The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-24
WORD TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Gentlemen: Are you Satlsneu Wlth
your achievements during the session
that is drawing to close, and do you
think the record you have made is n
which reflects credit on You as the rep
resentatives of a great commonwealth?
Although you may be on excellent terms
with yourselves there are many people
with sins of omission and commission,
and it is for the purpose of letting you
know what the people are thinking and
saying about you that these lines are
written.
We will pass by the university separa-
ton laws you have passed; the emascu-
lation of the anti Pinker,on law, which
you permitted; the raising of the salaries
of $1,000 men to $1,000, and over, and
several other matters of minor impor-
lance, and cal. your attention at this
time to the senatorial question alone.
Do you fiatter yourselves that you
have done your duty in this matter! If
you do you need not lay the tlattering
JUNCTION to your souls that the voters of
this state agree with you. They do not.
They think YOU have been recreant to
your oaths. You swore to protect the
honor and dignity of the state and you
have permitted both to he dragged in
the slime Of personal rancour and hate,
You have made the state a by-Word and
q laughing, stock to the world, and if re-
ports are true some Of you have Of late
entered into Z compact called the CLARK
or nothing agreement, whichis an insult
10 the state and q disgrace TO every man
concerned in it.
What do the people think Of your
course: Have you cared to enquire or
to know? As early as a month ago you
might have heard their dictum. they
said then, as they say now:
The irrepressible conflict between the
Clark ard Dixon factions renders i'm
possible the election of either of these
men. Unite at once on a man who can
secure the support of all"
But have you done anything in this
line: No, you have permitted Mr..
Clark to play the dog in the manger"
even after the opposing faction has sig
nitied its willingness to Withdraw.
How the republicans vote is of little
Importance, as they are not in shape to
elect; but this very fact makes the dila-
tory action of democratic members the
more reprehensible. Can you deny that
every consideration of the states inter
est and advantage has been sacrificed
for the purpose of pandering to II
mans personal ambition? and are you
prepared to prove to the people that
your motives in the premises have been
disinterested!
1t is your bounden duty to elect IL
senator at once. No mans selfish ambi-
ton can be permitted longer to stand in
the way. You have the votes to elect
any other man who might be brought
forward, but you can never elect Clark
or Dixon. The people demand that you
elect d senator; hat he be d democrat
and a free silver man. They 10 not de-
mand that you submit to an eternal
deadlock to accomplish the wishes of
any man. Your failure to act will prob
ably result in Montana being deprived of
half of her representation for the next
two years in the United States senate, as
the appointee Of the governor would not
be necessarily seated by the senate. In
deed, there are strong reasons for be-
believing that the senate will not admit
him. Therefore. the democrats must
elect. or Montana will be without a sen
ator.