The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-10-29
THE BURNING QUESTION
Shall Corporate Power Control ths
Future Destlnles OF q
Great State 2
An Able Address Delivered by tho
Rev Joseph II. Crooker
Yesterday.
The Capital Contest In Montana Treated
Ersm tho nigh standard Of Morality
and Patriotism.

Al the harvest festival celebration. at
the Congregational church yesterday
afternoon, most delightful musical
and literary programme was rendered.
The ministers present were Rev. DIR.
Thomas Cooper. pastor OF the church;
Rev. ], II, Shelton, Of the Methodist
church South, and Rev. Joseph II.
crooker. OF tho Unitarian society. Tho
church was filled with an interested
audience. The musical features con-
sisted Of solos by Mrs. d. B. Carpenter
and Miss LallR Brooke; a duet by Mrs.
a. II. Hersey and Mrs A. ii. Adams;
a violin solo by N. IL. Mason; a piano
solo by Mrs. II. E. Beck. and singing
by the choir. The literary part con-
sisted OF recitations by Miss Edith
Joyce DeVore and a reading by Flor
ence Fisk. BY invitation OF DIR. Cooper.
Rev. Joseph II. Crooker delivered an
address. He said:
Where shall the permanent capital
or the state OF Montana be located?
There Is only one reasonable and patri-
this question. The problem involved is
perfectly plain and simple; the answer
absolutely clear and unmistakable.
Where the convenience Of the largest
majority OF our population. and where
the highest and most enduring inter
ests of the commonwealth can be
served and protected. there locate Il.
This In the only answer that common
sense can give. To be Bwayed for a
moment by passion or prejudice would
be disloyal; TO consider the petty per-
sonal advantage OF the passing hour to
the neglect OF the state nj large would
In the end mean our own loss and dis
comfort. To do simply what will for
the time please the inhabitants Of a
single town would be an unworthy
course TO follow. 10 seek some sordid
gain from an unholy exercise OF the
franchise would be a reasonable act
too despicable for an American citizen;
for this would be an act that would dis
grace our state and call do wn the bitter
curses OF posterity.
IL Is not essential 20 the prosperity OF
Helena that the seat OF government be
permanently established here IL, my
Judgment far too much Importance has
been attached to this matter by our
citizens, What makes a city great and
|
and public spirit OF It's business men
and the moral and intellectual chArac.
yer OF its people. Why is this Queen
city or the Rockies passlonately be.
loved by those or us who reside here
and famed far and wide aa one OF the
most remarkable communities OF the
| world2 Because IL has for few years
been the capital OF the territory This
has certainly had very little to do with
II. The reason II as plain az MONDAY
It's business men have had courage. in.
dustry and foresight. It's citizens have
shown zeal foredueation. books and tht
things that make for civilization. ItS
people have built up homes that are q
delight TO visit. There are certainly
enough evils still In our midst to cause
regret and create zeal for their over.
throw, but the facts and factors named
| are those that make the success OF Hell
ena to-day; and these are the lines OF
its growth and prosperity for the fu
ture.
II great interests OF the state were moi
at stake, l should think II very un.
seeming for our city to battle for the
possession OF what ought to come e
Il freely and graciously, simply by tn,
force OF gravity and the irresistible
logic OF the situation. So far as Helena
is commercially concerned. / think thai
the capital question deserves little at,
tention. But as citizens Of Montana, we
must not be Indifferent TO it's great In
| terest, and when n momentous wrong Il
| planned that strikes at its very state
hood, the gravity OF the situation ought
to stir our patriotism and command oul
most enthusiastic devotion. There 1,
many another town in our state tha'
would make a good location for our sea
/ Loo Aa.s ha
places are not now under consideration
The choice has been narrowed TO Hell
ena and It's rival. And in the contest
our city Is simply the standard bearer
for the state. People In the nation n
large instantly, heartily, unanimously
declare In our favor. They feel the mag
nitude of the struggle. They see In tn,
campaign OF our rival a menace 20 tn,
welfare OF the commonwealth. Thsl
realize that the contest is between
wealth and commonwealth. They plead
with us to be true 90 our citizenship
that our example may help them in thei
fight against the tiger spirit Of greed
and corruption. Every statesman out
side our bounds wishes us success. 70
he sees that the cause Of good govern
ment is bound up In our victory. II 4
certainly strange that any one Bhoul,
be found In our borders willing to d
what everyone outside our state will
condemn as monstrous blunder 70
ourselves. and nothing less than u crim
against posterity.
VIII any ono say. I'VE arc settling
this thing for ourselves and not for out
siders7" Let US remember, N we SHOW
by our actions In this matter that vi
are destitute OF ordinary honor, patri
otism and good sense. what brlgh
young man will come TO US to seek hi
fortune and help make oursg The yer!
men Of brain and Drawn and capita
we need TO develop our resources, Il
build up our Industries. and N adori
our state, Will Hpurn us and seek som,
other location submit 60 the calm
CONSIDERATION OF our voters this propo
sitlon; DO you want Il said by th
students In every college town In ou
land, Montana has committed suioid
and young men may we'll ehun tina
atAtef There is no chance for one 4
rise In state where boss controls tn
political field from the primary 10 tn
election or n United States senator 2
DO you want II talked on winter even
ings all through the countrywide b,
farmer lads. We VIII not settle Rmonl
people who either sold their votes o
used them with neither common sens
nor Patriotism" DO you want ever,
man who IN seeking place for bust
ness venture 60 decide against Us an
declare, II will not risk my money In
community that walked dsliherAtel
into such a trAp7" DO you want 10.
600 900 school boys and girls, as the,
study tho geography of Montana, {
wonder nj our supreme foolishnees 4
the location of our capital, and VOW 4
their hearts that they will never loeAt
In such a landf
Possibly some one will say. "Wh
cares for posterlty or the future of IA
statef Let me pass by all appeals I
state pride. Surely those who hav
such feelings win not vote to make III