The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-25
Buildings and sites and Motives.

see nothing good in the capt.
tol as designed, in the site for
it. in the capital city or anything con-
nected with it," The Helena %Independ-
ent said this yesterday morning. The
remark is unjust, unkind. unwarrant-
ed, untrue. 1t results from the habit
into which the Helena press has fallen.
uncousciously. we believe, Of constru-
ing whatever the press of the state
happens to say in mild criticism of
state affairs as a shaft covertly aimed
at Helena. That is a foolish habit to
fall into.
The Standard spoke the other day
of the proposed new capitol, its site.
its surroundings. Its remark was that
the building hardly measures up to that
which Montana ought to nave as a
state house: that the perspective view
does not show a very successful piece
of designing; that. since the proposed
structure is assumed to be the best
that can be had for the money, it is
a pity that the project had not been
delayed until a more generous appro-
priation had been possible. These re-
marks involve. in part, a question of
Judgment. Doubtless there are those
who find the plans admirable in an
architectural way and whose view is
hat the time is ripe for building. A
man has to go aroun the block TO hunt
for a sinister motive IN the part of the
newspaper that doesn't share these
opinions.
The Standard said. too. a couple of
days ago.. that the site chosen for the
capitol is not a fortunate selection. We
believe hat the Helena Independent
is in full accord with that opinion. The
are not pleasant whereas a dozen ad-
mirable tracts for capitol grounds fall
under the eye of the man who, in a
two-hour drive. makes the tour of the
town. The sharpest criticism we have
heard touching his site has come from
the citizens of Helena-the Independent
would hardly brand these people as
enemies of Helena because they hus
express themselves
The Standard hostile to Helena? No;
Helena has enemies enough at home
why. within three months the duty
has come upon the Standard warmly
to defend Helena's name for credit. foi
responsibility and almost for common
decency against the vicious filings OF
the daily newspapers printed in thai
city. Less than ninety days g Hell.
ena's daily press. as if by mutual agree.
ment. was using big campaign editions
day after day, TO advertise the allega.
lions that the city was making itself
social stencil. that municipal finance
were passing into the hands of wreck
ers. that the wide-open contingen
among men and the indecent contin
gem among women were in the saddle
and that the elements that proved 4
be a good majority at the local polls-il
spite of the bitter opposition of tn
Helena press-were going to send tn
to the devil. Isn't that so? Newspape
files are the ready resort in proof.
1t became the duty of the STANDARD
because it's field is the entire state o
Montana. to demand hat this defama
ton of Helena by the press of Helen
cease. This newspaper predicted
prudent and intelligent administratio
for Mayor-elect Edwards who couldn'
get a reputable word in the Helen
press. and the Standard is assured tina
thus far. Mayor Edwards is c%onfound
ing his critics by the fairness of hi
administration and by his Jealous ef
fort To pull the municipal finances on
of the slough.
But must IL be that a Montana news
paper, to save itself from the charg
of captious narrowness. shall praise
capitol plan IL does not happen to ad
mire or commend a building policy
believes to be unwise, or laud a state
house site which 1t deems to be an un
fortunate selection?