The weekly tribune., 1894-09-21
THE VALLEY CITY
Belt Miners Turn Ont En- Masse and
Declare For Anaconda For
the Capital,
R0USING MEETING LAST NIGHT
Enthusiasm Was the Rule and tie
Sentiment For Anaconda
Unanimous.

II the audience that took part at the
meeting of the Bolt Anaconda for the
capital club last night be any criterion
there will not be vote cast for Helena
In the pretty camp that nestles in the
valley, surrounded by monster mines
and peopled by industrious, hard work
ing miners
The hall in which the meeting was
held is a large one, capable of seating
400, and it was literally packed. A fair
estimate being 600 The occasion brought
out the Anaconda for the capital brass
band. composed of sixteen pieces, under
the leadership of Nick Miettunen, which
rendered selections in a most admirable
manner and to the delight Of the assem-
blage. Among the audience were quite
a number of ladies' who were interested
spectators.
IL there was Helena for the capital
man in Belt last night be did not make
his presence known and he must have
felt exceeding lonesome and despirited
as ne saw the gathering of Anaconda
men, heard the speeches and the en-
thuslastic applause that interrupted
the speakers, and witnessed the univers-
al Anaconda sentiment that prevailed
and found expression after the meeting
in huge boniires and cheers. Belt is in
line for Anaconda and no mistake.
The meeting was called to order by
Robt. Hendry, president of the Belt,
Anaconda for the Capital club, who
stated that the object of the gathering
was to give expression to the sentiment
of the voters Of Belt upon the capital
question and that sentiment, as the
meeting demonstrated, was in favor of
Anaconda Applause, Several speak
ers would address the meeting and give
good reasons why Helena should not
and Anaconda should be selected as the
location for the permanent capital. He
then introduced Judge John Hoffman
JUDGE HOFFMAN
said he was surprised when he arrived
in the city. When he was here last
there was but little hamlet and a
meeting OF over fifty could not have been
gathered. Now he was greeted by one
of the largest audiences that had as
sembled in Cascade county during the
contest. He knew that like himself
most Of them were not here for their
health, though the climate was one of
the best God ever vouchsafed to the
Mt hax hnr To Nal lya l,,rtk,
and to make money of they could. 1t
was Il matter Of interest to
them to support that place for the
capital that would best subserye the
interests Of Great Falls and Belt. He
spoke OF the upbuilding OF Great Falls
and what it had accomplished in the
face of difficulties and abuse and oppo-
sition from Helena. Among those who
were instrumental in building Great
Falls and also in developing Belt was
the Anaconda company and Marcus
DAILY. Applause. What they had al
ready done was but an earnest of what
they would do, and he wished there
were a dozen Marcus Days and they all
lived at Great Falls Applause What
aided Great Falls would aid Belt, for it
woulp increase the demand for coal and
give work to workingmen.
Helena had no reason to claim
the capital except that it was
there now and the foolish reason that it
was the geographical center, and he pro-
ceeded to show the absurdity OF the
claim in both respects. In closing he
said there was not one reason why Hell
ena should receive the vote Of a single
workingman in the state, especially in
Great Falls and Belt, but every reason
that self interest could dictate would
cause them to vote for Anaconda. Ap-
plause
NON, 7. +. COLLINS
was next introduced and said this was
to be one of the most important cleo
tions ever held in the state for it would
determine whether northern Montana
same old Helena clique should continue
to run things here and elsewhere in the
state. Whether the mines Of the
state should be developed or wheth-
er they should stand still. He
had been in Montana for thirty years
and for seventeen years had worked in
the mines, and he knew that the Helena
clique had always controlled the state.
The people were tired of this and now
Silver Bow, Cascade, and Deer Lodge
proposed to vote together and take
charge and let Helena have back seat.
Appiause.I He had known Marcus
DAILY since '78, and know that he had
worked hard to earn a living in early |
lays, and now that he had reached his |
present position all right-thinking men
we're proud of him. A voice, Bully for
he old manw] Applause.
Mr.. Collins spoke of the foolish claim |
# Helena as being the geographical
IT the business or population center
II the state, for the one was at Ubet in
Fergus county and the other was at
Butte.
He next spoke of the beauties Of Ana
.onda and described the advantages it
possessed as place Of residence. The
melter, he declared, was one of the in
lustrial wnndars of the world but so