Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-09-27
Montana's Capital.
Butte Miner Sept. l6.

Butte Miner Sept. l6
Among the important questions to be
settled at the polls in November next is
that OF the location OF the seat OF govern
ment of Montana. On November 6 the
people of the state must meet this issue
and say by their votes whether the capital
shall remain in Helena or be removed to
Anaconda. Every voter in the state who
is of sound mind will take "A deep interest
in the contest. No citizen who appreciates
his citizenship can he indifferent or mega
tive. No property owner who knows the
Importance of just legislation can be neu-
tral. Certainly no newspaper which lays
claim to public respect an exponent of
good government can remain silent.
Within eight weeks the contest will be
ended and the verdict rendered. During
those eight weeks the people will be called
upon to consider the claims OF the rival
candidates and suffer as victims OF every
artilice and subteriuge known to politics.
Every string of prejudice will be played up
on; every word and act of men represent
ing the respective candidates will be magni-
fled or misconstrued, exaggerated or OBJ
secured, with a view to aiding one or the
other of the candidates.
The Miner is confident that the intelli-
gent people of the state will ignore all small
methods and set the seal of their diss p
proval upon the campaign tricks by which
unscrupulous partisans may seek to con-
fuse the public mind and appeal to the
passions instead of to the judgment and
patriotism Of men.
There may he some good reason why the
capital should be removed from Helena
and located at Anaconda, but if such rea-
son exists it has not been presented by any
newspaper or politician working in the in
terest Of Anaconda. The Miner believes
that it expresses the sentiments Of IA large
majority of the loyal and untrammelel
citizens of Montana when it says that snch
IA removal would me not only IA fiagrant
violation of every principle Of Justice and
common sense, but IL crime against pos.
terity and "A stigma upon the fair name OF
the state. That the campaign has To some
extent descended to personality and accri.
monious accusation is to he deplored.
There should he nothing personal about it
The question does not legitimately involve
the private and individual interests of any
man. 1t is not n question of whether this
or that man shall he victorious, but an is
sue which involves the general welfare. II
should not be a contest between ambitious
or avaricious persons, but matter o.
public spirit and public pride. 1t is not q
question betwe.n political manipulstors
but an issue which deals with the rights
perogatives and best interests OF every
man who hopes to see Montana grow anG
prosper free and independent state o
the union. The appeal should not be t.
the petty factionalsm or selfshness of tn,
little minded partisans. but to the honest,
and sincerity of the people. With this un
derstanding of the question and with a de
sire to represent the best interests of tn,
state the Miner is unalterably and emphat
ically opposed to the location of the capi
tai in a town which is owned and con
trolled by one corporation and in which
the press, trade, commerce and public sen
timent are under the dictation of men who
are not residents of the state. That tn
selection of such town the seat of gov
ernment would be Gala nifty no unbiase,
voter can deny, and that it is the duty O
the people to prevent the consummatiol
of what is known to be an attempt to sub
ordinate public interests to the avarice O
a dictatorial corporation all must admit
There is not another state in the unio'
where the proposition could be entertained
and the success Of the Anaconda boomer
would he an announcement to the worI,
that Montana had become political rot
ten borough in which true manhood WAS a
a discount aud crinsing subserviency t.
corporate power at premium.
| That it is the right Of the owners Of Ana
conda tn enter their town in the capita
race is true. and it is also true that it
| the right OF the voters to resent the audat
ity and rebuke the brazen assumption
which demand a complete surrender to th
will of a non resident corporation. With
out discussing men or assailing the chaI
acter of individuals. and with a full apprs
citation Of the lengths to which "a venal an
subsidized press will gu in AN attempt &
serve it's masters and earn its hire, tn
| Miner invites the a ttention of the voters {
Montana to the real issue and urges then
to patriotic and aggressive action. Th
location Of Montana's permanent seat {
government should not be made on nal
row. selfish orfactional grounds, nor shoul
the tactics OF the street crier. the war
politician or the itinersnt haberdasher in