The Philipsburg mail., 1900-10-26
THE MORAL SIDE OF IT.

n response to notice recently pub
lshed at the request of the republi-
can county central committee, "that if
j. Il. Abbey, (then the chief OF police of
Philipsburg) would present his bill the
committee would reimburse him for the
amount he expended in employing
plumber OF school boys to beat tincans at
republican rally" the Citizens Call
publishes the following:
Philipsburg, Mont, Sept. 26, 1900.
The Gold central committee to ]. E.
Abbey, DR..
To expense of boys marching club, etc.
The gentleman ls no doubt proud of
his actions. The Call also points with
pride" to this edifying performance.
Have Mr.. Abbey and the Call ever given
this matter moments consideration?
1t is a serious matter and effects this
entire community, including our public
schools, and every boy who is growing
up here is directly concerned. Is this
community prepared to say that it is
opposed to free speech. Are Philips
burg parents proud of their boys being
taught to create disturbance and beat
tincans when prominent strangers come
to our city to hold a public meeting?
Do they approve of the acts of men who
openly degrade this community and our
public schools in the estimation of citi-
zens from other sections by encouraging
and even paying boys to do this? How
do the people of Philjpsburg like it to
have public speakers announce to aud
fences elsewhere that ''at Philipsburg
they were received by boys tincan
brigade and that their meetings were in
terrupted here. That the boys at Phil
ipsburg are being paid for creating this
kind of Disturbance What do you
suppose other communities will think of
the people of PhiEpsburg? Every resi-
dent of this city can form his own con-
clusion in the matter. The time will
come, and it is not very distant, when
the citizens of Philipsburg will regret of
CNS1 ldH ll1S pei d CSl Idlu C4culcut
to degrade this community in this man
ner; the time will come when the teach
ers of our public schools will have some
thing to say to their pupils concerning
their department at public meetings, or
even political gatherings, whether or not
they are in sympathy with the views of
onv ourfoip norfy po1ifiao1 cpoolorc
who visited Granite recently are loud in
their praise of the cordial welcome ex-
tended them there. They speak highly
of the people of Granite and the manner
they entertain visitors within the con-
fines of their little city. Do they say
the same thing when they speak about
Pbilipsburg: Do they? The state COM
mittee hesitates about sending prominent
men to Philipsburg to address our citi-
zens. Why? Because they do not de-
sire to have them publicly insulted.
Our community stands disgraced by the
acts of few certain men. Some of them
aspire to public Office. Elect them and
you will have fastened the disgrace for
ever upon yourselves, because you signl-
fy by your ballot that their acts and
conduct stand approved. Can tnis com
munity afford this? There are agitators
and political maIcontents in every com
munity, but they should not be allowed
the top hand. They should be held in
check. They are not the men to elevate
or to elect to public office. There are
plenty of good men upon whom to be-
stow public favors and recognition, but
the agitator has no place there. Men
who have disgraced community will do
so again. Let the voter bear this in
mind when he considers just for mo-
ment the moral side of the question at
issue.