Daily inter mountain., 1899-06-26
GETTING READY EOR 1900.

Notwithstanding a self-evident desire
on the part of the democratic press of
Montana to refrain from a discussion Of
the political issues that must shortly
come before the public for consideration,
their leading representative, the Anacon-
da Standard. Of yesterday. remarked
The political preparations going on
throughout the country. having 1900 in
view. have been a good deal more ac-
tive than the large public suspects.
Undoubtedly it must be confessed that.
by the signs. this work appears to be
more effective than most Of us realize.
Knowing this to be true, it is passing
strange that these preparations have so
far escaped analysis in the columns of
the Standard. 1t will be gratifying to the
Montana public. however to realize that
at last the ice has been broken and that
the democratic press, under the leader
ship of the Standard, will review the sit
uation both in this state and in the ma
ton, rather than surrender so much VAL
uable editorial space to South African
politics and the alleged condition of the
man in the moon. 1t is better late than
never, and if active and effective work
has been going on to shape results in
1900, it is certainly the function of the
press to determine it's character and ef-
feet.
The Inter Mountain has not been un-
mindful of the fact that considerable ac-
tive work has been done, but whether il
was effective is yet to be determined. For
instance, the retirement of Mr.. Bryan
from the army for the avowed purpose
of converting the cry of "anti-imperial-
ISM into a paramount issue that would
relegate free coinage to the background
as Of secondary Importance, was active
enough, but cannot be regarded as hay-
ing been very effective insofar as gene
rating tidal wave against the policy of
expansion was concerned.
Another exhibition of political activity
was the conference of democratic lead
ers in st. Louis recently where "anti-
trusts was selected as the paramount is
sue for 1900, instead of the free coinage Of
silver and gold. AS the republicans are
equally active against the trusts. it may
be that the democratic effort to ride into
popularity on this issue will prove no
more effective than the late attempt Of
that party to fan the silly "anti-imperial-
istic' idea into flame. Evidently the
Standard is quite right, so far as active
preparations are concerned even if it be
inclined to exaggerate their effective.
ness.
There can be no doubt that the national
democratic leaders look with hope on
their hurrah against the trusts. They
are determined that free coinage shall
not be the leading question in 1900, as it
was in 1896. as is shown by their efforts
to select first one thing and then anoth-
er as paramount issue for the next
presidential campaign. When anti-im-
periaism flashed in the PAM like water
soaked powder, they turned to "anti-
trusts" only to be met by the undenia-
BILE fact that all the legislation so far
enacted against combinations of capital
in restraint of trade has been passed by
the republicans, while the democrats. as
in the Sixth legislature of this state, have
made themselves conspicuous enacting
laws favorable to the trusts In line
with the democratic sentiment in this
state in favor Of the trusts the Standard
says
The bulk of the voters will feel that /
respecting the alleged trust offenses. and
the real trust offenses, one party is Just |
as pad as the other; and the upshot OF
1T all will be that, as the result of what |
will thus be a republican success. the
trusts will fasten themselves more firm
ly then ever on the industrial world.
1t is clear from the foregoing that tha
standard does not approve of the deci-
sion of the St Louis conference. to make
opposition to trusts the democratic sio-
gan for 1900. It doubtless realizes tho
position in which the
democracy Of Montana will be placed in
1900, with "anti-trusts" for war crv
What beautiful and effective picture if
would be. to be sure, to see the Anaconda
standard III full pursuit of the republican
'ar.y with the Sixth legislative assembly
lnder one arm and the Amaigamated