The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-12
THE FEATURE OF THE DAY

II was a mining ana Immigration
convention" The Helena newspapers
| assert that 1t was the biggest thing in
the way of convention Helena ever
saw. Much was said about its repre-
sentative" character.
1t will be seen from this mornings
report of the conventions proceedings
that the feature" of yesterday was the
fight over the silver question. Strange
that this should have been the issue in
a Montana convention called to discuss
mining; and yet more strange that the
cause of silver made 50 poor a showing.
The affair was advertised, in part at
least. as a mining convention, but
resolution introduced yesterday recited
the fact that lit is impoltic, mex
pedient and unwise to incorporate in
the platform of this convention any
reference to the money question; and
this astonishing proposition scored
twenty-five per cent of the conventions
vote! Three out of five of the delegates
for Lewis and Clarke county, of which
Helena is the county seat. voted in
favor of this resolution. Surely, the
miners of Montana ought to pray for
escape from any more Helena mining
and immigration conventions.
Now notice what will happen. Word
will be sent broadcast that, in a con-
vention alleged to be representative of
Montana, THE free-coinage question was
made a test. and twenty-five per cent
80
this in a state that was said to be solid.
OF course this will not be precisely a
true statement, but IL will be made to
appear true; we shall be reading in
eastern newspapers that, under the
goldbug leadership of Colonel Sanders,
the anti-silver sentiment polled 30 votes
out of 121.
See how grossly the state will be mis-
represented. Sweet Grass county and
Dawson, with less wealth than single
wards in Butte can show and with a
combined population which is less than
half the population of the city of
Anaconda-Sweet Grass and Dawson
actually Offset the vote of Silver Bow
county in yesterdays convention. We
print this morning by counties the vote
that was taken yesterday on the reso-
luton in question. What a remarkable
showing in. Montana mining and
immigration" convention Manifestly,
the railroad agents and the professional
migration boomers from ST. Paul, who
figured conspicuously in the conven-
ton, got their work in.
Since the convention did finally go on
record for free coinage. after a fight
that was the feature of the day." and
since II addressed itself to several con-
gressional themes. and since it was in
a part of it's title a mining meeting.
would IL have been out of character on
the conventions part to have made
graceful recognition of the earnest eff
forts of Montana's three members of
congress in behalf of the states mining
interests? Why would it have been?
We submit that Montana mining
wants no more of two-day conventions
at which the feature" of the second
day is a discussion as to whether the
mining interests of this state find it
polite, expedient or wise to make
declaration on the silver question.
Henceforth, gentlemen. work for irri-
cation or immigration or whatever else
seems helpful for the state; the Stan
dard will assist good and strong. The
figures you have used to lift the big to-
tails of the states actual production are
furnished up to date very largely by
mining. Tempt farmers and money and
manufactures to Montana; that is a
good work. But, If yesterdays ex-
perience is to be repeated, please leave
mining alone.