Of re-
claiming large tracts Of desert land IN The
west and make them available for future
immigration. This is the policy that Con.
Rressman McMillin. of Tennessee, 90 forci.
bly, opposed last session when the appropri-
alton was mp. The alliance men say new
farms in the west mean a continuance oi
poor prices and hard times, and they will
fight the irri9ationists tooth and nail. The
objective aim is to secure repeal Of the
clause in the suhdry civil bill appropriatinQ
money for topographic surveys and throw
Ing open to entry and settlement tracts Of
land that were withdrawn by the civil sun
dry bill Of 1883. Petitions will pour in on
congress by the CARLOAD asking for this re-
peal as soon as the session is under head
way.
Mr.. Bynum is the first candidate foI
speaker to open his canvass in Washington.
He is on the ground and at work quietly
after the Indiana method. He predicts
that his party will use their triumph wisely,
avoid partisan legislation and handle the
tariff 80 as to relieve the people from their
burdens. Bynum is warmly devoted to
Cleveland, and says he will be the demo-
cratic candidate in 1892. The people do
not agree with his silver policy but they
believe in his honesty and courage. Mr..
Bynum says one Of the first things to be
done in tho Fifty second congress is to 60
back to the old rules.
Congressman Cogswell, Of Massachusetts,,
is philosophio sort of politician. He
thinks the effect of the recent election goes
great deal further than most people will
admit. The fact that the women of the
land took part in the late campaign strikes
him as one of the most significant events in
recent politics. ''In Massachusetts," said
the general to day, ''they had as much to
say as the men. They really made the
strongest arguments made in the whole
campaign, and they turned the scales. II
. woman went to the store ana was told
that the Mckinley bill was to blame for the
general rise in prices. she went right home
and asked the voting head of the family
what he was going to do about it. Thous-
ands of women for the first time in their
lives took an interest in politics and practi-
cally cast their first ballots through their
husbands az proxies"
"Will the women. God bless 'em, con-
tinue to vote the democratic ticket, gem
eral?''
well, look upon the scare over prices
as fictitious and likely to disappear before
very long. 1t is great advantage to any
party to have the aid of thousands of ear
YYonk Tho~, ml,o
ers. It they had the right to vote they
would be welcomed enthusiastically by be th
parties. It's the fear both have Of the up
heaval they would cause that shuts them
out of the franchise. I am sure the late
elections will eventually set both parties
bidding for their votes and so result in
their enfranchisement.''
The duel between Gen. jackson and La
fayette has como to an end and their coun-
terfeit presentments will stand in the same
bit OF ground. For nearly forty years Gen.
Jackson's statue has been tenant of Gen.
Lafayette's square in front of the White
house. When it was proposed to put the
lafayette statue between Old Hickory and
the White house Senator Bate and senator
Harris rose quickly to defend their fellow
citizen and determined contest set in be-
tween the friends Of the hero of New Or
leans and the over gallant admirers of the
illustrious Frenchman. Ground has been
broken at the southeast corner Of the park
about two rods in from the sidewalk and
there the beautiful statue of Lafayette is
to stand. Il is still near the jackson
statue, but will in no way interfere with
the view Of that famous experiment. with