The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-21

sessed or could borrow, and are to-
day Respondent, crestfallen and de-
spairing.
Flower had complete mastery of the
market, and these who look back upon
the record which he made. wonder how
it all happened. Even those who fol-
lowed him blindly are unable to ex-
plain their action in buying at fancy
prices stocks which had never paid
a dividend and which gave no promise
of profit in the near future. 1t was one
of the mysterious sociological phe-
nomena which are continually playing
madcap pranks in fields commercial
and industrial. as well as in realms
political and religious.
Politically Flowers death will mean
very little, though for the present his
friends are predicting serious changes
in the political situation as the result
of his demise. They overlook the fact
that every principle for which he stood
has numerous and powerful champions
in New York; that what he would do
will be done by the same men and
under the same influences that would
have operated had he lived, and that
in the nation at large the battle for
supremacy will proceed with the came
stubbornness and viriity as though he
had survived.
In fact political development at pres
ent is something that no one man, with
the possible exception of Admiral
Dewey, can seriously change or check.
Should Dewey consent to be candi-
date for the presidency he would beabe
to dictate policies and lead public opin-
ion. 1t is believed by some that he will
finally submit to the presidential oper-
alton. and that he will be the next
president of the United States. 1t is
clear case of a man being able to say
that he can have the presidency If he
wants it. That is pretty big state
ment, yet it is one that Dewey can
make without exaggeration or egotism.
However, he is not the man to boast.
and history will be compelled to record
the fact without his assistance.
Roosevelt is at present on the tobog
gan slide. He is well near the top,
but shows signs of weakness. He may
lose his grip at any moment and shoot
to the bottom with the same rapidity
that characterized his meteoric ascent.
Should he call an extra session of the
legislature for the purpose of tinkering
with the franchise bill which provides
for taxing all franchises. and which is
looked upon as work of the devil by
every railway corporation in the state,
he will be as dead duck as ever deco
rated the political puddle.
The people are very much in earnest
on the question of taxation in New
York, and they indorse the Ford bill
most heartily. On the other hand.
Platt favors the corporations and he is
playing upon the rural citizens by
showing them the injustice of giving to
New York city the revenue which
would come from taxing street rail-
way franchises in the city. He will at
tempt the old game of turning as much
of the money as possible into the state
treasury 1t is a fad with the republic
defray the expenses of the state and
then give it a minority representa- ton
in the legislature. History records no
situation so UNANIMOUSLY unjust toward
a great municipality.
New York city is democratic. there
fore it must be punished. 1t is criminal
| for the leading city of the nation to 60
| democratic; therefore the republican
| plotters will punish the people for their
| crime. The great city is plucked an
nually for the benefit of the upstate
| goody-goodies, and were it not for the
tremendous producing power of the
metropolis it would be a hopeless
bankrupt. The Ford bill provides fol
giving to each municipality the fund!
franchises within it's borders. The re-
publican boss calls on Roosevelt to re
convene the legislature for the purpos,
of changing the law so that it will com
pei New York city to turn it's incom,
over to the state. However. if the leg
| islature gets another chance at tn,
| measure, it is probable that neither tn,
city nor the state will get the money
| but that it will continue to go into tn,
| Golfers of the corporations and there
in lies the danger to Teddy's presiden
tial boom. He has betrayed a weak
ness He is stumbling. His broncho il
| bucking. He sits unsteadily in tn
saddle. His facial expression is a.
gaily fierce as ever but his politica
foes are doing the real smiling. TIL
situation in New York is rejuvenatin,
| Mckinley while the baths are unjustl,
getting the credit
JOHN M. QUINN.