The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-21
TWO IDAHO MEN.

One OF the StandardS 1uano speciaiS
of yesterday morning was a summary
of an open letter lately addressed to
the republicans Of that state by Sena-
tor Shoup. The letter is made up or
professions of Mr.. Shoup's loyalty to
silver. Its main purpose was to make
the senator's excuse for not having
Joined Mr.. Teller, Mr.. Dubois. Mr.. Can
non and Montana's two senators In
their opposition to certain tariff tinker
ing measures which were. by the way.
distinctly regardless of all western in
terests. Mr.. Shoups mild plea Is that
the government must be supported.
The Shoup letter merits passing at
tention. The five senator's in question
are republicans. yet the Standard.
which is a democratic newspaper. and
the democratic constituency i'm Monta-
ma Joined with the republicans of this
state in hearty applause of the sena-
tors Montana Is for free coinage; this
state is not worrying about the political
shade of the senator who renders that
cause manly service. That feeling, we
know, prevails also in Idaho. We have
simply to say that Senator Shoup
would stand better to-day in Idaho and
Montana If he had operated with these
five senators-manifestiy ne lacked the
courage to do II. He had an opportuni-
ty to show his colors. he did show
them: they are not the true-blue free
coinage article. Had he stood up like
man for his constituency. Senator
Shoup would not now be under the ne
cessity of writing open letters with
loud professions about my loyalty to
silver" my silver votes" my silver
speeches" and all that. Senator Dubois
doesn't have to do anything of the sort.
All this ground has been pretty well
covered. Years of lighting have taught
constituencies like Idaho and Montana
so much that they can pick out silver's
honest advocates every time. All the
Shoup fuddle about protection and side
/ issues is sized up by silver's friends.
In 1898, during the extra session, Sena-
tor Teller reminded his republican asso-
ciates that, year after year, the party
had asked the West to stand pat for
protection and that this had been done
even i'm instances when the proposed
tariff items were actually to the disad-
vantage of the West. Before very
long" added the senator. you will be
asking us to vote more tariff bills, and
/ warn you now that you will be
disappointed"
Senator Teller made that warning
good. IT would suit Idaho were Senator
Shoup to operate. as the Montana sena-
tors did. with Mr. Teller; the West pre-
fers Mr.. Tellers leadership rather than
that of Mr.. Shoup. The great wrong in
the situation is that Mr.. Shoup is fight
ing the western senators who have the
universal applause of those whom they
represent.
Worse than that. Mr.. Shoup is hard
at work at this hour In an undertaking
which does him eminent discredit; his
effort is to procure the defeat of Sena-
tor Dubois. whose term expires next
year. That event would ne silvers dis
tinct loss For the cause of silver Mr..
Dubois is a better man, a stronger
force. a Drawer fighter and a more in
fiuential senator than two or three men
of the caliber of Mr.. Shoup; that is the
testimony of senate members who are
good judges. Mr.. Shoup, We submit, is
not helping the cause of silver by try
ing to break Mr.. Dubois down-on the
contrary. 1t will be shameful thing
IL Idaho rejects Senator Dubois. What
silver wants is men who are for silver
first and for other things afterward
Mr. Dubois is the only senator for
Idaho who answers that description.
or course II silver wins at Chicago
I'm the national convention, or forces a
split in the party, as now seems proba-
BILE. the conditions may change. But II
that does not happen and IL the repub-
licans carry the country. the five silver
republicans in the senate are of the ut.
most account. IL they could draw tC
themselves the support OF a few mer
like Mr.. Shoup, representing silver con
stituencies, they would be a balance OF
power. That failing. the cause, as fal
as republicans are concerned, is help
. less and hopeless.
Were he a Montana senator. Mr.
! Cnoup NC W
that he must get into line mighty quick
, and his conniving against silver's at
: tested friends would not be tolerate,
r for an instant. II viii be wonder
Idaho permits a pretty good man hk
Mr.. Shoup to interfere with the futur
usefulness OF a first-rate silver cam
paigner like Mr.. Dubois.
p One Of the salvation army Booths
telling what is not true, in violation