Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-28
WELL, WHAT ARE THEY?

ton Of both of the city conventions that
presented tickets, questions of wider sig
ntticance are brought n.-AnacOnda
Standard.
If municipal issues are not the chief
issues in a municipal campaign, what are
the chief issues? If the issues are mu-
nicipal "to a degree what is that de-
How much above or below zero is
sit2 Where do they begin and leave off?
By what light, and upon what authority,
does the Standard relegate municipal
issues to the rear in a city campaign, to
make room for what it regards as "qucs-
tions of wider signifcance?" How can
any question be of wider significance in
a city campaign thar municipal aues-
tions?
VIII the Standard please state where
municipal questions leave off and ques-
tons of wider significance begin?
What are those questions of 'wider sig
n%ificance?' And why are they Of 'wider
s~ignifcance?" Are they of wider sig
nifcance'' to the people of Butte, who
are interested in the question Of good
local government or are they of wider
significance" merely to individuals who
wish to use the machinery of this city
to further, personal ends?
The Standard ought to diagram its po-
litical asseverations, and not project the
public rudderless upon a sea of doubt.
1t is hardly fair for the Journalistic ar
bitter of human destiny, for the official
bull from the political throne room, to
regale the common herd with such
enigmas. In leaving too much to be
guessed at, the public may gather a mis-
understanding as to the real intentions
of the Standard. These questions of
''wider significance must certainly be
very important ones if they so success
fully ~overshadow local affairs.
If such questions as the honest and
economical administration of public af-
fairs, the enforcement of law, the sup
preston of blackmail, the manipulation
of contracts, and favoritism in the col
lection of licenses, are worthy of atten-
ton only 'to a degree and must give
way to questions of wider significance"
it certainly becomes the duty of the pub
lie to ascertain what those extraneous
questions are, and What, their significance
may be. The reticence of the Standard
may lead to a great many wild guesses,
but from a multitude of suggestions the
truth may be reached.
*.*
There are some who believe all the So
called questions of wider significance'
can be summed up in the one purpose of
the eastern capitalists, who have under
taken the consolidation of great interests
in this community, to secure absolute
political control of this city and state.
1t is unnecessary to discuss in this con-
nection what this would imply to the
| small property holder and the laborine
man. No man is SO Intellectually dumb
as to fail to foresee the final outcome OF
such a condition Of affairs. Conditions
of his kind, however, always bring tc
the front men of ability and shrewdness
who will readily lend themselves to any
esteem the present luXuries of the pay
roll more than they do the future welfar,
Of the city in which they reside, or the
personal and political liberty of thu
people.
Matters have already reached a poin.
compelled to carry out the political pur
poses of those for whom they work o.
lose their positions, and be blacklistet
and kicked and bounded out of town. II
the factory towns of the east similar
conditions exist to a greater or lessee
degree, and as a rule such towns havt
gradually shriveHed up to the proper
tons of the corporations that own them
in which employees are granted politica