The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-22
THEY ARE STUCK ON MUD
This Accounts for the Bitter Fight
Made Against the New
Charter.
A Circular Meant to Deceive La
boring Men and . Burning
Answer.
Finds Expression Through = Drama
in One Act,

HPaa EH
The story is told Of a man who wanted
to CROSS Broadway. New York, during the
busiest hour of the day, but could not find
. break in the steady stream of vehicles.
He finally had to board an east side ele-
waited train, ride down to the battery, and
take another train up on the west side. If
that man had had occasion to cross Main
street inHelena yesterday, he would no doubt
have wished for some such arrangement to
get him on the other side. 1t was not the
steady stream Of We hicles in this case. how
ever. which would have made such a round
about journey desirable. 1t was the mud,
or rather the slime, which covered every
thing to the depth of several inches.
Seriously speaking there was not a crossing
between Bridge street and Sixth avenue
which was passable. II was the, same old
mud, only more of 1t. which the mossbacks
say has been there for twenty-five years,
and which they declare to be good enough
for them. John w. Thompson, the
sIds5manis candidate ssen for ms S.;n
street and Sixth avenue yesterday after
noon, looked at the river of mud before
him, and remarked without the shadow of
asmile: The new charter Is too far ahead
of the city"
Friend Of the new charter we're feeling
very much encouraged yesterday. They
found that there had been quite a change
in sentiment on the charter question within
the past forty-eight hours. Men who had
not studied the question very closely are
beginning to look into the thing for them
selves, and the result is the new charter is
gaining ground steadily. BY Monday the
advocates of the new charter hope to have
enough people on their side to carry it.
The advocates of the present condition
of affairs. the men who like mud because il
is soft and yielding to those with tender
feet, are losing no chance to turn people
against the new charter. Their efforts are
evidently based on the belief that "the end
~iustiies the MEANS" Following is a copy Of
a circular which they had printed yester-
day and distributed generally t~hroughout
the city, with the idea Of misleading the
working people:
Sound the alarm! The conspiracy for re-
duction of wages. The advocates of the
new charter urge its adoption on the
ground that it will tGlcouragei improvements
and afford employna'nt for labor. This is
a delusion and a snare. The new charter
provides that the board Of public works,
"let all contracts of over $50 to the lowest
responsible bidder" The competition
which this involves necessarily implies low
er wages. Bidders who find no profit in
the work that has been let to them will
seek the cheapest labor, wherever they find
labor that is brought here under this de-
structive system will come to stav, and will
fix wage for years to come. The men whom
these contractors import will not leave
when their work is completed, but will re-
main for other employment at the lowest
rates. Those who are interested in the di-
rect employment of home labor at honest
wages on local works will vote against the
charter!
The charter advocates at once got out the
following counter circular:
The alarm is sounded! The new charter
means plenty of work for Montana work
men at Montana wages. 1t means clean
streets and alleys. 1t means an honest
government economically administered 1t
means the paving of Main street and Hell
sidewalks and crossings. Il means good
bye to the boodlers who want the old char
ter and plenty to steal. 1t means a healthy,
progressive, clean city instead of an un-
healthy, non-progressive and dirty city. 1t
means a saving to the city of fully $4,000
Of a step backward. Down with the hood
lers! Down with the mossbacks! Down
with the bum ward politicians! Vote for
the new charter. Do not believe the lies
being circulated by the ~mossbacks, warrant
scalpers. boodlers, who want to live under
bu0 IN CuhxuCI OtCdu66 UA0Io 10 u1OAGy Ill IL
for them.
The discussion of the question of new or
old methods is bringing out some contribu-
tions from various sources. Among the
latest is the following:
THE ALARM IS SOUNDED.
VOTE FOR H CHARTER.
Scenes: An apartment in the palace OF
Marquis De Listener (behind the BARI
Enter John the Pious, breathless and COW
cred with mud.
King Markus-How now, Sir John, brave
champion Of the people? How goeth the
battle against this vile charter?
Sir JOhn-lllustrious king, | salute thee.
l have in my extremity come to you for ad-
vice, for verify the seribes Of the press ve1
me sorely. Thrice have I been reported
as favoring the charter, and thrice have l
opposed it. oh. sapient king advise me.
King Markus-Oh! thou Of little faith!
Did l not covenant with thee that if thou
wouldst oppose this vile charter l would
make thee lord mayor of the city.
Sir ~John-Even so, but has not the entire
press OF the city and the king of the big
four and the Murphyites and the Stedman-
ties and a majority of our best citizens de-
clared themselves for the charter? And are
they not q great power in the land?
King Marcus-.A fig tor them and their
charter; They have but ons vote each.
Verify ! am the great mogul. Yea, l carry
the vote of the First ward in my vest
-soket-and lave | not my henchmen and
.srlkers and procurers of votes throughout
the great city. And do not the law makers
of the council oppose any change in city
matters, for do they not wish to continue in
Office and grow fat at the public crib? All
this patronage will l turn over to thee if
wilt but fall down and worship me.
Brace up. tThey brace).
Sir John-Oh king, thy words console me.
To be lord mayor is the goal Of my ambi-
tion. l will embrace thee. / will embrace
thy religion. ] will sing psalms unto thee.
] will at once HE myself to the Seventh
ward TO preach the new doctrine. exit Sir
john.
Enter courier covered with mud.
Courier-Oh king, the great red chariot
|of the fire extinguisher has been signalled
off Lake Thompson.
King Markus-'Tis we'll. Have a mud
|scow dispatched at once to convey the cap
tain hither.
Enter attendant covered with mud.
Attendant-Oh king! live forever. | come
with tidinRs from the Hotel de Cronin.
Forty prisoners in the bastile are starving.
King Markus-'Tis we'll. Order the but
Ter to dispatch three crackers and the rem
|nants of Yesterdays feast to the bastile |
forthwith. Have the keeper of the books
enter against the city a debit of ten score
land ten first class meals.
Enter citizen covered with mud.
Citizen-Great king, live forever. Verify
Main street Is being flooded with mud and |
Hlime. and Lake thompson ia being Illed
TO OVERLOOKING. The Sixth ward is out Of
sight, and
King Markus-D-n the Sixth ward! DIN