The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-08

2 The least apology that a man can
offer for failing to take the broader
view OF public affairs is that he must
look after the interests of his constitu-
'ency. This is a weak argument, an I'm
sound moral position renunciation of
all claim to craftsmanship and a de-
gradation of public service to the rank
of parOchial politics. Yet even that
poor excuse is wanting for the men
who now represent Montana in the
United States senate, to explain their
position with regard to certain items
in the tariff bill. We single them out
particularly, not because they are, in
a general way, either better or worse
than the poor stuff out of which the
average Republicans in congress are
made, but because they do not seem to
nave sense enough to know even what
their own state requires, or to serve
1T intelligently, though selfshly.
A man Ik" Senator McEnery, of
Louisiana, knows what he is doing
when he supports a protective tariff
H1e is not serving his country well, but
he does, at least, know where the in
'terests Of his own state lie, and pro-
poses that it shall not be left behind in
the general grab. The Montana SEN
ators nave not advanced as far as that.
+Ihere are certain respects in which
montana interests are affected inti-
mately by the new tariff bill. man
with any pretensions to ability would
make a study Of this and would en-
ueaVor to have duties bearing upon
montana products or articles necessa rv
10 Montana so adjusted as to assure to
MS constituency some of the benefits
Nhe representatives of Montana in tho
senate are simply shouting for
the biggest rates of duty on
everything. without discrimination and
without common sense These men
either have not the ability or the in
dustry to apply the problem of nro-
IectlVe duty to their home interests and
see how it will work.
For example, they have been clam
orlng for the highest possible tariff on
wool and threatening Eastern interests
with retaliation, even to the extent of
a possible free coinage rider to the bill
IL their demands be not complied with
I'VE shall show, in another article. inst
now senseless this is, and Of how little
import, as far as the wool-growing in
Oustfy IN Montana is concerned. More
ancomprehensible, from the point of
view of local interest, is the adyocaav
by these men of a duty Of 2 cents a
pound on lead dross and of ~ cents
on lead contained in silver and other
ores. The sole idea seems to be to
Keep out of the country the lead-bear-
ing ores that are found in Mexico and
across the line in Canada. Putting
down their heads bull fashion tbev
scorch along after the higher rates than
fhe Dingley bill proposes, and they have
not yet discovered, apparently. that
these are positive injury to the min
ing and smelling interests in tbair
state. Lead ore is imported into this
country principally for use as a fux
IN smelling operations. The McKin-
ley act placed a duty on this of 1h
cents per pound. The Wilson bill made
1T Is per cent. The act of 1894 as final
ny passed, imposed a duty of q of a
cent d pound, which was the rate pro-
iposed in the Mills bill
The mining interests of Montana
stand in great need Of an ample SUD-
ply OF lead ore. The silver-bearing o
ores of that state are very largely of
q siliceous character and are too drv
tor profitable reduction, unless they
are mixed with a suitable proportion Of
lead ore. When these are melted to-
tgether the lead carries the silver with
1t to the bottom of the crucible. the
dross and other metals are drawn off
fat the top, and the lead pig, produced
kfrom the process, contains varying pro-
tportions Of silver, which can then be
separated from the lead, leaving it for
commercial uses or for export I'm
less by this process the ores can be
satisfactorily reduced. the smelters find
themselves without business. There are
1odsy ten speltefs In the state of Mon
iEs,ns standing idle through lack of a