The Philipsburg mail., 1899-01-27
THE CLARK FECD,

tuition OF the right OF exercising the
privilege Of voting for candidate fol
United States senator at Helena, as
contained in the Anaconda Standard
every issue, are such as to make an hon
est man, or even one half honest, tremble
for the safety of his country; because
| accumulated wealth and corporate power
are ruling the American people stronger
and more mercilessly each year. If only
a fraction Of these reports from Helena
are true, the fact is plainly apparent
that the need of the vigiiante association
in Montana IN the early six les Is many,
many, many times surpassed by the hor-
rifylng events of today. In the honesty
and purity of the ballot, no matter
whether exercised at the polling booth
or within the legislative hail. depends
the liberty, safety and independence of
the American people. When this sacred
right Is prostituted what is there left?
These charges that are being coninually
made are of such character as to appall
even the citizen who rarely thinks of
what his country is coming to. 1t
makes little difference to the people of
Montana who Is elected United States
senator, as compared with the after
effect, should these charges be substan-
tiated.
The Mail has taken calm, dispas-
sionate, and almost dislnterested view of
the progress of the balloting for senator
at the state capital, considering that as
the Legislative branch of the state govern.
ment is overwhelmingly controlled by
the Democratic party, the fight was
not ours, but should be left entirely
within the hands of the representatives
OF that party for adjudication. But the
contest has reached point where
longer to remain silent is criminal. We
reiterate, The Mail has been fair and has
kept "hands Off" in which respect it has
almost proven an exception among the
state press. 1t has tried to avoid criti-
cisms on either the DAILY or Clark fac
tions, which might be construed as
showing favoritism for one or the other;
but where comment was made, the tao
tics resorted to by both sides during the
past ten or fifteen years, s,which have come
within our personal observation and
knowledge. have been emphatically and
almost viciously condemned. We must,
however, go farther. These charges
must be investigated honestly and i'm
partially. We repeat, it makes little
difference to the present or future gen.
eratlons whether Mr.. Clark succeeds or
Mr.. DAILY wins. They are but mortal,
and within few short years they will
both be ro'ting in their graves 1t is
the truth or falslty of these imputations
that, in our opinion, should most direct
ly interest and arouse the people; not
whether one or the other succeeds.
The Anaconda Standard, the organ
and property of Mr.. Marcus DAILY and
the great Anaconda Copper Mining
company, reiterates these charges with
daily regularity. 1t is read by thous-
ands of our electors; women ard chill
dren as we'll. That the accusations are
true we have no means of knowing. We
do not believe them; we cannot believe
them. We have more faith and conf
dence in our fellow-man. Some may be
perhaps many-but we are
not uncharitable enough to believe that
all are. We do not think that al the
men voting daily for Mr.. Clark for SEN
ator are hirelings. Nor do we believe
that all those voting for Mr. Conrad,
or Mr.. Maginnis, or any of the other
candidates, are paid for it, But we
have this to say: Even though the
charges be true, we do not believe the
methods resorted to by the Anaconda
Standard are justified. The reeking,
vulgar, venomous, and haring head
lines displayed by that otherwise won
derful and enterprising newspaper are
lnexcusable and reprehensible, and they
instantly suggest to the impartial reader
might be resorted to in order to accom-
pllsh its purpose.
Here are a few samples of the s. an
dard's headlines from Wednesdays is
sue, condemning Cascade county legis
lators:
"Helena Hell of Debauchery and
Corruption."
Courses for the Traitors"
"Pilloried in Disgrace"
"Liar, Thief and Blackmailer,"
'Ihelr Course Has Won Them "A Har
vest of Oblouuy, Loathing and Con-
tempt"
EVEN the Women and Children Spit
on the Names They Have Dishon-
ored."
"felegrams Hot With Righteous Wrath
Warn Them That Cascade Countv
VIII BE Too Warm for Them AZ
ter This