Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-17
MANUFACTURING PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

standard TO manufacture public Sentl-
ment in line with the aims and rpo
of its wing of the democracy.
This morning that enterprising sheet
is filled with unsigned kilograms from
its paid correspondents in various parts
of the state, showing what purports to be
public sentiment respecting the appoint
ment of Mr.. Clark to succeed himself as
a membe of the United States senate.
This is a trick always resorted to by
the STANDARD when it has a political end
in view, and is usually supplemented by
the sapient mouthings of the hired
claquers of the Daily democracy in hotel
Hobbies and on the street.
However disappointing to the Daily
democrats, and their republican hangers
on, the action of MIR. Spniggs may be,
no one has the right to question the le-
eality of hat sentleman's act.
The opportunity to do a political favor
to a personal friend, by appointing Mr..
| Clark, was afforded the lieutenant gov
jernor by the Daily wing of the democracy
itself.
Did not Governor Smith leave the state
Of his own volition?
! Did he not know that Lieutenant Gov
ernor Spriggs became acting governor in
his absence. endowed with all the author
ity which the constitution vests in that
important office?
t. h. ,>+ 1~,-.,1,-- - ~ f,c@ @,, ~.
authority to act is by law absolutely
and unqualifiedly ~annulled when he
crosses the line into another state?
Does he. not know that his advice and
interviews and prayers to God come from
Bob Smith when he is out of the state,
and not from a man empowered to repre-
sent the commonwealth in the slightest
! degree?
What right, then, has he, or the
DAILY democracy whose brand he wears,
to criticise the honesty or the integrity
of an official act performed by the man
who is acting as governor by authority of
law during the absence of the governor
himself?
If Governor Smith sees fit to spend the
greater part of his time out of the state,
frustrating in New York and Washing
tom City, or specializing in business deals
! and looking after his interests as a prac-
ticing attorney, delegating the affairs of
state to those entitled to look after them,
by what right in equity or fair play can
be set himself up as a critic of the work
performed?
He has distributed newspaper froth
from Wordsworth. Nevada, to Ogden,
Utah, in the shape of interviews reflect
ing on the character and standing of the
man Who occupies his gu]bernatorial seat
under the law during his absence from
the state.
And to these interviews the Daily dem
ocracy give public assent, as consistent
with the equities of the situation.
The Standard advertises them as ex.
pressions that reflect public opinion il
this state!
If that neWspaper1hwas gifted With tn.
sense of fair-play it Would defect it:
batteries from the acting governor, who
as the personal friend of Mr.. Clark, dit
the most natural thing which the situa,
ton suggested, and train them for awhile
on Governor Bob for his dereliction o
duty to the Daily democracy, in fleeins
!, the state at a crucial period in the his
tory of that wing Of his party.
!. The difference of opinion between 81
!, per cent of the Daily democrats and tn,
:, Clark democrats, in analyzing the actor
of Governor Smith, can be briefly sum
married. in the belief of the former tina
his excellency was either a fool Or (
tknave, while the latter just as conscien
tiously believe he was both.
The Standard, however, for politica
reasons, must assume that Governo
Smiths charges of trickery agains
others does not reach far enough t.
touch his own garments, n that-lik,
some other great men in the history o
the world-he left his post of duty at
critical time in the conscientious belle
that his post, of duty wouldn't do an.
fermenting during his absence!
But aside from those directly inter
ested in the feudal fight of the demo
cratic party in his state, public senti
: ment will protect MI. spriggs from an
attempt which the Daily men may max
: to shift to his shoulders a responsibility
= which belongs primarily to Mr.. Smit
himself.
Governor Smith had no right to leav
the state under any pretext, when tn
pending Clark case left the possibilit
p - 49,.