The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-21
RICHARDS
RECORD.
Against Organized Labor.
An Extract From His Speech in The
Constitutional Convention.
Posing as the WOrkinsman'S Friend, but
His Worst Enemy.

In different sections Of Montana the
candidate for governor on the republican
ticket has been posing as the friend of
the workingman. In the Helena Inde-
PENDENT OF yesterday appears the follow
ing relative to Mr.. Richards record on
TWO important questions which came be
iore the constitutional convention for
consideration. Every workingman should
read this. IT Is to his interest to do SO.
that he may know the action taken on
matters which are of vital importance to
every wage Garner in this state
Mr., Rickards position has never been uue.
! TONED, fol his friendship for the wurkingmeu
II known to all Helena journal
| We will show that the above is
false, false in both particulars. false in
| its conclusions. We will show il bv
| facts, facts obtainable from records in
the office of the secretary of state.
furthermore it will be shown that this
! hypocritical tool Of state stpalers who
| believes he Is running for governor is.
by his own words, on public record not
only as an enemy of organized labor but
| an enemy all the more dangerous be-
cause he employed poisonous arrows
hidden under his favorite shield of hy-
pocrisy. But these weapons were badly
! concealed and his methods shall be
made SO clear that the vision of the most
prejudced tyro shall not prevent the
conviction of this man Richards when
the voting day arrives. 1t is au indict-
ment that cannot be wiped OUT by
campaign OF apology or explanation.
Now for the facts. In the convention
OF 1883 to frame constitution for Mon
tana John Ezra Richards appeared as
member from Silver Bow county He
had more or less to say during the de
IIberations Of that body, but his rhetoric
appears to have been chiefly confined to
two clauses which afterward appeared
IN the constitution itself. These two
clauses are the only ones which the la
Dor interests Of the state worked hardest
to have adopted. Richards opposed both
Section >. Article III of the state con
stiruton reads as follows:
1T shall be unlawful for the warden
or other officer of any state penitentiar>
or reformatory institution in the state of
Montana or for any state officer to let
by contract TO any person or persons or
corporation the labor Of any convic.
within said institution
congressman Dixon fathcrrd this resO-
luton and gave il not only his earnest
support but made one Of the best
speeches of the session in favor of il.
lhe resolution which he introduced and
which was HfterWard modified reads as
follows:
The labor Of cunpicts shall not be let
out nor hircd 10y contract To any person,
co-partnershlp or corporation. The leg
islatiNt assembly shall provide hv law
for the working of ronvicts for the bene-
III OF the state. but IN such manner that
the labor Of sucn cOnyIc's snail not come
into competition with free labor"
Now. then. Lieut.. Gov. Richards made
an extended speech on this resolution
and this is what he said in conclusion.
Il favor leaving tins entire matter To
the Legislature. 4 does not seem f. me
that II is our province to ATTEMPT to
leglslate on this question. 1t is safer
and better and wiser to leave this entire
matter in the hands of the legislature
Two years ago | had the honor to lee a
member of the territorial legislature and
we wrestled with tins question and
suppose further legislatures will wrestle
with it, ] believe if we attempt to
adopt either the original section or auv
amendment We will act unwisely. and
therefore ! shall vote and | hope ! am
understood. against the adoption of the
original or any substitute that may be
adopted in lieu thereof
The following day Mr. Richards again
spoke on the subject, saving that as il was
evident that the convention proposed 10
adopt clause relating 10 the subject he
had a resolution 10 offer. He therefore
suggested as a substitute that the labor
of convicts shall not be let out but that
the state shall provide for the working
OF convicts and any profits accruing to
the state shall 20 to the state. This
would mean that cOnyicts would be en-
ployed in the construction of state
buildings. work that belongs to work
ingmen, and that profits ordinarily going
10 contractors would 60 10 the state.
But mark not only TINS mans opposi
tion to measure in which the laborinter
ests were So vltally concerned. but glance
again at his own words and study the
nsinceri,r so plainly revealed. He saws
that the matter should he left for legis-
atire consideration, then he adds that
the legislature of which he was mem.
COUtjJgi,l} sv E;yIty ,,,,,,