Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-25
THE PEOPLES PARTY.
OFFICIAL ADDRESS TO ITS MEM
BEERS BY THE STATE CHAIRMAN.

To the Peoples Party of Montana, greet
ing:
Comrades: In duty to you and the trust
reposed, we will answer publicly the nu-
merOus inquiries that have been address,
ed to us, from populists throughout the
state, in regard to the policy and plans
of the committee for the coming cam
paign when, as a result of unjust legisla-
ton enacted by both of the old parties,
the liberties of the people are overrided
by avarice and their industrial oppor-
%tunities are being curtailed by trusts and
combines: when the executive, legislative
and judicial departments of the govern
ment are under the absolute control of a
moneyed allgarchy that neither in spirit
nor in practice has any regard for the
principles that underlie free Institutions.
which, as a result of its Dernicious and
corrupt methods has already placed over
seVenty-five per cent of the entire wealth
of this nation in the possession of less
than IA per cent of it's inhabitants, who,
by their monopolizatiOn of the industrial
opportunities, and the maintenance of IL
special financial system, have undermine
ed the very groundwork OF political in
dependence, which is practically impos-
sible under the economic conditions of
to-day. The initiative and referendum
the government ownership of the public
utilities, and a revision Of the present
financial system are the only remedies
that will restore to the people their rights
and solve the industrial problems that
confront them.
In the face of these facts for the party
that has advocated these principles for
more than seven years and championed
these measures wherever it has been
given an opportunity both in congress and
in the different state legislatures, to re-
tire from the contest would not only be
treason to its principles, but a sacrifice
of personal honor, to which no member
of it, who believes in equity, justice and
the ultimate triumph of the truth, can
subscribe. In the late national contest,
corruption and coercion, aided by the ig-
norance and subservancy to the mandates
of the corporations on the part of a large
number of citizens of this republic, Mark
ann was successful.
In the late state campaign, the demo-
cratic millionaire chieftains, aided by the
treason of Smith, the perfidy of Hartman,
and of everything else that was for lease
or sale. achieved success. The demo-
Gratis elected seyenty-ive Of the total
members of the legislature,
who registered an oath to Safeguard the I
rights of the people and to cherish the
honor of the state, and wha, are the
facts? There are $50, 900 in the treasury of
the state that are indisoutable evidence,
substantiated by the testimony of the
democratic congressman elect and Of sew
eral democratic members OF the legisla-
ture, that it was placed into the hands
of a democrat to be paid to certain DEM
ocratic members afr they had voted for
a specified democratic candidate for the
States senate, for which candi-
date eleven republicans and four silver
also voted. This fact was
Investigated by a grand jury, who,
the face of such democratic evil
dence, could not find any democrat gull
ty Of having attempted to, or lone any
thing that was in their opinion a crime
for a democrat to do.
The democratic members split into fac
lions; the one accusing the other of hay
ing been purchased outright; the other
that they We're free democrats
and hence could sell, if they SO desired
4 privilege, they said the other faction
lid not have, for the reason that they
we're owned before hand and held in the
of rectitude by a copper collar,
was attached to the standard oil
oarrel, While their own 81, 900 bills could /
De exchanged for gold, with which some
# them were going to buy the choicest
in barrels hat had never con-
aimed oil, and which, to their minds,
we're pure, n from the contents of
which, any good democrat could partake
contamination.
But this fierce fractional strife suddenly
a lapse. the standard oil people had
} measure known as House Bill 1872. on