The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-09-30
People OF Great Falls Not Allowed TO
Use Their Own Opera
House
Bald Attempt OF Higgins Agents
10 Prevent Discussion OF
Public Questions.
Nevertheless. a Large Crowd Heard Con-
yiDeipE Words aud Chssrsd tho
speakers 10 ths Eoho.

Special 10 Tho Ihdopsndont
OREAr FALIs. sspt. "a large crowd
assembled al an early hour tonight at the
Ford building, whore q HelonA-fof-ths-
Capital nesting vas TO be held, Az about
IrAnspArsnoisa phrAdsd the street and lha
crowd grew still larger until, on the speak
ers filing In, the seats we're Oiled and q
close pGoked thTonR occupied the central
aisle and rear and doorway. After an over
turs by the Boston and Montana band, II.
=. Ford came forward and stated that the
committee had done its best. bat its rsquest
for the opera honso had been answered.
mot at aay pricsr' The speaker eharae-
terizsd Anaconda aaa place which had no
hell to fear. no heaven 10 attain. no soul to
sava
lie was followed by W. @. Downing who
presided, and made q short bot enthusiastic
speech, and then introduced Hon. r. II.
Carter. The lAtter's appearance vas a
sign for repeated applhuse Mr. Carter
outlined Helsnn's position generally.
dwelling chiefly upon HslsnR's interests In
Cascade county. Az his mention OF what
Col. Is osdws,er had done for this city and
county the audience hprlsuaed repeatedly.
To show the comparative interest taken BY
Anaconda and Helena In Cascade county
he quoted tho taxes paid by citizens OF
each during the years 1890. 1891, 1892 and
1893, in which Anaeonda's ma1lum was $31
in 1891, while Hsonas had grown
from $4,000 to $4,000. In 1894.
presumably TO imp ess Cascade county
taIpayeu. Anaconda had submitted TO
tax Of slsl. though IN previous
yehrys her tar was absolutely nothing.
Theso points we're received by the audi
enoe by shouts, ns the marked contrasts
we're brought out by Carter's sarcastic
comments. The speech concluded with m
earnest appeal TO laboring men not to yio-
late every established prinoiplo of their or
gsnizations and place themselves and the
state at large In the power Of selfish and
unso 'upulous corporation.
Major MAginnis received q cordial well
como from the audience. TO mos, Of whom
he 10 we'll known both by reputation and
sight. He alluded 10 the disoomforts Of
the present place OF meeting As the nfst
dose OF Anhcondaism that Great Falls had
received. He then proceeded 10 tell. from
personal knowledge. the power the Ana.
oonda company had used In various state
elections in the past, and the crowd roAred
as he described the alternate set
ting CD and knocking down Mr.. Carter
and himself bad received al its hands. He
proceeded TO draw Anaconda's attempts At
rousinR prejudice in this city against Hell
enn. and showed that from inception to the
reRen, time Helena had worked with and
for G cal Fnlls end Cascade county. Major
Masiunis abounded with flashes OF wi, that
dew frequent applause and laughter.
The evening finished with an earnest and
eloquent address by William wslIace. Jr.,
who drev from his own experience In Mon
tAns's legislative halls illustrations OF
Days corruption. and pictu' ed the posi-
bili,ss OF the future Of the state controlled
by him.
The meeting was undoubtedly the largest
purely local gathering Of q political char
aetsr ever held in Grea, Fslls, and the in-
terest Of the audience was held throughout.