davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
HENRY WILLARD,
pathy.

Where there is so much smoke there
must be some fire. The report that
Henry Willard has returned to the coun-
try armed and equipped to capture the
Northern Pacific is growing in intensity.
There may be nothing in it, but just the
same it behooves the papers and people
who are or the line of the Northern
Pacific to measure their words when
they speak of Mr.. Willard. He has a
faculty of landing on his feet after tht
most difficult of tumbles and it will occa
sion no surprise if he once more proves
his acrobatic ability to the discomfort o.
Thomas F. Oakes ct al. The last time
Mr.. Willard was in Montana he was al
enthusiast on the subject of electricit!
as motive power for railroads and thel
said it would not be long before the roat
between Great Falls and Butte was pro
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
HE DON'T CARE.

Yesterday Coils P. Huntington, presi-
dent of the Southern Pacific, was arrest
ed in New York charged with violation
of the inter state commerce law in issu-
ing pass. The provision of the law
alleged to have been violated is only a
minor one, but the conduct and speech
of Mr. Huntington in regard to the
arrest is fair sample of the view he
takes of the entire law and for that
matter of all laws, in so far as they relate
to himself as a capitalist controlling a
large corporation. When asked in regard
to the court proceeding by reporter
the railroad magnate contemptuously
remarked: 81 don't know what was
done in court. | didn't pay any atten-
tion to it,
OF course he didn't. Why need he
The interstate commerce law has been
on the books for years and no railroad
management has paid any attention tot
nor have the law officers of the govern
Luout, eo idl eto ~ dppiiou W eAo WI PoA a.
tions. On the other hand, however, the
United States attorney general week or
two ago found it necessary to invoke the
aid of this same law as against Debs in
the prosecution growing out of the strike
last summer. This led the public tc
believe that after all the insterstate
commerce law was not enacted to regu
late and control the railroad corpora
tions, but the subordinate employees OF
the same. 1t now appears, however
that some one in california; who is dis
gusted with the negligence of the off
sials in making any attempt to enforce
the law has procured an indictment
against Mr.. Huntington and will seek te
have him tried in that state. If this car
be done it is just possible the magnatt
when he gets before the jury will pay
some attention to the proceedings. The
people of California have been long suf
ferlng. and now that an opportunity pre-
sents itself they will no doubt see tina
the law is enforced, even though thu
offender be as big a man as Coils P
| Huntington.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

The New York legislature has done a
proper thing in passing an act to sub
nit the question of woman suffrage as a
constitutional amendment to vote of
the people. This is the only fair test on
the subject that can be had At an
election of this kind suffrage will stand
upon it's merits, and no matter what the
result the much agitated question will
be for time settled in that state. II
goes without saying that the contest
when it takes place will be an exciting
one for many prominent New Yorl
women are opposed to suffrage, but or
the other hand its advocates are numer
Gus and they are all workers. The deci
sion of the legislature to give the people
chance to decide the matter is th'
genuine American way.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
EUTIE AWAKE,

Butte merchants have finally awak
ened to the fact that in order to accomp-
lish anything for the city there must be
concert of action, and have organized a
board of trade and the board has got to
work in good earnest 1t has taken &C
ton on several minor affairs for the
benefit of the city and now it has rolled
up its sleeves and tackled the railroads.
In the first place demand is made for a
union depot, and, better and more i'm
portant than this, an agitation has begun
for freight rates shorn of the discrimin-
alton now practiced against the mer'
chants, and which will give them an op.
portunity to extend their trade to its
legitimate and rightful proportions
Butte is great city, its traffic ls some,
thing enormous, it has right to expect
as favorable terms as are given othel
cities and it is to be hoped the board o.
trade will succeed in securing them.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

