Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-24
THE REPUBLICAN, ATTITUDE.

In general terms the Anaconda Stand.
ard, the official organ of the anti-Clark
democrats, alleges that the entire repub-
lican party Of Montana is covertly de-
Tending the man who is now on trial be-
fore the senate committee in Washington,
While the accusation Of the Amalgamat-
ed organ is untrue, and is based on that
papers inability to comprehend what
fair-play may mean in the consideration
of any proposition in which it feels a per-
sonal concern, it is nevertheless worthy
of analysis. The Standard is too badly
warped by the intensity of it's feelings,
and has too much at stake in more WAYS
than one in the outcome of the present
contest, to tolerate such a thing as an in
dependent and impartial consideration Of
the Clark case. Under the circum-
n the public has ceased to expect
from that subsidized representative of the
copper trust any concession that inter-
1eres even in the remotest degree with it's
own infallibility as a pace-maker for
public opinion.
But this does not alter the fact that
the republican party is unjustly accused
when it is lined up among the covert de-
tenders of Senator Clark. The republi.
can party has fought the W democratic
factions in this state singly and collect
lively. as occasion required, and has A,
often been compelled to point out the
political shortcomings of the one element
as the other. The concensus of opinion
among republicans is that neither wing
or the democratic party has any particu-
lar ledge upon it's rival, when questions
OF political purity are in issue. It me-
cessarily follows, that any step calculat-
ed to probe into the methods of both fac
lions will be most generously applauded.
inasmuch as the conduct of the democ-
racy has led w to the disgraceful neces.
sity of a public exploitation of Montana,s
shame.
This view of the case, held by republic
cans generally, is construed by the
Standard as unmistakable evidence Of
public sympathy for Mr.. Clark. Were
the Standard correct, it's arguments
would furnish the reason, perhaps, why
the Anaconda democrats did not tell
their ~-c.bles to a policeman" and avail
themselves of the opportunities offered
by thu local courts in bringing offenders
TO Jns.:oe, instead of advertising their
grievances from the house-top. Our
contemporary makes a signal failure in
working the astute ~diapason of it's kew.
board. when it announces to the world
that the republican party of this state il
defending Mr.. Clark. Such a statement. |
If true, would imply a reason for such
a defense, which many people would i'm
mediately discover to be a general dis
trust of the character of his accusers.
1t cannot be said that the Standard has
helped its case any by such an inference.
for outsiders will at once conclude that il
the entire republican party is covertly |
defending a democrat who is accused of
CRIME there must be something radi-
cally wrong on the part Of his accusers.
which calls for a rebuke from a healthy
public sentiment! This is not the first
time. however, that the Standard has re-
sorted to a mis-statement in order ia
hurt its own case.
While the republicans throughout
Montana will welcome any exposure of
crime to which a democratic cat-and-dop
fight may lead, even If the exposure
comes high and works a hardship on the
state, there are undoubtedly members Of
that organization who believe that a. vic.
tory for Mr.. Clark in the present case
would conserve the best interests or
the commonwealth. Their REASONING
may be wrong, but they hold that the
senator stands between the people and
the %undisputed sway Of the most gigantic
trust of modern times, in the clutch of
which Montana might be reduced to a
condition of political slavery of the most
and degrading type. They
further argue that conditions are such
that Senator Clark will be able to re-
cover into the treasury Of the United