The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-20
IT OPENED THEIR EYES
Victoria People Thought Dewey
Would Get Whipped.
BOTTLED UP IN MANILA
Canadians Are Wearing Alliance Badges
Now-Couldn't Explain the Great
Naval victory-Badge Fe-
yer in Missoula.

Missoula, May &c. y. Hartley re-
turned last night from an extended trip
to coast points. Most of the time he
spent In Victoria. and he a y that the
interest In the wal up there is as great
as In this part of the continent. In
speaking of the situation across the
line. Mr.. Hartley said THE victory
Of Dewey wrought a marked change in
the sentiment OF press and people. Prior
to the official confirmation of the early
reports Of that battle. the papers and
the street talk had been largely in favor
of Spain. All conceded thai Spain had
the best navy and that her fleets were
better disposed of han the American
vessels. SO that they could be handle
better. When the first report of the
Manila battle was received IL was
laughed at. There was hardly any
body who would believe IT, and had
all sorts of trouble from getting into
arguments over the matter. One re-
port would say that the whole story
was made up to sell and
another would say that Dewey was bot
tied up in Manila harbor. and that the
destruction of his fleet was only a mat
te;r OF time. II was an impossibility
that the American fleet could have won
such a victory without having suffered
some loss, especially when II had a fleet
and strong land batteries against ID.
So the talk went on until the official re-
port of Dewey came to hand. was
in front of one of the bulletin boards
when the news was posted. and ] stood
there for nearly. an hour watching the
people as they read il. The news was
received eagerly. but there was nothing
said about IL. A man would force his
knrn 80 q suLss -
board. and then would stand till he
had absorbed all that there was in the
terse message Of Dewey. When they
had read what that message said. most
of them would turn on their heels and
walk away without a word. This same
bulletin board had been the scene of
all sorts of discussions during the pre-
ceding days. but there was no talking
on this day. 1t was so with the pa
pers at first. They did not know how
TO explain Ii, so they made no attempt
to do 1t. There was soon, however. n
decided change in the tone of the utter
ances of the people on the streets and
of the papers Since then they have
been able to see much in the American !
side of the question that they had over |
looked. ON the streets they are now
wearing badges that are formed of the
stars n stripes and the union jack
together"
DIR. Spottswood returned yesterday
from a visit To st. Paul and Minneapo-
lis. He says that the war feeling there
Is on the increase. and that the ex- |
citement is greater every day. The
doctor made a trip out to the fair
grounds. where the Minnesota volun-
teers are encamped. and expresses him
self as much pleased with the mill
tary appearance of the camp. The
recruits are now good soldiers, and
"A ~. a - 90 - - - - So NJ ]
regiments will be separated. |
and are probably now on their several
ways to the scenes of their military SER
vice. Some of them will go to the
gulf. and others will come this way.
The regiments were preparing for their
departure from the camp when DR..
was there. One regiment
was ordered to the Philippines. and will
serve with the Montana regiment. They
ought to be through Montana on their
to the coast in a day or two. IL
they left according to the plans tina
had been announced when the doctor
left for home. All along the line of
the Northern Pacific the same enthusi-
asm ran high. and al every little town.
md at all OF the large cities. there were
scores OF people waiting at the sta
ton for the arrival of the train to get
he papers.
The badge fever i'm Missoula is still
At its height. The man who cannot
a badge of some sort is not
much good. There are flags. and there
are ~knapsacks and there are ribbons
wear them. men wear them
and women wear them. They are sold
Dn the streets and i'm the stores. They
ire hawked about on the depot plat
'orm, and they are peddled around the
business houses. The list of novelties
the badge line is still increasing.
the man who starts out to get n
collection of them will have
/ big job on his hands. The Maine
Spain are fortunately so built
hat they rhyme. and this makes IL
'asy for the composers of these coup
Where the craze will stop, there
$ no telling.