their talents, ssresorting to all manner of
questionable tactics, exhausting ingenu-
ity in invoking technicalities, browbeat-
ing witnesses and befuddling juries to
aid that man in escaping the conse-
quences of his crime. The question is
one of good morals, public conscience
and fair dealing between men. Under
the law the layman who, knowing of the
crime, aids thief to hide or dispose of
his ill-gotten goods, is particeps crnni-
mis- and can be prosecuted. Under the
came law layman, krowing man to
be guilty of murder, who conceals him
or connives at his escape, is an accessory
after the fact and is liable to punish
ment. With the law yer 1t is different He
may know man to be a thief and coolly
divide the plunder with him and Sc
cures him immunity; he may know a
man to be murderer, but for paltry
fec he will descend to any trick to rob
justice of it's due and turn the criminal
loose 1t would appear that his profess
sion deaclens the moral sensibilities of
the lawyer and gives him license to do
what if other men did would be Justly
regarded as henious crime. This con-
dition of affairs suggests that there is
something radically wrong and that a
heroic remedy should be applied. Law
yers should be held to as strict moral
accountability as are their unprofessional
fellow citizens. They have no moro right
to become the sharere of thefts or the
allies of murderers than have other men.
A new deal by which the attorneys can
be made to realize that they owe more
obligations to decency than to guilty
clients is badly needed.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
EUROPE INTERPRETERS.

This time it is the expected that has
happened. In driving it's hard bargain
with China Japan concluded that 1t
needed in addition to the island of For
mosa certain points on the mainland
that would be occupied by troops, and
thus the better enable it to enforce the
treaty stlpulations. That was it's de-
clared intention, but while negotiations
were pending and since. it has been gen
orally understood by the press of Europe
that there were other motives and that
such clause would not prove acceptable
to the great powers which had CONNER
clal and other interests in the cast.
exacted, but they were not disposed that
it should get possession of territory that
would give it any pronounced advantage
over the control Of commerce. Now
comes the expected kick. Advices from
Toxic say that Russia, France and Ger
many have united in protest, and a
notification that the insertion of the
clause ceding any Of the Chinese
mainland to Japan is Objectionable
to them. 1t will be noticed that En-
gland for some reason has kept its finger
out of the pie, but there is no doubt it
is in perfect accord with the interference
What Japan will or can do in the prem
ises Is not much Of guess. 1t is not in
position to refuse to accede to the de-
mand that robs it Of one of the essential
fruits of its victory. This is rough on
Japan, which by its conquest has opened
the best portions of China to the com,
merce of the world; but the stubborn
fact is that, courageous as it has proved
itself to be, it is not big enough to defy
the powers named. 1t must therefore
prin and hnar If
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
MINERAL LANDS.
Chicago.

Governor Richards in order to be on
the safe side has organized a mineral
land commission of his own and named
as the board George w. Irwin, w. w.
Dixon and j. II. Merrill. These gentle
men are to act as an auxiliary to the
national board and render such aid to
them in the discharge or their duties as
can be done. The plan of procedure on
the part of the state board has rot yet
been determined upon, but it is probable
they will obtain data either by actual
inspection or from reliable sources and
lay 1t before the government inspectors
for their information and guidance. 10
this there can be no reasonable objec-
ton. The railroad company insists
that it does not desire any of the
mineral lands, and the people certainly
do not desire any of the agricultural
lands included in the grant The
duty of the commissioners is to de-
termine the character of the lands and
tnev snOulu CDeerluHy dCCept any dlIi
that may be given to enable them to
fairly and intelligently discharge their
duties. The appointment of the state
commission is good move on the part
of the governor, and whether it accom-
plish its purpose or not, he gentlemen
named are 10 be thanked for having
agreed to discharge the delicate yet
highly important task.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
SCHOOL TRUSTEES.

