The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-22
JAMES MFLLAN,
Chairman Committee.
. and other traitors.

To and other traitors.
We do nor hesitate TO d en- ounce this letter,
both in It's terms and S ri rt, as utterly foreign
repugnant and dangerous to American institu
demonstrates that he is an enemy to society,
seeking TO usurp the fuuciOns OF government
with personal criminal vengeance. As su;h,
n is dangerous cement 10 be at large, and
should be restrained and punished by the
proper authorities.
The reference to religion had in the letter.
savOrs of a relation between church and state,
which is clearly contrary TO the genius OF our
government. our constitution and laws give to
every man the privilege Of worsh Ing God ac-
cOrdlng TO the dictates of his own conscience,
and requires of every man that be extend ike
liberty and right to his fellow. State and
church. while each In its own way seeking and
serving for the same end, the betterment Of
man and his condition, are separate and dis
tinc,. Political parties AMI secular denomina-
tions have no connection or inteT-dependence
| The civilization Of the nineteenth century does
not brook he confusion of these things.
The letter also alludes to a secret order and to
| the writer as its representative; defamc' ana
| threatens the lib critics of the members of this
body in the discharge of their legislative duties,
| thus menacing the constitutional powers of the
| legislature Of a free tate.
! This is a revelation almost as humatng as
! it is dangerous. The days Of the star chamber,
| as constituted by government, are far behind
/
star chamber TO dictate legislation or other
| governmental measures and to threaten disre-
| gard OF such dictates with dire and secret dis
| aster. Our government in all its branches is
| public and open and will suffer no interference
| from sUcn hidden and recondite sources.
! We condemn any attempt Of a secret order to
| interfere with our elections or our legislation,
| and we brand infamous and criminal the
| methods suggested in the letter under consider
alton. We recommend such legislation as will
| provide adequate punishment for such and like
| offenses and we have taken the liberty of re-
ferring the letter TO the proper authorities, with
| the view of bringing the writer and his Cocoon
spirators TO speedy justice. respectfully sub
mitted, w. f. MEYER.
| RUDOLPH VoN ToBEL,
| j. I. ANDERSON.
Committee.
As soon as the report had been read,
Joe W. Oker began the somewhat ami
| mated discussion which followed by saying
| that the report was not complete and APP
| pealed for an investigation of the letter
| and its charges. The latter were grave
| and serious and such as to demand inves-
| tiration. He himself was not a member
of any secret society and expressed his
lack of belief IN all religious dogmas, but
in the name of justice and as matter of
right between man and man, he did not
! wish TO see the matter dropped here. He
| moved that the report be recommtted
and the committee be given full authority
to send for persons and papers to perfect
| an investigation, both as to the writer of
the letter and as to it's charges against the
! Silver Bow delegation, who could thus
have an opportunity to clear themselves
from suspicion. His motion was seconded
by Oker of Deer Lodge.
Meyer thought the gentleman was la
4 tanV.
was no charge of treason. The commit
tee had been appointed to investigate a
threatening letter. They had found it
and had presented it with what they con-
sidered proper comment and recommends
alton. He did not think they could 60
further.
Oker replied that he was willing to in
dorse every word of the report, but il did
not 60 far enough. Tue matter should be
entirely ferreted out. He had been OPP
posed to the appointment of the commit
tee in the first place because he thought
the matter should have been allowed 10
die a natural death. Now that tue matter
had once been taken up, it should be
pushed 10 the end. As the matter now
stood. grave charges had been read on the
| floor of the house against certain mem
bers. For himself he did not believe
| them 10 be true, but IT there were no fur
ther investigation others might believe
them. The accused members should be
given an opportunity to vIndicate them.
| selves.
| Rombauer asked if any similar letters
had been received, which was answered
in the negative from the Silver Bow dele
CATION.
Monteath said that the word TRAITORS
! as used in the letter was intended "a
mean that certain members of the lcgis-
lature had been traitors TO certain Sc.
crei society. He did not understand II tc
convey a charge of treason TO their couu.
try or neglect CT their duties as legislators
| he moved as a substitute that the report
be adopted. The charges made were
/ merely those of one member of a secFe
organization against another. lie doubted
Iiftle statutes gave the authority under
winch the committee could ~ present
send for persons aud papers.
Saoaer did not see that the legislature
had anything 10 do with a private row
between certain members Of a secret OF