The Anaconda standard., 1895-01-09

lives TO a great degree the business inter
ests of all sections of the land, caused by
the demonetization of silver, Montana, al
a producer of that metal, has been made
TO suffer by the destruction of our chic
industry. The fight on silver has CLOSED
our largest mines. and indefinitely tied uT
vast amounts of capital invested in ex
pensive machinery; an army of lntelli
gent workingmen, with pleasant homes
and n hopeful future, have been thrown
out of employment, and a blight visited
upon all localities dependent upon this in
dustry for the support of their busines,
interests. Here and there mines produc
ing exceptionally high grade ore are able
by economical management, to remain
open with comparatively small forces o.
men; but silver mining, as an industry oi
vast importance to the state, has been
ruined by the unjust legislation that
eliminated silver from it's rightful posi-
tion as n money metal. Until silver Is re
habilitated, and free coinage at a ratio OF
16 to l is restablished, the mining indus
try In Montana cannot hope to realize its
possibilities.
The history of the past year, character
lied by panic OF phenomenal proper
tions, by business depression and indus
trial ruin in all parts of the republic, by
armies of unemployed men begging bread
upon the highways, and by threatened vi
olation of the peace and dignity of the
state, is an object lesson to the American
nation that should find speedy recognition
in reconsecrating to the purposes of COM
parce and trade the money of the consti-
tuition. That which would revive the in.
dustrIal life of Montana would in greater
degree bring prosperity and happiness to
the homes of her sister states and renew
the prosperity of the republic. L doubt
not this honorable body, representative OF
every interest that can be conserved by
inn in of n TO will q
timents in q memorial TO congress, pray
ing for the honest treatment OF silver.
1t is the prayer of every patriotic citi-
zen in this commonwealth that the time
may not be far distant when the interests
of the republic may be served, and the
prosperity of our beloved state assured,
by the free coinage of the white metal. In
the meantime the welfare of our state de-
mands the liberal treatment of the min
ing interests by the lawmakers of Mon
tana, that present discouragements may
tempered by brighter hopes for the flu
ture.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Among your important duties will be
the election of two United States
senators, one for the regular
term, beginning March 4, 1895,
and one to fill vacancy caused by the
failure of the third legislative assembly to
elect. l trust these duties may be har-
moniously discharged and the best inter
ests of the state served by your action.
LABOR.
Every year adds to the industrial promi-
nence of this state, and the development
of our splendid resources goes steadily on.
We're ii not for the unwise and unpatriotic
legislation that crippled the silver indus
try of Montana and practically ruined in
m sheen
would afford larger opportunities for la
Dor in the diversified pursuits incident to
tho general prosperity that we would en-
Joy. The sentiment respecting the rights
of labor is healthy one, elevating in its
tone and we'll calculated to build up COM
munites of happy and independent peo-
pie by recognizing that "the laborer is
worthy of his hire" Although misunder-
standings arise, inimical 20 the interests
of both capital and labor, in some in
stances working injustice upon the peo-
pie, the interrelations of employer and
employe have, as n rule, conformed to the
best interests of each, in this respect set
ting an example before the industrial
world of infinite advantage to both. Laws
responsive to these sentiments will jeal-
ously guard the rights of all ....'
IMMIGRATION.
In the creation of bureau of agricult-
ure, labor and industry the state recog-
nized the necessity of systematic effort in
the line of promoting immigration as the
only way in which our resources could be
properly developed and the common
wealth enriched. Notwithstanding the
financial depression, this bureau has done
excellent work in the collection of statis-
tical matter concerning all branches of
industrial life in this state, and in the diff
fusion of such information elsewhere.
Montana has undoubtedly profited largely
through the instrumentalty of the bureau,
and seed is being sown from which a rich
harvest will be reaped. The affairs of
this office have been conducted in a most
satisfactory and economical manner by
the present commissioner, and | call at
tention to the recommendations made in
his annual report. In no way can immI-
grafton be promoted to better advantage
than by according to this department suf-
ficient support to enable it to carry out
the plans and objects incident to its work
that it may in all respects be made as eff
fective as similar bureaus in other states.
IRRIGATION.
The irri CATION of the arid lands of Mon.
tana is q question that calls for the best
thought of Lawmakers. Numberless plans
have been proposed and discussed for the
proper distribution of an adequate water
supply on these lands, that their
remarkable fertility may be utilized for the
benefit of those who seek homes within
our borders. Private capital is not equal
to the burden of reclaiming such vast
tracts. | am firmly convinced that il is
the duty of the general government to aid
in adapting tho arid belt TO the purposes
of civilization, and that appropriations
for this purpose should be made. Defer
ence to an unwarranted prejudice against
enlarging the agricultural area has done
much. doubtless, to prevent favorable
congressional action along this line. Our
interests have been further prejudIced by
the efforts of those who would delegate to
the several states the entire responsibility
in this matter, any relieve the congress of
a plain duty that II owes to tho West in
the distribution of funds for purposes of
internal improvements. The states vitality
interested in the arid domain should
memorabilia congress to carefully con-
slider the advantages that would accrue
to the government in the reclamation of
these lands. in aifording homes for the
surplus population of the oveTcrowded
cities of the East. would impress upon