There was another change Of scene in
the school management Saturday, the
newly elected trustee, Brown, having
resigned, George Raban succeeding him
by appointment of the county superin-
tendent. Mr.. Hanks was present and the
feature of the meeting was the displace-
ment of Fitzgerald as secretary and the
election in his stead of Caufeld, the former
incumbent, by secret ballot. Some peo-
pie may say that it is not right to criti-
cize such acts of officials, but the truth
is there is an air of jobbery about this
board that will not down. The TRIBUNE
does not care snap who is the secretary,
but the mode of making the change in
dicates that it was the result of deal
or trade of which the trustees or a
| majority of them are ashamed. Men
whose conduct will bear investiga.
ton do not generally shield them.
selves behind the cowardly protec
ton of secrecy. The public are in
terested in these proceedings and have
right to demand that at the public
meetings there shall be no concealments
This same public cannot prevent the
board from holding quiet meeting ano
issuing checks for large sums to con
tractors, but it can have it's opinion
about such things. This same publ,
can wonder why it is that Mr.. Hanks
who has not been bona fde resident O
thei district for many months, shoult
persist in retaining his membership Of
the board. There must be reason TO
it and as he will not give it there is n
law to prevent them from drawing infer
ences, and they are doing it. The fac
of the, matter is the old board has cor
Quoted its affairs in wretched manne
and now that new members have bee
installed there should be fresh star
The high school building, or rather il
construction and the events leading u
to it, have been largely and not alto
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
THE MANDAMUS CASE.

Saturday Judge Benton in the dis
trict court rendered his decision IN the
mandamus case to compel the county
treasurer to pay the check of the school
trustees for $4,000 IN favor of the North
western National bank, which he had de-
clined to honor by advise of the sureties
on his bond.
The transaction is familiar to all the
residents of the city. The money was
advanced to the school board as a part
of the proceeds of bond issue which
was afterward declared illegal by the
supreme court. The trustees, or the
bank, instead of litigating went TO Hell
ena and had an act passed authorizing
the payment of the sum.
The refusal of the treasurer to pay was
based upon the allegation that the act
in question was unconstitutional. and
this was made the basis of the man
damus proceedings. As will be seen by
the report in another column, Judge
Benton decides that the law ie
constitutional, and in reaching this con-
clusion he settles two nice and very i'm
portant points. The first is that the law
is not retroactive within the meaning of
the constitution, and the second is that
school board is not a municipal cor
poration. The questions are both deli
cate ones, and Judge Benton ia making
bis ruling has not attempted to argue
the matter, but has contented himself
with quoting eminent authority to sup.
port his position. The case will possibly
60 to the supreme court, and by that
body the status of school boards. and
the question as to whether a debt in
Cured by competent body under d
misapprehension cannot be paid by leg
islative authority without being at
tackled as retroactive will be settled. The
TRIBUNE issof the opinion that the ruling
of Judge Benton will be sustained.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.

Little Japan has informed Russia,
Germany and France that it will be i'm
possible to modify the treaty with China
to suit their wishes. The remarkable
reason given for declining is that if the
government surrendered the fruits of its
victory at the dictation of any power it
would cause revolution in Japan. This
is specious plea, but it will hardly
avail Russia is determined to carry its
point and doesn't care whether ltinvolvee
Japan in revolution or not. The action
Of the powers places the little kingdom
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
MES +. WILSON.

The death of ex-senator James f.
Wilson of Iowa, which occurred at his
home yesterday, ends career that was
not altogether unmarked. Deceased,
though not rated as great man, was
concededly al able lawyer and, like many
of his profession, passed much of his life
in public position. After serving in both
branches of the legislature of his state
he entered the United States congress
in 1861 and was member of that body
during the war and the exciting period
subsequent to it, nis most notable
service was as one of the managers on
the part of the house to conduct the
impeachment trial of Andrew johnson,
selection that was at once testimony
to his legal ability and the esteem in
which he was held by his fellow mem
bers. During his last six years in the
house he was chairman of the judiciary
committee. In March, 1853, he entered
the United States senate and was re-
elected, his second term expiring last
| March.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
QUEER LAW.

