The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-26
MONTANA A GREAT STATE
Captain Dutton Struck With the
Progress in the West.
BEST FRUIT HE EVER SAW
Bitter Root Berries Take the Cake-Work
OF the l. Q. G. T. in Montana-He
Has Great Faith in the
States Future

A reporter for the Standard spent an
agreeab BILE hour with Captain Dutton,
who closed a. very successful series of
temperance mass meetings last Thurs
day evening. The captain is an inter
esting conversationalist; can tell more
funny yarns and throw out more queer
phrases in half an hour than a clown in
three-ring circus; he can be serious
too and the unbidden tears will rise in
the eyes Of his auditors as he relates
some of the pathetic incidents which
have come under his observation dur
ing his long career upon the temperance
platform. He can read human nature
like an open book, and person would
have to be wideawake to deceive him.
As he was born in Virginia and spent
his youth in the sunny South, he has
warm spot reserved in his heart for the
natives Of the land of cotton The
captain is not conceited, and does not
care to be called 1.-The lecturer" but
considers himself just plain work.
man, doing his duty to the cause he
loves so well. Said he: when / am
gone another will step from the ranks
instantly, and the work will go on.
Workmen are plenty--in our cause all
are equal, and so one is not missed
when he goes over the river.
In reply to the questions put to him,
he said: Il have most favorable opin-
ion of Montana. l will have been here
six months on the 9th inst, and, in
deed l am pleased with the state and
her people. / like Anaconda, too, and
think the people made a great mistake
when they did not award Anaconda the
capital. Missoula and Great Falls are
pretty nearly up to Anaconda in some
respects, but are behind the times in
others.
"a man coming from the South has
no idea of the progressive spirit of the
great West. Why. 1 half expected to
see tough-looking cowboys with cannon
pups hanging in their belts and with
long bowie knives in their bootlegs. AS
it is, l don't even see the boots.
1.-The churches are away ahead of
what I anticipated: you have a good
class Of preachers. as rule, but l have
met few who are not worth killing.
Your school system is very good, in
my estimation, although l came from
a state which has what is considered
the best school system in the union.
This the people attribute to prohibit
ton. for the money formerly needed to
punish crime is now being used to edu-
cate young America. People say bleed
ing Kansas and pity her Inhabitants,
| but Kansas has made most remarkable
progress since prohibitory law took eff
| feet Notwithstanding 7the climatic and
| natural setbacks she has suffered
You have a glorious state, and her
future is indeed great What Montana
| lacks is development, and when her nat
ural resources are put to use the state
will be wonderful in its wealth. I never
in my life saw finer wheat and oats than
that raised here. Why, l was told that
one man of the state marketed $500
worth of strawberries this last season.
This man is r. T. Black; perhaps you
know him. I have been all over the
extreme South and East. though not
west of here but l have never seen
| fruit that can equal the Bitter Root
product.
Near Bozeman I saw many fine
farms. l was in Carbonate when they
struck coal had been out fishing-no,
l don't carry my bait in bottle-and
was just returning with a good string
when I heard shout l thought the
| town was afire; it was-with excite
ment. Why the town went crazy!
THE work in the state and the con-
dition of the order? I came to the
state under the auspices of the grand
! lodge though my contract with it eX-
|
the I. o. G. 7. is healthy, as more than
| LOO members are enrolled in Montana.
l have lectured in number of states,
but find Montana lodges on a more
solid financial basis than in any other
| jurisdiction l have visited. The finan-
cial affairs are certainly in good hands.
The order, though not strong numerical
| ly, is in fine fettle, and, when it gets
down to work, good results will be sure
| to follow.
Temperance sentiment is growing all
over the land. What the people need is
education; to educate we must agitate.
I see you have a general local option
law here. though 1 have never heard of
any voting having occurred. There is
chance to work upon this line. In the
| South the people are voting on it all
| the time. In only three counties of Mis-
sissippi can a person buy liquor over
| the bar In South Carolina there are no
| saloons 100000 Texans live on prohibit
tion soil. One-half of Kentucky and
Virginia are under the rule of prohibit
| tory law.
"It is possible that l shall return to
| the state in the fall for the benefit of
my health, as this is an excellent eli
| mate. AS everyone knows, the meet-
| ings here have been very successful.
| You have fine temperance sentiment and
| are not afraid of work, most of you,
though a little work would kill some
Anaconda folks whom I have met"
Captain Dutton left yesterday morn
| ing for Des Moines, Iowa, where he will
| lecture for three months under the
auspices of the Iowa grand lodge.
| Paris of To-day-the handsomest pre-
MUM book ever offered-now ready for