The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-02
SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
Argument for, and Remonstrance
Against, the Bill for Its
Creation,
All Taxpayers in the New County
Said to Support the
Measure.
Pc Contra. Park County. 1t Is Hold,
Would Suffer Serious Injustice by
.. Being Divided.

To TIE INDEPENDENT: The personal at
tacks upon Senator Hatch and Representa-
tive Van Cleve by the enemies Of the pro-
posed county of Sweet Grass. have been so
libelous and altogether uucalled for. that
they demand rsfutation. 1t is said that the
non-division of Park county WAS a cam
paicn issue. This is AZ erroneous state
msnt, 40 the formation OF Sweet Grass
bounty was not contemplated until after
the general election. Senator Hatch IL ao-
oussd of being interested in the passage OF
this bill for %pecuniary reasons. While he
il a resident Of Big Timber he has not q
very extensive property in that town, nc
more than Q man of thrift would naturally
acquire in his abiding place. MI. Van
Cleve lives thirty miles from Big Timber
and has NO interests In that place. he ID.
II not the largest. certainly n Of shs
heaviest taxpayers In our section OF ths
country, and would not be At ell liable to
work for Tho furtherancs of any scheme
which would increase his v assessment.
1t is also urged by the people OF LivinRs-
ton that the two legislators owed their
election TO pledges to preserve the unity OF
Park county. This 10 l%auehabls in view OF
the fact that Senator Hatch and Repre-
sentative Van Glove were only saved from
defeat by their personal popularity outside
Of Livingston. and were elected by the
votes of men who had been their neighbors
and most intimate friends during the past
seven years. both republicans and demo-
Gratis. In their own precinct they polled
235 out of q total vote of 302.
Now these friends and neighbors. who
are the constituents of Mr.. Hatch and Mr..
Van Clevs. AZ we'll as are the people OF
Livingston. demand separation from Park
bounty for many and valid reasons. and it
is plainly tho duty Of Mr.. Hatch and NJ.
Van Clsve TO do all in their power to bring
about such a result.
American institutions are based upon the
policy OF local sslf-eovernmsnt. The
smaller the confines Of any territory which
can be made sslf-sustaining. the more sue
csssfully and economically can its opera
lions be conducted.
To say nothing OF, OF rather to merely
hint at. tho careless and unbusinsss-liks
manner in which tho officials of Park have
mismanaged county affairs, and the motor
ious fact that VI at Its eastern end know
nothing Of the use to which our money has
been put,-thst We are allowed NO commits
sionsr, have been steadily refused roads,
bridges and other needed imp,ovenents.-
W feel that 40 We are burdsned beyond the
ordinary tax in the outlay Of money and
time required to make q long journey to
our present county seat, that tho our de-
mand is . Just one and entitled to consid-
GRAFTON.
There ID NO protest from within the Dor
dsrs Of the proposed county.
Livingston takes q most childish and pet
ulant view of the situation, bat 'history
repeats ITSELF" and there has never been a
proposed county division in Montana which
did not find just such opposition and which
the ultimate results did not prove to have
been wise and beneficial. Gallatin was op-
posed to the formation OF Park county. but
has since %prospersd az greatly as if thee
were no imaginary line on top OF the Belt
mountains. The creation of Silver Bow
was 40 stoutly opposed. but no sane person
oontsmplates its r%sattachment to Deer
Lodge. So on ws might cite al ~intinity of
instances which would add nothing to the
strength or the justice of our case. but
which might teach Livingston the %futility
of attempting to block the necessary course
of affairs, and from which, if she cared 80
to do, she might learn q useful and in
stsuotivs lesson. MELVILLE PRECINCT.