The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-10-29


ignore all conaiderati0Ds OF patriotism.
Those who care for the purity OF goy-
ernmcnt which means safety OF person
and property viii not fall Into trap
Hrt by corporation, though dingulHnu
by gorgeous promise and baltod with
honey praises. Let me leave unHhld
the plea 10 American manhood. Those
who put conscience and conviction into
thoir ballot viii not use them 20 Tlvet
the tyranny OF capital upon the brains,
hearts and hands OF our laborerB.
but let mo touch this subject from
the Bido Of self interest You may not
caro- for posterity, but there are thou
sands. tho only men and women worth
having Rs state makers, who will Hhun
W. nB "A leprOus community II We prove
by our ballots that we ure Indifferent
90 the rights and convenience Of future
generations You may not care for
state prldo, but the mon with money 20
buy your lands and muscle 20 work
your mines, will epurn va az outcnatn
among whom 10 IL not safe 10 raise
their children, n we walk as willing
slaves ~ tho music OF mere EhokolB.
Let us pause and consider for "A mo-
ment Who proposed this rival town
nA location for the capital2 Did
popular and spontaneous upriHlnR Sc
lect n. Has the calm, unbiased reason
OF any one approved it2 II IA not neces-
sary 10 Indulge In unkind remarks
about II. That there are many good
people In II I have no doubt. But Is u
not true that It's first mention In this
connection was generally treated as a
huge joker IL IL not true that the
movement IN its behalf has been manu-
factured by the use OF money by the
use OF a great deal Of money, ] do not
say how corruptly2 Is II not true that
tho sentiment In It's favor has been
solely created by promises that appeal
10 what IN most selfish In us2 Is II not
true that at present Herculean Efforts
are being nude, OF what character
Language fails 10 describe, by a glgan-
tic corporation TO win TO It's lap our seat
OF government
Now, one great question OF serious
Importance presses upon ua. Why does
that gigantic corporation 30 madly
seek 20 secure our seat OF government
Why such tremendous anxiety 20 pos
sess III Why pour out for II such vast
sums OF money? Why Invent such
dark plans, stretch such large nets. bait
with hlthy lucre 80 many hooks, put
forth such tremendous energies and
embroil the state in such bitter fights
There must be eOm0 Interior object
back OF this lavish use OF money which
means harm TO us and which we may
well fear. These men are not conspicu-
Gus as philanthroplsts They are not
cunning for charity. Nothing In their
history warrants the Inference that
they want TO locate our governor,
Judges and legislators where they may
breathe innocent atmosphere and be
free from temptation. The very Rnri-
ETY. OF this corporation to possess the
capital may we'll be the source OF our
alarm and the measure OF opposition
No legitimate use OF the capital could
be worth 40 much to that monopoly
What Is sought. ut such vast expense
must be desired for more than ordinary
purposes. What Is fought for by tbs
weapons used. cannot be desired for th'
good OF the state. IL such methods ar'
used 10 gain possession, to what endl
will II be used when posssssed7 Ar
these newspapers bought and saloonl
subsidized simply TO put our seat o
government where officials may calmly
; study the lives OF the saints anC
: easily practice the golden rule? Th'
great anxiety OF this corporation to Sc
cure the capital is reason enough VIII,
Il ought not to have II. The extent ant
, character OF Its activity indicates 4
purpose which means infinite harm e
/, our commonwealth. There must b'
some far-reaching plot OF which thi'
10 the mere prelude. VIII the last ac'
be a state government, enacting laws
against labor unions following policies
that make workmen serfs. and perfect
, ing a system where the voter mechani'
, cally casts his ballot for legislator,
that does the bidding OF one mani
1t is felt by all patriotic citizens thai
the most alarming feature OF American
life to-day Is the unscrupulous use OF
money in elections, making the ballot
piece of merchandise and turning leg
: islative halls into market places where
the highest bidder makes laws TO en-
rich himself at the expense OF the pub
, lie. Whatever else may be needed II
our land. this one thing is sure. II this
method OF corruption, connected as 4
Is with corporate aggression, IL not re
buked and repressed, II will blast al
. the glorious dreams of our forefatherl
and destroy our republican form OF gov
ernment The persons most L
be feared is the boss. who seeks TO shar'
In public affairs by bribery, for as hi'
power grows the chance OF the labore
for employment will lessen and hi
, fortune that could befall Montani
! would be the declaration by our vote
! that we do not care for the freedom o
/ our elections from corruptions and brib
, cry, or the protection OF our laborer
! from despotic legislation. II would b
far reaching and many sided mlsfor
tune, for Il would touch with a bligh
! every workman in his humble cabin
and it would weaken the bands that re
/ strain vice and immortality.
IL In not necessary 70 suppose that al
the public men OF Helena have beef
saints, or that the corporation In oppo
, sition is wholly corrupt, 20 give graYit!
, and importance TO these statements
II a tenth that is loudly asserted IL tru
i there has In the past been very mucl
, corruption on both sides OF the noun
I tains and In all political parties. on
i thing Ia as sure as the law OF gravity,
terrible Judgment win fall on this ricl
r and beautiful region II we ignore th
principles OF morality which experienc
, has shown us are the only basis, no
1 alone OF civilization. but OF buslnes
. prosperity. And the supreme duty q
4 every patriot too day Is 10 strike hardes
, whenever the monster OF political cor
/. ruption Is most active. The mother VIII
Kills the serpent just ready 10 Hprin
? upon her child. does not consider II IN
: only serpent In existence or the worst. bu
. the one most dangerous then, the one I
y he killed as quickly as possible, 30 her
! IL a serpent which we can strike ana b
: pcrfectiy sure that we are hitting tn
4 enemy OF good government The on
/, great thing which we are called upo
i 10 do with all our might az this particu
, lar movement ia 60 overthrow the dar
, design OF that giant corporation. whic
!, is in the feld against our liberties an
|, the prosperity OF the state. and whic
is the most To be- feared and first TO b
!, attacked, because its knife In tho longes
!. and even now IN near our heart
. Fellow citizens: We have before us
: tremendous danger and sublime duty
= The opportunity for doing monuments
!. deeds for the cause of liberty Is our
!, These. too. are times that try men
. souls When we look Hobcrly at IN
situation, what Is trivial, and petty an
!, transient falls away and VIZ see risln
!, before us the future welfare OF greu
!. state Shall we have the mnnhoo