The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-27
MONTANA AND MONTANANS.

| ertul anchor to it,
-
MONTANA AND MONTANANS,
| This years Christmas number OF the
| Anaconda Standard is one of the very
! best holiday editions ever issued by any
Montana newspaper. It's Al pages put in
an illuminated cover of artistic design,
/ furnish interesting reading and the edi-
/ ton reflects credit ON the newspaper
/ which has earned the distinction of being
/ the leading daily of the Rocky mountain
/ region. The number is made up specially
! contributed articles from the pens of
/ entertaining writers and pages devoted to
/ the news OF Anaconda, Butte, Great
| rails. Missoula and the different cities of
| the state ut large. Among the many ex-
! cellent features OF the Christmas Stand
ard deserving of special mention is the
| greeting from William j. Bryan to the
| people OF Montana and a lifelilSe engray-
| ing Of himself and wife as they were
| photographed while standing in the en-
trance 10 the Montana hotel on the oc-
cason Of their visit to Anaconda last
summer. In addition to the special fea-
lures the edition contains the usual
amount of telegraphic news and bright
crisp edit orials. such as are always a
distinguishing feature Of the Standards
pages-Billings Gazette.
The Press association of Montana could
with profit take this matter up and Sc
cure the passage of u newspaper libel law
something like that adopted in Minnesota
and other states. In these states the law
provides that before libel suit is COM
menced against a newspaper notice must
be served of such intention on the part of
the person libeed If the newspaper re-
celNlng such notice promptly retracts
the alleged libel in as prominent a man
ner as 1t was originally made, such ac-
ton on the part of the newspaper is a bar
TO the collection of any sentimental dam
ages. The theory is that such retraction
IS sufficient compensation TO the feelings
OF the party complaining. If he or she
can, however. prove that the publication
Of the libel caused them any financial
loss the publication of a retractfon is no
bar to their collection of the actual finan-
eial damages they might have suffered
A law like this is emnently fair and Just
and would furnish needed protection to
the press in its duty to the public.-Great
Fails Tribune.
The Christmas number of the Anaconda
Standard, which lies on the Tribune.s
desk. + indeed a splendid piece of Mon
tana newspaper enterprise. 1t contains
n pages, but that is not its chief merit
Neither is the art cover which incloses
its numerous pages. though this is beau
tiful and attractive, what mainly deserves
praise. The feature Of the Christmas
Standard which excites our admiration
lies chiefly i'll the splendid special articles
IT contains, written especially for the
Standard by men whom the readers of
the paper want TO hear from and who
have something TO say. Such are the arti-
cles from the pen of William j. Bryan
Chairman of the National Committee
Jones, Charles Towne. chairman of the
silver republican national committed ana
others. Not less excellent was the article
on Judge Buck by his friend and associate
Judge Hunt, which was reproduced yes
terday in the Trihune.-Great Falls Trib-
nne.
The pardoning power should only be
exercised in especially mertorious cases.
1t is Il weIl-knoWn fact that the conyic-
ton of 4 criminal in Montana is a most
difficult undertaking. Ii involves heavy
expense on tie taxpayers and most dill
gent Efforts on the part of the prosecu-
ton. Instances where injustice has been
done To a convicted person are very rare
and. as far as the Examiner has been
able to ascertain no such pleas have
been made on behalf of the parties re-
Gently pardoned. The verdict of juries
when based upon a fair and impartial
trial, should not be set aside by the ex-
ecntiye power without some very good
reasons.-Dillon Examiner.
Governor Smith having given the assoc
eiate iustieeship plum TO a democrat
there Is disappointment and wailing In
the popuiist camp. An Indignation mass
meeting Of Montana populists at which
the state executive can be resolved out
Of the party, is among the possibilities
Of the stuation.-Fort Benton River
Press.
The Christmas edition of the Anaconda
Standard. recently 10 hand. is the hand
soonest and one of the best publications
of tile kind ever issued in Montana Its
literary features are excellent. and its
autographed cover is an artistic produce
duetien we'll worthy of preservation
Fort Benton River Press.
III is a singular coincidence that every
time Il bad man with gun gets behind
the bars some IF his enterprsing friends
on the outside start Il new era of hold-ups
Just to show that the man in Jail is inno-
cent Of that crime.-Butte Miner.
From nearly every county in the state
comes the gratifying news that the deln-
quent tax list will be the smallest for
many Nears.-Helena Independent
Devious Definitions.