1T seems a satire on law and it is GER
tainly a sad commentary on official
honesty that on the same day that a
railroad president was arrested under
an indictment for issuing pass in vio-
lation of the interstate commerce law
the attorney general of the United
States should be found in possession Of
pass and should impudently justify
the fact by declaring that nearly every
body h,gA in official life rides on passes
Why make laws and expect the average
man to respect them when the highest
law officer of the government and his
associates treat them as dead letters
If it was the intent of congress to exempt
high officials from the operations Of the
law it should have been so expressed ir
the law. It begins to look as though
the interstate commerce, like the income
tax law, was only made to apply to the
poor man. In fact that is the case with
most statutes.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

The Livingston city dads appear to
have become tangled up in an effort to
introduce economy in the future admin
istration of affairs. According to re-.
ports they made bad job of it, The
salaries Of the incoming officials we're
reduced low enough, but tho ordinance
was not passed within the time required
by the statute and as result those who
administer city affairs will be COM
PEELED to work hard and "find them
selves" There is no excuse for such a
dilemma in any Montana city, except the
dense ignorance of the people who elected
a council that could be guilty of such q
trick. Livingston had better surrende,
its charter.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

The Montana Fruit Grower, month
ly magazine published at Missouia, and
devoted to the interests of horticulture
and agriculture, is at hand. The frs
number indicates that the management
knows what it is about, for the book is
filled with information upon the matter
it is established to aid and discuss The
mechanical part of the Fruit Grower is
decidedly creditable to the publishers
and it is to be hoped it will meet the
favor at the hands of the public it de.
serves
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

Since the verdict in the Erick murder
case in Butte, in which the accused was
convicted and sentenced to one years
imprisonment by the jury, there has
been considerable comment. The Butte
chamber Of commerce is considering a
proposition to have the Silver Bow
legislation urge an amendment to the
bounty law for the payment of a large
bounty for human scalps to Butte mur.
derers. This will DO away with the ex
pense of trials aid save intelligent jurors
the trouble of making the murder in
austry legal in individual cases as they
arise
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

The Omaha Live Stock assoclS
have been denouncing Secretar
Agriculture Morton for his recent at
upon the cattle industry, which
gentlemen claim has done much b
While the association had its han'
and with Morton for subject
might with proprietv have hauled
over the Goals for the un-American
democratic attitudhe he as assumed
financial question. His gold bug id'
carried out will work far more harm
his attack on the stock growing
dustry.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

During the session of the legislat
the Lewis and Clark county CONT
sioners announced the rent for the oh
in the county court house, occupied
state officials, would be raised ab
$1,000. The Legislature didn't resp
with the necessary appropriation
the governor has been casting about
new quarters. Yesterday the Gov
commissioners decided that the s
was pretty good tenant, and mad
new lease for two years at the old rat
81 1000 per year. This was one bluf
did not work.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

Secretary Morton is little more pro-
nounced than his associates in the official
family of the president He now declares
that bi-metallism is al impossibility even
by international agreement and that he
is opposed to any policy that's not based
on gold mono-m metallism. In this declar-
alton Mr.. Morton is no doubt expressing
what Mr.. Cleveland thinks, and is trying
to accomplish what he has not the cour-
age to say.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26
MONTANA'S CREDIT.

That Montana stands A | in financial
circles is very much in evidence Just
now. 1t is true that the stress of hard
times has been felt here as elsewhere,
but it is also true that the aftermath
of the panic has not affected our bust
ness interests to such an appreciable
extent ae has been the case in less fav-
ored sections. The testimony of all who
have lately visited this state. especially
commercial travellers. Is that our affairs
are 10 far better shape than those OF any
better barometer of Montanas credit
and standing Is to be found in several
recent bond transactions. Investors and
those who represent them make bust
ness to keep we'll posted on the resources
and pecuniary reliability of all commu-
mites, and In making deals this
knowledge Is kept strictly in view
and has marked influence upon
the transaction in the regulation of the
pllCc, LIS DcAuS Iuo CusO WO hOoS oAiy
to refer to several sales that have just
been consummated to show that faith in
Montana securities is not to any extent
affected by the hard times. Custer
county has Just sold, at premium
S274,OOO. 5 per cent refunding bonds
Lewis and Clark county has received q
dozen bids for $4,000 refunding bonds
to bear . or 5la per cent interest, al
offering a premium, but the award has
not yet been made as it is not deter
mined which proposition is the most ad
vantageous for the county. The state
treasurer has just disposed of Sl0O,OO(
of Agricultural college bonds, and $50,
900 State Normal school bonds at par
These bonds are secured by the proceed
Of the sale or rent of public lands do
mated by the government for the beneti
of state institutions. There are severa
other transactions that we do not nov
call to mind, but the above will sut1i
GENTLY illustrate that Montana is still
strictly in it in the commercial worlc
and that its credit, state municipal an
individual, is second to none in the lane
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

