Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-11-17
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS.
Hon. James Fergus Has Something to Say
In Relation to the Elections.

Il
EDITOR ARGUS: We are the most
prosperous people on the face of the
earth. We have better food, clothing
shelter, and everything else that adds
comfort to life than the same classes
in any other country. In theory we
have the best government, but as a
government cannot be better thar
the people who make it, it also has its
defects and they are seen no where
better than at our elections, where
we appear to turn the worst side out,
disI lay our worst qualities to the
world, and every election appears to
leave a national scar behind it, that
takes all the efforts of our reformers
and philosophers the next four years
to heal. For that reason would not
a presidential term OF six years and
one term be better than our present
plan? Manhood suffrage Is beautiful
in theory, but when a bloated loafer
whose vote has been bought by whis-
key, and who never paid dollar in
taxes in his life, walks up alongside OF
you at the polls to kill your well con-
sidered vote, the theory goes to pieces
and it don't look so nice.
| Another thing about our elections
is their cost. A hundred millions
would be fair estimate of the past
national, state, county and town cleo
tiors, in these United States in time
and money, not counting the black
guardism and lies. A saving OF one
election in twelve years would save
that much. Now coming down to our
state election We find no well consid-
cred fault with the candidates or its
management, with our county cleo
tions it is different. While it is true
that all armies need generals. all busi-
ness needs head and county affairs,
so long as there are parties, need some
organization, and which is. best
managed at the county seat; still the
| impression went abroad, whether true
or not, that our late county conven-
tion was not fairly conducted, that it
was managed in the interests of what
was known as the county clique, and
helped to defeat some of the Republi-
can candidates.
Our county has no railroads, manu-
factures or commerce, our mines are
not paying, farmers have only a limit
ed home market, horse raising is car
ried on at loss, the cattle industry
Just pays, and woolgrowers alone have
been making money-under a high
tariff which is likely to be reduced.
Our county affairs have been badly
managed, and it is heavily in debt.
Salaries are high, so much so that
candidates can afford to spend hun
dreds of dollars for whiskey and feed
ing half-breeds to get their votes. OF
course all of this comes out of the tax
payers in the end and shows that the
salaries are just that much too high.
Many of us don't drink whiskey and
are opposed to paying for that fed to
half-breeds.
We should conduct our elections in
free country like this so they would
be a credit to us in place of a disgrace.
Our woolgrowers generally feel bad
and one is said to have shed tears
over the Democratic victory. Some
Democratic woolgrowers are sorry
now for helping it along. At the pres
ent prices of mutton they can afford
to have the duty on best woods low
cred four cents and / SO advised Sena-
tors Sanders and Power before the
Mckinley bill was passed. The Demo
Gratis are not all fools any more than
the Republicans. They may take few
cents off from wool and tinker little
with other parts of the tariff laws,
but they know too well what absolute
free trade means to try or even dare
to adopt it. 1t was the offices they
were after and they got them princi-
pally through the influence of the AL
lance party, which would be no bet
ter than the Democrats or Republi-
cans, if in power, and the papal
authorities at Rome, who think pros
porous America should give little OF
her substance (by lowering the tariff)
in aid of their suffering Christian
bretheren in Europe.
Let us hope for the best.
JAMES FERGUS.