The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-12
THE DEAD JOURNAL.


NsebHt Nfkb'ihtIOnH
To THE iNDErENDx In your account
to-day of the plans for resnscitnting the
journal, a mistake Yves made in quoting me.
the full Significance OF which was doubt
less not appreciated by the member Of your
staff who reported what / snid. Ihs plan
which has about failed Is not the one ION
which | came to Helena" 1t Ia one which
Was suggested by prominent citizens here
otter IN arrival, and accepted by mo more
because OF public and partisan considcra-
tiOna than because of the private interests
of any clients. Will You kindly make this
correction in your Mondays issue2
! would also ask some of your valuable
space for a further brief and final axplann-
tion. The afternoon publication hns taken
the position that Helena cannot su port
two morning papers Of opposing political
principles, and has thereby preoluded fair
consideration of anything II may say on
this subject; for nothing can he palmer
than That two sneh pa ers. at least, are not
~ .ely possible but even necessary in the
capital of the state. You silence uron this
subject makes me believe that you are not
blind to this necessity; and /, therefore. ask
yon to make public tho explanation which
10 due to my clients md myself.
Upon my arrival here the advantages of
kcal and impersonal management OF the
proposed paper were so u gently repre-
sented to me, that ] gave my consent to
these features upon condition that a fund
be raised to provide for any operating loss, 8
in establishing the paper. also consented
that she persons guaranteeing the fund
should havs ono half of the preferred stock
for their advances. Power to elect four
out of seven trustees was to be legally at
tached to this half of the preferred stock.
The object was to secure the cont oil of the
management to resident republicans and to
reyent the paper from becoming the Pc
sonal organ of any one Of them.
No objection was made to the form of the
proposal e~mbodying these ideas; but the of
fer itself has not been accepted within the
time limited. Whether it will be renewed, or
what other plan will be adopted, / do not
care to say. For, the valuable newspaper
plant and franchise, which were thus ten
dered to the public, have now become dis
tlnctly private property: and the disposition
to be- made of them is. 80 far as ! am con-
cerned, a matter of professional confidence.
The foregoing brief statement should, it
seems to me, be- sufficient to make it clear
that a liberal offer had been made with the
primary object of establishing n good par
tisan paper in this city, and that selfish
purposes have been subordinated to the in
terests OF tho patty and the public.
One other thing l find it impossible not
to say. While the connection of Mr.. Rus
sell b. Harrison with the paper has been
entirely disseve cd and a mere denial that
he would be connected with the proposed
paper would meet all requirements of the
present situation, yet l ounnot mention his
name without adding that much of the
criticism Of Mr.. Harrison has been con-
Quoted in a spirit of utter dis of his
efforts, and successful efforts, in behalf of
Helena and Montana He does not deserve
i'll of this community, and so far as l can
see the pity of it 10 that he is unable to
continue with his paper until the results of
his efforts are fully known and appreciated.
Having nov no friendly paper in my own
party in Helena, and confiding in the true
courtesy of honorable party warfare" ]
ask you to lay this communication before
your readers. Respectfully, etc..
LEW WALLACE, JR.
Helena, Dec. II.