The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-01


form adopted by the republican con-
vention held 10 days ago. These re-
publican organs are mighty shy on the
subject of issues. They refuse to dis
cuss silver, they refuse to discuss beef
they refuse to discuss senatorial brib-
cry, they have dropped the comparison
Of the Thompson and Harrington ad-
| ministrations like a red-hot poker, and
are now trying to make an issue of the
litigation between the Boston & Mon
tana company and the Heinze COM
pany.
AS the campaign draws to a close it
would not be amiss for these reoubli-
can organs to take their bearings, read
their platform once more and try to de-
termine where they are at. A few COM
ments on that platform might not be
out of place at this time.
The republican platform starts out
with the statement that 1.-The exigencies
of the situation demand the earnest CO.
operation of all good citizens in the
election of men to public Office whose
ability and, reputation in this commu-
nifty guarantees the faithful discharge
of every duty imposed upon them, and
who will jealousy guard the interests
Of our people,"
Very true, very true. And to all ap-
pearances good citizens are going to
unite in the election to the office of
mayor Of J. H. Mccarthy, whose ability
and reputation in this community are
above all question. There are few in
deed who will venture to deny that in
both ability and reputation Mr.. Nc
Carthy is far above Mr.. Kirk, the re-
publican candidate. Mr.. Mccarthy has
lived in this community nearly a quar-
ter of century. He is known to all.
and not breath has been uttered
against his reputation. Mr.. Kirk is un-
tried so far as public office is concerned.
Few know him, and not all who know
him regard him favorably. He is abso-
lutely without experience in municipal
affairs, has only lived in Butte few
short years, and was on the point of
removing his residence from this city
when he was nominated for mayor.
Which is the safer man in whom to
confide the interests of the people?
The next plank of the republican
platform demands that the affairs of
this city and its officers shall not be
dominated or controlled by any corpor-
ate power"
Without doubt. For a number of
years the street railroad company and
the water company have been manipu-
lating the city council pretty well to
suit themselves. Valuable franchises
have been given away for nothing.
There are some men in the council who
would vote to grant these corporate
powers anything they might ask. The
rights of the city and of its citizens de-
mand that aldermen shall be elected
who will not grant any undue privi-
leges to these corporate powers, no
matter how many wine suppers might
be in sight. 1t is announced that the
street railroad company will greatly eX
tend its lines the coming summer. It
has been limited that the water COM
pany proposes important changes Such
there is no disposition to stand in the
way of better street railroad service or
better water. But it is safer to have
men in the city council who will be
ready to grant these corporate powers
that which is right and proper, but
who will so guard the city's interests
that improper franchises shall not be
toI So
MES ever come before the council with
requests for favors. The corporate
powers to be guarded against are the
| corporate powers which are looking for
public franchises
The platform demands that wages be
maintained at a high standard, which
of course is being done, and also de-
mands that employees of the city shall
no longer be paid their wages in de-
preciated warrants. This plank may be
eliminated from the platform for the
reason that under Mayor Harrington's
administration the credit of the city
has become such that ever since last
November city warrants have sold at
par. Under Mayor Thompson city war
rants had to be discounted at per
cent, this, too, in face of the fact that
under Thompson city warrants brought
7 per cent. interest, while Mayor Har-
rington has reduced the interest to 6
per cent
The next plank condemns the "se-
cret levy Of tolls upon inhabitants of
this city" That should be condemned,
too, if 1t Is true. But the Standard has
repeatedly demanded of the Miner and
the Inter Mountain that they explain
this platform, that they specify the
charges, that they name the men, II
there are any, who have levied the Sc
cret tolls. Both papers have responded
to the Standards challenge by shutting
up They refuse to give the names of