The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-10-29
PLACE OF THE CAPITAL.
I'm mpartial Discussion OF the Merits
OF tho Two Cities Now In
the Race
Every High Minded Citizon Deeply
Interested In tho Welfare
Of tho State.
10 Those who Love MsatanA Th's Writes
Appeals In Earnest words Of
ThouKhtfainoss.


To The Independent:
This question, the final disposition OF
which is near at hand. becomes q very
Important one. the more important be-
cause OF the peculiar and widely dis
similar character OF the two cities ns-
plrlng 10 the high honor, and because
Of the misleading representations and
arguments advanced IN dealing With
the mnttcr. Absurd. indeed, II the I'M
preston that seems 10 prevail very
widely. that this question does not con-
cern. TO any great extent. the average
voter. but only the few who are sup
posed 20 have material interests at
stake. or who are. 20 a greater or less
extent, concerned In affairs OF state
government. no that the location OF the
capital would be question OF con-
venienco 10 them.
Every high-minded citizen must feel
a deep interest in question which con-
Germs the welfare OF his state. The
charge has been made that the public
press In modern times has become cor
rupt and unprincipled. but no more
forcible. no more lamentable cxemplif-
cation OF this fact could be found than
the spectacle OF those journals. here In
the state OF Montana, which two years
ago were advocating the claims OF Hell
ena for the capital. and are now Just
as persiatently advocating the claims
OF Anaconda. Will the thoughtful and
upright citizens OF this fair young COM
monwealth be influenced by such
methodist Impossible
The people directly by their ballots.
after careful reflection. may express
their will. Not the corruption or the
venality OF representatives can betray
! them. II, therefore, they decree that
the capital shall be located at place
which IL unsuitable, and which shall
cause years OF diHsatiHfaction. and at
last the expense OF removal, the respon-
slbility and the blame will always rest
upon them. They can csnsure no one
but themselves.
There may be many cities in a state
there may be m this state-any one OF
which would be suitable for the loca-
tion OF a state capital. But no city
without something 20 give the asnur-
ance OF permsnence and steady ad-
vancement and growth. can by any
means be accounted suitable. No city
dependent upon 4 single Industry can
possibly have any assurance OF per-
manence.
on the contrary. a city having nat
ural advantages OF location. sur
rounded by varied natural resources.
attracts 10 iteelf always new CONNER
cial and business enterprises. Rail-
roads bend thither their tracks OF steel.
The hum Of industry greets the ear.
The pulsatlons OF commerce quicken
every energy and every faculty unto
life. Every feature and accompnni-
ment of civilization, and all the Rttrac-
tions that minister TO refined public
sentiment fnd there n dwelling place.
Libraries are established and school
houses and churches are built, and the
city becomes characterized by intsui-
gence, refinement and culture. No
combination OF wealth can determine
it's fate. or cause It's people 20 desert
their homes. and leave Its edifices to de-
cay and Its spires 60 fall amidst the
ruins.
Every city has its evils, seliishness
and greed. vice and crime. meanuess
and ignominy. II may be good argu-
ment that because the biblical ten
righteous men" cannot be found In a
city, therefore the capital should be
carried away from that city. even to
the ultima thule OF Montana. But how
about this ultima thule7 Are there any
righteous men there2 Yes, we arV In
formed on the best OF authority that
there IL certainly one. Then surely let
the city be saved. But, seriously are
questions like these the temporary diff
ferences between capital and labor. the
alleged generosity OF an individual 90
be given any weight In the considera-
tion OF n matter OF so general impor-
tanoe. a matter the settlement Of which
will be felt for good or evil. and for all
time 10 come. by every citizen OF this
stato7 He who would be influenced by
personal animoHlty or disaffection, or
by motives founded upon likes or dis
likes. would make a most fatal mistake.
The policies and tactics OF capital may
differ somewhat, but wherever capital
is found Its principles and tsnets are
essentially the same. Everywhere IL
has one object, that OF gain. When a
corporation should raise the wages OF
Its employees above the rates estab-
liahed by trades unions. believing that
Its employees should be paid more than
they had been receiving, and that, by
thus increasing wages, II would induce
other corporations to do likewise, then
there would be some tangible evidence
or such thing as the mRgnanimity Of
corporate wealth Let not labor be de-
celyed by the pretenhes OF capital
Personal zeal and the hope OF person
al ACKNOWLEDGMENT have diverted tho
public mind away almost entirely from
a consideration Of the real merita OF the
capital question. This contest Is mar
rowed down 60 . choice between two
cities. Can anyone. who IL acquainted
In tho slightest degree with those two
cities. hesitate about deciding as 20
which OF them has the greater facilities
or which Is mors suitable for the cap
itol? Would anyone. II he had been
asked 10 name the cltiea OF Montana
which he would regard hs suitable
places for the capital, would he. relying
entirely upon his own Judgment. have
named Anaconda as one OF them1 III
so, could he have named one reason
whyf IL has been said that Anaconda
IL beautiful city. and that around this
city nature has been very lavish In be-
slowing charming scenery and land
scnpa beauty, No malice toward Ana
conda Give Anaconda credit for that
which belongs To Anaconda. IL II IA proa.
porous amelter city; an example OF
wonderful growth, an attests ton Of the
mnrvela that may be accomplished by
perseverance, and enterprise, Yet ho
not 80 deceived as to believe that any
ono would seek n as n place 10 retire
TO build "A residence, or tO establinh \
business. having full confidence thHt n
! would always be- what II N now, or that
II would nome time grow out of n smell.
ter city 90 one depending upon other
, and more permanent industries.
A capital should not bo m0fcly \
place whore public officials are 20 meet
7 and perform their respective duties re-
: Hating 10 the n6Aira OF state, and then
5 retreat in haste. glad 10 live clsewhefs
aa large IA portion of the time aH poaal-