Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10
A MONTANA ISSUE.

This morning the Anaconda Standard
expresses the belief that the republcahs
intend to base their political fight in this
state ON the allegation that the demo-
cratic party is corrupt. Recognizing the
propriety of such a course on the part
of the republican party, and evidently
fearing the force of the issue, our con-
temporary outlines the defense which
the democrats purpose making against
charges of that character. Like the
constitution of man, that defense is
fearfully and wonderfully made.
It points to the testimony OF Geiger,
that he accepted a bride of $1,10o to vote
for the corporation bill, which was
fathered by the Anaconda wing of the
democracy, and the fact that several
other republican members of the legis-
lature voted for Clark, as conclusively
showing that the republican party is to
blame for the corruption in the demo-
cratic party! 1t argues, anent the con-
fession OF Geiger, that if one republican
can be bribed, how can the republican
party be trusted? 1t is really too bad
that a handful of republicans are re-
sponsible for the universal corruption
notwithstanding to the Standards own
acknowledgements a legislative body
that was overwhelmingly democratic.
1t would be strange. indeed, if all the
adherents Of any party could pass
through the seething cauldron of COR
ruption that. characterized that demo-
cratic body, and wholly escape the be-
dragged habiFiments Of sin. Geiger,
coming from a locality which produced
a Whiteside, seems to nave fallen an
easy prey to the Establishments of the
political ,lieutenants Of the Anaconda
wing of the democracy, when backed
up by a package containing 81, 100. The
condemning him for his self-confessed
crime.
If republicans have been weak enough
to yield to the financial pressure Of DEM
OCIdllC lIupglOu1SlS Ill tIIu6f WluS Oh
that party, their downfall proves only
the magnitude of the democratic cor
ruption funds that have demoralized
and disgraced the state. For years past
the democracy has depended upon such
funds for the success of it's political VEN
lures, and with a bag of gold fastened
to every proposition it had in view it
would have been almost a miracle had
no weak republican fallen under it's Sc
ductive charms. 1t is not a question OF
a morally weak man here and there in
any political organization, but of the
recognized methods of a party in carry.
ing out the ends 1T may have in view.
1t has been demonstrated beyond ths
shadow of a doubt that since the dawr
of statehood the democratic party ha:
depended upon enormous corruption
funds for every success which it hoped
to attain. It has been a perpetual
menace to the people. gathering in it,
victims here and there all along tn.
line. until the poison seems to hav,
p~ercolated into the very heart of tn,
body polite in this state.
In the first state campaign, accordin,
to the sworn confession of ex-Governo
'Hauser, the sum of $3.50. 900 was contrib
uted to the democratic corruption fun
by four men, namely, Marcus Daily, "
A. Clark, Charles Broadwater and him
self. AT the election of that year tn
republicans polled 1888 votes for gov
ernor, while the democratic nomine
received 1850 grand total G
1852 votes. Had each voter VIII
cast his ballot for the democratj
ticket received his proportion of tn
corruption fund of $3.50. 900, he woul
have pocketed $3.50. which woul
represent h per capita expen.
Of that election to the democracy dI
the fund of 100000 cover the total e,
penditures Of the, party in that can
paign. But the campaign FUND WI
swelled by the smaller contributions
the lesser lights of The democracy, tn,
largely a~ngmentting the cost Of the bou
bon victory of that year.
No one will have the assurance