The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-12-26
Willy THOMAS TALKS FREELY
As Usual lie had Nothing to
Say on the Silver
Question.
The "Watch Dog" of the Treasury
viii BE Liberal With the
West.
He Says Montana is q Blaine State,
Though Harrison Was
Very Nice.
Tom Power Interviewed.

Sr. PAUL, Dec. 22.-Thos. {. Power
passed through this city today on his
way home to Montana and was seen at
the Merchants hotel by a reporter.
Speaking Of the death OF Senator Plumb
he said: In his death the senate loses
ore of lis ablcst members, and tie west
one Of its best friends. As Il western
man he seemed to take upon himself the
duty OF looking after the interests of
western states. lie was not onlv an
able man but an interchangeable worker.
and one who commanded the respect and
admiration of his colleagues. The good
he accomplished for the new states was
wonderful. He seemed able to do more
on the loor Of the senate than any other
man. Perhaps other might have accom-
plished as much but they did not always
have the inclination
What will the present congress do
with The silver question: asked the re-
porter.
'IhaD ! cannot tel. rs yet"
"Will the tariff question take "A promi-
mont place."
"lf Mills is not placed at the head Of
the committee on ways and means it IS
hard to tell what will he done"
DO you regard the election Of Crisp
as favorable to either Hill or German
rather than Clcveiand:"
THAT is a matter that those who do
not know should not discuss. | am "A re-
publican. and that was d demucrntic af-
fair altogether. / think 1t was a contest
between the southeast and southwest.
and the former won. Crisp appears IA
very fair-minded man. If there is any
politics in bis administration it is not
local AT least
What do you think of Holman as
chairman Of the appropriations commit
tee"
well. in spite Of the fact that he has
been called the watchdog of the treas
ury he can not do worse by the west
than his predecessor, who, notwit hstand-
ing the fact that the tifty-tirst congress,
through the work of representatives, APP
propriated five times as much as had
been appropriated before for government
surveys in western states, refused to al
low a prOportionate increase in the APP
preparation for office help. As a conse-
quence work has been retarded, field
notes have not been sent in promptly,
and many contractors have been ruined
by the delay in getting pay.
This has worked untold injury to the
new states. especially Montana. Holman
Travelled throughout the west and un
derstands the situation and / think he
will be disposed to give the new states
their deserts. Montana is a pre-eml-
nently Blaine state and the strongest
reason for this is that he befriended
Montana when she needed friends. He
was "A friend to all the western territories
when he was in the house and also in
the senate he was especially kind to
Montana. When Secretary Carl SchurA
had charge Of the interior department
and trouble over cutting timber came
up he helped the people get their fire
wood. Harrison, Of course, was very
nice to Montana when he was in the
senate. but Blaine's friendship antedates
that of all others. ! know of leading
democrats in Montana who would sub
scribe to a Blaine fund because they adj
mire the man and because he befriended
that state state when a friend was most
needed. Blaine can surely carry the
state next year. | think the best of
feeling prevails between Harrison and
Blaine"