The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-28

it's influence to bear upon public senti-
ment upon the choice of good, honest.
reliable, capable public officials. Wen
dell Phillips was right when he said
that the correct solution of the problem
of our great cities would test our free
institutions. 1t is tine that we awaken
from our indifference, our sluggishness.
| was about to say our criminal care
lessness. AS the firing of the gun at
Fort Sumter showed our real danger,
so do the social and political corruption
show us that we stand on dangerous
ground. The Citizens league should
aim to deliver thu voter from the ward
politician, from the local boss, from fol-
lowing blindiy the party leaders. 1t
should aim to make him an honest and
independent voter 1t should aim to
| impress the importance or Its mission,
the seriousness Of being voter.
There can be ~ Improvement in pub
lie morals until we elect men of high
character to ofiirr. There can be no
free republic until our cities and our
states are being governed by business
men and on business principles. You
cannot elect scoundrels to office and
expect to be saved, even as by fire. To
elect man to Office for no other reason
than that he happens to be democrat
or a republican Is about as sensible as
to elect a teacher to teach our public
schools because he happens to be a
Catholic or a Presbyterian Would
business corporation place at Its head
man Who had no character and no abil-
ity. because he happened to belong to a
certain party? il is time that we lay
aside party differences; 1t is time that
our piety assumes new form of right
eousness: it is time that we organize
against boss rule. against mismanage-
ment; it is time that we disbelieve that
an imaginary rope of sand will save
this nation; it is time that we redeem
ourselves from the civic brand resting
upon us, as it did upon Cain, when he
asked, Am 1 my brothers keeper" 1t
is time that we go 10 work and leave no
stone unturned until the indignant pro-
test of thousands Of our citizens may
rise not only heavenward, but ballot
ward, and honesty not plumber, men
not tools, character not ward states
men, shall be in control of the affairs
of the nation. Let me make few sug-
gestions: Let such league be or
ganized in the city of Butte at once
whose object shall be the political re-
generation of the city and state.
Let us begin with small begin
ming and not feel discouraged
Let its mission be to educate and to
enlighten. Let the league be composed
of honest men and women who believe
in the necessity. in the possibility of a
righteous government. 1 want to en-
phasize the word women, for we cannot
get along without their aid, the prestige
which they would bring to bear the in
f1uence which they would exert in favor
of reform. Woman is a natural refor-
mer. We can appeal to no greater force
for civic Righteousness and to no more
willing workers in the cause of civic
reform. 1t is one of the best signs of
the time that we are beginning to rec
ognize Woman's great influence and her
great heart in all the civil questions of
the day. Let us make the league a great
center of influence for good. Let every
officer know that if they do what is
right they will have the backing,
the moral support of this organization,
that exists as an antidote to the deadly
vices in our eivilization-an organiza-
ton of men and women banded together
to promote civic righteousness, to up
hold the majesty of the law and to at
tack formidable evils that work ruin
and destruction
Its object shall also be to arouse the
Indifferent and to induce them to take
an active part in public affairs The
league must be planned on a broad
platform, so that men of every creed and