Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-24

To the Editor of The Evening Sta-:
T., H.

To THE Editor of The Evening Sta-:
In your issue OF the 22d YOU have two
column article headed In Wicked Montana. -
very interesting. but very deceptive. Mr..
Carpenter. genial man and brilliant writer
has been III tine state of Montana delivering Il
course OF lectures. He is usually fair in his
statements. but in this instance he has gone out
of his way to write an article in line with east
ern sentiment and opinion on western matters
A person could with equal propr,etv and
justice write very interesting ESSAY
for the San Francisco Chronicle, head
1t "In Wicked Washington" select few
isolated cases of bribery, corruption gambling
or other vices. which can be found here
or anywhere else if carefully sought. and
sermonlZe AID moraiize on them until the good
people of San Francisco would hold ND their
hands in holy horror at the wicaedness and vice
at the nations capital. The statements made
might be true. just rs the statements made by
Mr.. Carpenter i'll the article referred to are
true al The same time it is fact that there is
no CITY n the Union more orderly. or where
the moral. social ard intellectual atmosphere
is more elevating and enncbling. than right
here in this good city of Washington. Facts
may be So perverted as to give impressions that
are uni us;. if no. entirely false.
The charges made by Mr.. Carpenter in con-
necton with the recent senatorial contest in
our state have been made time and time again
in Montana papers and not denied. and | fear
there is considerable truth in them. As a citi-
zen of Montana | dislike to say this. but wish
20 sugges. that because two muiti-mi.ionaires
have taken advantage of their wealth to de-
bauch half a dozen legislators it does not fol-
low that the politicians take it as n matter of
course, or that there are more laughs over
IL than frowns." Those statements are not
true, and venture to say that at the first OPP
portunity the people Of Montana will show
that they do not approve of bribery or corrup-
ton or vice In any form and will teach the men
who have stained the good name and reputa-
ton of the state that they who misunderstood
the legitimate uses of wealth and brazenly
rely upon il 10 satisfy their political ambitions
cannot expect any favors al the hands of the
people they have insulted and disgraced
1t Is true that gambling and card playing
are more open in Montana than they are in the
east, but l wish to insert in parcntheces after
the word open the words ''but no: lore gen.
eral, 80 as to read: Gambling and card play
ing are more open (but not more genera!) in
Montana than they are in the east
But would fad no fault with the article did
1t not tend to give an erroneous impression re-
garding the state and its people 1t is well
written and as far as it enters into the subjects
discussed is true. But it is an ex-parte state
ment. in which the author has endeavored to
write such an article as would justify the title
Wicked Montana"
Now, let me say. the state Of Montana has a
population of 200 000-a people as intelligent.
as enterprising. progressive, as law-abidinp'
as loyal as can be found in any state in this
Union. 1t is just as unsafe to commit crime in
Montana as 1t is in the city of Washington. In
fact.I feel sure, although have no statistics
before me, that crime is less prevalent in pro-
| portion to population in the state Of Montana
| than IN most sections of the country, It is
well known that some people take delight in
magnifyins any violation OF law and order that
occurs in the Rocky mountains A large
proportion OF our population is made up
| Of miners, men who work down in the
bowels of the earth, extracting the yellow
and white metals that add SO much TO the
wealth OF the world. These men are laborers
who earn their living by industry and toll. and
1t is unnecessary to state that a hard working
man is rarely criminal. Incidence beeets vice
and crime; labor is noble, elevating and honest.
There are very few if any idle people in the
Rocky mountains. Every one has some object
in view, some work before him, and that in
itself is proof sufficient, it seems to me, that
there is minimum Of crime in the mountain
state. although Mr.. Carpenter has seen at to
denominste it wicked Montana"
| Very respectfully, l. HAMBuRarR.
ABOUT sixty pieces Of elegant furniture in
GLIDING some fine antique mahogany, to be
sold, BY catalogue, at Latimer d Sloan's, 1407
| Il street. tOmorrow at 2.90 N m = Id~f