The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-18
rs BlLLlNGs' FATE RiLLlNasaATE."

# \ ~ SNJASEA d : OSA ASp 'SS"s
~Is BILLlNGs' FATE RiLLiNGsGATE."
Yellowstone journal: In the last
issue Of the Billings Times, Major
Becker announces al his intention the
publication If q third newspaper in
that field, The prospectus. contrary to
general expectation, 10 devoid Of threats
and inuendos, discussing the proposed
new publication from a purely business
standpoint and implying that the bust.
ness opening offered In Billings at the
present time Ia the sole aud only NOV.
Ing cause for the inauguration Of this
enterprise, OF these conditions the
major ought to be az we'll advised 10
any man In Billings. He knows what
the newspaper business is, both IN the
abstract and In Billings, and through
ownership and long experience with
The Gazette and recent utilization with
the Times, his opportunities to size up
the local situation have been peculiarly
edifyiing, and 10 It goes that because
Of a wonderful surplusage Of newspaper
and print.shop patronage now lying
dormant In Billings, requiring tho
wholesome tllip OF a new enterprise to
give 1t life, Major Becker will. In
about thirty days, re.enter the field Of
journalism III Yellowstone county, after
a brief vacation spent Ia other aud n
~oongenial pursuits, and the "MaiRc
City" will for a time experience the
joys and advantages Of having three
newspapers SINGING Ito praises In dulcet
tenor, while In other voices and keys
they will expose to public view the
quivering political and social cadavers
Of whilom eminent citizens. For dis.
guise II M he may III his prospectus,
Major Becker does not hide from the
public IN his daily walks that he IL
about TO start on the warpath; that his
warbag IN laden with a choice assort.
ment Of pigments used only to singnlize
demoniac war; that his Ratchet and
knife are ground TO razor" edge,
md that his ammunition includes no
blank cartridges.
What will the harvest be-: Can ANY
man acquainted with the unfortunate
political conditions obtaining IN our
sister and n~eighboring county nc.
curately app1aise the "killed. wounded
and missing after the row 10 over:
While 1t Ia true that the general public
enjoys reading newspaper exposures
aud while there are always those who
will pat the newspaper man on the
back when he IL throwing mud and
encourage him to more vigorous effort.
1t the same time adding to the muck
heap some Shiny contribution Of his
own, the community that goes through
such an experience 10 never the better
Of 1t aud quite often the worse.
Wounds are made that never heal and
the fair current Of looal prosperity Ia
damned with the n0isoMe aGcuMula.
tiona Of the fght, diverting what
should be combined and successful on.
tefprise into envious and ehurlish an.
tagonism that the growth Of a new gen.
Grafton hardly serves to eliminate,
We would dislike TO noe u friends IN
Yellowstone county e,abroiled In a
neighborhood row, for we fear that,
owing to disclosures made on both
aides, there would be no curse open to
M but to cut tho whole push until II
was proven that the allegations made
were false OF ut best had but little
foundation in fact, for while the Alkali
Watters have tho most grossly exag'
golasaa ideas of themselves and We
lRMentably childish In some Of their
eonceits (such, for instance, ~ turning
out tho whale population At the depot
every tiusa u train goes through-we
have Paul Mccormick ~ authority that
thure IL q city ordinance requiring this
to he done under penalty Of II dne-Ed)
they ara In the main very excellent peor
ple and wegive notice now that Ms re-
CARDS this impending u%phaaval, We
shall refuse TO believe that any Of our
friends thafe have been guilty of muI'
der, arson or 0thaF arava crimes,
WMIpESinE~WEILCAM II,