The Helena independent., 1893-09-04
lIiI2 WEATHER.
NO RIGHT TO PREJUDICE

What right has tho governor to pre-
judge what the action of the legislature
will be? 1t is his duty to call the Nom
bers together and it is their duty t:
elect IT they fail in their duty the
governor is not responsible; if he fails
in his he is responsible, and the people
will hold him to strict account. The
the remedy so apparent that no one in
Montana can fail to grasp the entire sit
uation. Mr.. Richards did not PREJUDICE
the action Of tho United States senate
last spring nor wait for an expression of
the sentiments of the people before ap-
pointing Mr.. Mantle.
The seat Of Mr.. Sanders was barely
made vacant by the adjournment of
congress when the appointment Of Man
tie was flashed over tho wires to Butte,
with instructions to the appointee to
take the first train to Washington, whore
his credentials would await him. The
people of Montana cannot fail to ask if
the needs OF Montana were so urgent
then why are they less so now? The
chief industry of Montana was not in
danger Of immediate humiliation at
that time; today it is. When the final
vote on the repeal of the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman law is taken in
the senate q single ballot may decide
whether the silver mines of Montana
shall Immediately resume operations or
whether they shall remain idle for an
indefinite period.
But even if the friends and enemies
Of silver were not SO evenly balanced in
the senate it would still be the duty of
Montana to do everything in her power
to strengthen the hands of those who
are SO nobly fighting in her interests
We are more deeply interested than any
other state in the Union, because we
have more at stake. Our citizens have
contributed tens of thousands of dol
lars for the purpose of sending dele
gates to Chicago and Washington to in
directly help the cause of silver, and
now, on the puerile ground that it will
entail slight expense upon the state,
We hesitate to send a single representa-
tive whose weight and influence would |
he directly and powerfully felt.
What a humiliating spectacle it is to
see the great state of Montana one day
boasting her wonderful resources and
wealth and the next day pleading pow
erty and begging the little state of Ne
vada to look after her interests in CON
eress because she is too poor to look
after them herself.
And who is responsible for placing
Montana in this despicable light in the
eyes OF her sister states9 Gov. Rick
ards, you can't dodge the issue. You
cannot shirk the responsibilities of the
Office you proudly accepted and transfer
them to the shoulders of your constitu-
ents. You did not wait for an appeal
from the people before doing your duty
rs you understood it on the fourth day
of last March. You cannot wait now
for an appeal from the people to do
your duty as lou understand it without
being considered gravely derelic. in the
performance Of that duty. There is not
a moment to lose. The eyes of tho peo-
PIE are upon you. Be wise in time.
Rise to the occasion ard call the NOM
bers OF the Legislature together before
there is such an overwhelming demand
for it that the functions Of your Office
will be practically wrenched from your
hands, and the word 60 forth that Mon.
tana has governor who will not do his
plain duty until forced to it by the un-
club of public opinion.