John Walkup and James Stages, rival
candidates for alderman of the Fourth
ward of Anaconda, made tie of it on
election day. The council ordered that
the tie should be decided by the toss of
two-bit piece, and Walkup won. If
the Flip had been resorted to before
the election it would have answered the
purpose quite as we'll and have saved
both gentlemen much annoyance and
some expense. This mode of settling 30
large stake is reminder that the anti
gambling law lie not yet in force.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

Secretary Morton of the agricultural
department threatens to admit Mexican
and Canadian cattle free of duty because
of the present raise in the price of Amer
lean stock. This is about the size of the
farmer of the cabinet, AS soon as the
western men have an opportunity to
make an honest dollar they are prevented
by the government, but the oil and whis-
key and coal trusts can do as they please
without the government saying nay.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

In referring to the recent trial in
Butte OF Erlck for murder, and the SEN
tence of one years imprisonment that
was imposed by the jury, the Standard
states that the trial cost the county
nearly $4,000. In this case the cost is
not of so much moment as the miscar-
riage Of justice. In smaller way the
Helena Herald of yesterday makes men
ton of a negro nuisance in that city
whose continuous arrests and broils have
cost the city in short time fully $1,000
and who was cleared of a late otfense by
the clever work of an attorney. The two
cases inspoint are only samples of many
and lead to the question as to the extent
to which attorneys are to blame, both in
the matter of excessive costs and the de
feat of justice. The law in addition to
being a learned is supposed to be an
honorable profession. Custom, if not
statute, hedges the relations between at
torney and clientGwith the same sacred
ness that.it guards the secrets between
physician and patient or priest and peni
tent. To an.extent this may be proper
but the abuse of the privilege is becom
ing crying and monstrous evil. Law
is the safeguard of society and its en-
forcement an essential to the we'll being
of community. The fundamental Greco
of the law:is justice, and every lawyer il
supposed to be minister of justice, bu
the fact lis that modern practice ha
caused the lawyer to forget his cree'
and, in many instances, become an enem
instead of protector of society. 1t
all right and proper to go to the exten
(of saying that nine guilty men shoul
escape rather than one innocent ma
should be punished, but it is manifest
wrong that when the tenth man
known to be guilty, there should
found reputable lawyers prostitutin
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

The new city administration of HfIe
finds itself confronted with debt, lion
ed and floating, of over S6S5,00o, and
bravely announced its intention Of
conducting affairs that expenses will
kept within revenues and something
left toward reducing the debt, Thisi
commendable ambition and it is to
hoped will be crowned with success
his inaugural Mayor Steele recommat
that the property purchased by the
for a cemetery site and never used
sold. 1t l. none of our business
wouldn't it be good thing for ueI
to unload that on the capital commlss
for building site? There is Sl00W
the deal and that will be considerab!4
helper.
Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-04-26

Judge Buck of Spokane must be an
old timer and have inherited some of the
primitive ideas OF justice which con-
doned a murder but summarily hanged
horse thief. In passing sentence on a
cattle thief the other day he gave him
the full extent of the law and announced
that he would repeat the dose to all who
we're in future convicted of that crime
Rustlers will no doubt give the Wash.
ington ranges rest, for if they do moi
ten years in the pen stares them in the
face.