The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-10-27
WHERE

questions OF the hour. Let us examine
somewhat the arguments that were pre-
scented to us at the recent capital debate
and see at what conclusions we may be
able to arrive. We were told that or
gained labor and its friends should sup
port Anaconda, because legislation in
that place will be in atmosphere friendly
to working people. Furthermore, that
this is not MIR. Days fight, but d fight of
organized labor all over the state against
Helena for the capital. Finally. that
"Helena is dead but doesn't know it,"
Let us see. Where is the citadel of
organized labor in Montana 2 We all
know it to be in Butte and not else
where. If this is not Mr.. Days fight,
why is it that Anaconda holds second
place instead of Butte If, as we are
told, this is not Mr.. Daly's fight why
does Anaconda receive the support of the
Great Northern railway and the Great
Falls Townsite company! If this is not
Mr.. Days fight, why is it that so much
Anaconda money is circulating this fall?
Is organized labor paying the expenses
now, or is it to pay them afterwards Or
is this to mean that the expenses of this
campaign are being paid out of what has
been saved by the Anaconda company in
recent years through the reduction of
wages below those of Butte!
We are also told that the people of
Montana are intelligent enough to elect
representatives that cannot be unduly in
fluenced by Mr.. DAILY or anybody else. If
this be the case, and we will suppose it to
be, why is there such deadly fear of Hell
ena's influence? Is Helena Doodle so
much more seductive than Anaconda
Doodle Why is the dollar taken out
of Last Chance gulch so much greater a
temptation to our legislators than the
one dug out of the granite hills of Silver
Bow county, But if we then suppose
that our representatives are and will ever
be absolutely incorruptible and not to
be unduly influenced, why need we To-
cate the state capital within sixty miles
of the Idaho state line and in a town
whose very being is derived from and
dependent upon the fiat of one single
corporation. In human affairs we can
only judge the future by the past; and
in the face of this, who will say when
the Anaconda Mining company may see
fit to close down, or in such an event,
for how long One is not very old who
can remember when such has been
the case, and what man is able to say
when history will repeat itsclf2 1t is
not unreasonable to suppose that what
has happened may happen again,
and then what a very very appropriate
place to hold the capital of so great Il
state as Montana. Perhaps when this
time comes we may be able to para
phrase the poet and say:
"'1is distance lends enchantment to the vie
And robes the capital in a coppery hue
Ay, but distance nor nearncss could
lend to our last legislative assembly
aught but a Doodle hue; 'and he who
runs may read" the handwriting on the
walls of the assembly looms.
Voters of Montana. Ye heirs of IA
priceless heritage of liberty and glory
Was it for the preparation and continu-
ance of such legislation that our anccs-
tors fought at Yorktown, and their de-
scendants at ~Appomatox! Perish the
thought! But the Anaconda company
is a large taxpayer and deserves the cap
tai because of what it has done and is
doing to develop the resources of Mon
tana. BY the way, how long has this
company been doing business in the
state, and how much taxes has it paid
each year? Pray don't examine the rec,
ords for any of the years gone by, but dc
please look up our taxation for 1894
But just wait until We get the capital
we are going to build railroads to every
where; establish refineries, build saw
mills, and make things hum Oor the
sole benefit of the people of Montana)
Now isn't this fortunate, to have IA for
eign corporation do all these things fol
us? For whose benefit is this company
with a $500, 900 mortgagc) doing such
wonderful things in the way of develop
ing the resources of Montana?
Is the Anaconda Mining company
business proposition or a charity organi-
%zation? Or does it believe, like the
Standard Oil company and sugar trust
that a judicious mixture Of business and
politics adds flavor and fragrancy to its
dividends? In all seriousness, are the
lessons taught at Homestead and Pull,
man to pass by UNDECIDED? VIII the
people of Montana vote more power in
to the hands of n corporation vastly
more influential already in this state
than is Carnegie in Pennsylvania OF
Pullman in Illinois?
To organized labor, tie great modern
bulwark of progress, | appeal as a broth.
er toiler not to make such an irreparablt
mistake. Let petty p%rejudices, let loca
grievances, ay, personal friendship, GIVE
way to that grand corner stone of hu
man liberty, ''the greatest good to tn
greatest number" 1t is no time to con
slider petty spite. The future of on
state is at stake and not only this, bu
we owe it to the world to show that GU
last legislature did not represent, bu
that therein the people of Montana wer
betrayed, and they embrace the first op
p%ortunity to recover. In these years o
1894 the goddess of liberty has of
needed a bandage over her eyes TO pre-
vent the sight of that which would brin.
sorrow to her heart. Let it not be SAT-
that the browning act of all these dis
honors was perpetrated by the liberty
loving people Of the sovereign state o
Montana. Let us face the situation
squarely and fairly and do honor to GU
ancestors and bequeath it to posterity b
locating the state capital not to pleas