The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-26
INDIANAPOLIS.
WAR AGAINST DUDES.
How Anaconda Hopes to Deprive
Helena of Montana's Capital.

W. Z. Curtis, in Chicago Record.
The good people of Montana are all torn
up this fall by one of the bitterest, as
that ever occurred in this country. There
Is a State ticket to elect and county officers
everywhere, and a legislature that is to
Senate, but those responsibilities are at
tracing little attention. The brains, the
passions and the greed of the entire popu-
lation are absorbed in a struggle over the
location of the capital of the State, which
the most wealthy and corrupt corporation
within its limits has determined to transfer,
as a real-estate speculation, from the larg-
est and most suitable city to a little min
ing town called Anaconda, in the Bitter
Root mountains. Helena became the capt.
tai Of the Territory in 1s47 and the Legisla-
ture has met there by common consent
ever since the admission of Montana into
the Union: Two years ago a vote of the
nent capital. There were seven cities in
the race. but none Of them received a ma
highest, which were Helena and Anaconda,
should light 1t out this fall. In 1892 Helena
received 400 votes, Anaconda 10, 1S3, Butte
Lodge 9S3 and Boulder 295. The struggle
nominally, is between the people on the two
sides of the mountains. Boulder, Bozeman
eastern slope of the divide. and in 1892 they
received votes enough to hav carried the
The most clever and effective campaign
document is a handsomely printed and IL
Illustrated pamphlet bound in embossed COW
ers. which purports to be intended to DEM
o%nstrate the attractions Of Helena for
fashionable folk: It is entitled. "Helena's
The sumptuous homes Of the aristocracy:
the elegance. refinement and intellectual
superiority of the peoples. the dinner par
ties, high teas and balls; the fine dresses of
the ladies and their idle and luxurious life:
the beautiful garments of the children; the
adherence of the people to fashionable
changes In raiment; the number of liveried
artyo &C.. flA Erapal, nt.~Cn~ a-I v~1cz.oto
al cooks that are employed are described
In glowing colors and In just the right way
to excite the prejudice and antagonism of
the hard-worked farmer and miner and the
rest of the voters who wear hob-nailed
shoes and flannel shirts.
There are some interesting statistics
showing the number of silk stockings, kid
gloves, silk hats, Havana cigars, Turkish
cigarettes and other luxuries that are sold
each month in Helena; the trade in books,
fine pictures, pianos and corrections. There
are graphic descriptions of some of the
handsomest residences and the clubs, Of
which every resident of Helena is justly
proud.
In the same pages Anaconda is sneered
smoke pipes, chew plug tobacco, drink
whisky and use bad grammar. 1t is ar
gued in the comparison that the capital
should go to Helena because ii is the only
aristocratic city in the State that leads in
fashion, culture and art, while Anaconda
is exclusively peopled by common working
men, without money or manners. And to
cap the climax a statistical table is given
showing a difference in the customs and
habits of the two cities. The following are
some Of the figures:
Ana