Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-01
OLD AND NEW u

ness resulting from honest differences of
opinion. Though each party frequently
a fractional troubles they were gener-
ally settled in convention. and when
the tickets were finally nominated. the
voters rallied to the support of the noml-
nees and the battle was fought on the
issues enunciated in the party platforms.
The principles of the republican party
versus those of the democratic party
furnished the subjects the orators de-
bated and the press discussed, and on
election day the party which had made
people generally won. There We're some
subjects the party leaders and the great
voting public always agreed upon, viz:
the protection of property. the encour-
agement of capital. the generous treat
ment of labor interest, the impartial adj
ministration of justice and the con-
servation of every mans personal and
political rights. There was no dispute
as to these matters: both parties agreed
that the states prosperity, development
and good name was a matter beyond the
pale of politics; that the republicans and
democrats were alike concerned and that
all men understood the prime necessity
of friendly relations between capital and
labor, the maintenance of law and order
and the absolute security of legitimate
investment.
= ~. tho conra hoe
changed. Questions of national politics
no longer absorb the attention of all the
people. Protection, expansion and indus
trial growth are intelligently debated by
republicans to some extent, but the DEM
ocrats will not discuss them nor defend
their own party principles. 1t is the SOL
emn truth that the issue of Imperial
ISM which is declared by the national
platform to be the paramount" issue
now before the country, more important
than silver itself, is not even mentioned
in the state democratic platform. The sill
Yer issue has been dropped and the tariff
is ignored despite it's Importance in Mon
tana. The organs and organs of the
party from Glendive to Heron and from.
Benton to Monida seldom mention the
issues which four years ago engaged
their frantic and exclusive attention.
h democrats are making their fight
on a non-political issue this year. Either
from the basest of motives or because
democratic principles in his campaign
o,o r1oforcih1o tho x1nronoro tic ~ ,ty
is waging the pending contest for no
other purpose thar the injury or destruc-
ton of a certain mining company doing
business in Montana, against which the
false charge is made that it seeks to die
tate the politics and enslave the people
of Montana. Beyond the fact that the
concern referred to has applied to the
courts for the adjudication of certain
legal questions, the merits of which it is
the duty of the courts ond not politicians
to determine, the Inter Mountain is
not aware hat it differs In any i'm
portant respect from any other mining
company. Possessing doubtless the fail
ings and virtues of all corporations, it
has not, to the public's knowledge, die
tated republican politics in this state.
The history Of the recent state conven-
ton and the character of it's nominees
prove hat. One crime charged against
the company is, according to the Helena
democratic press, that some of it's off,
Gals are interested in certain eastern
trilCtS on1nnp them the Standard Oil.
which the democratic party denounced
at Kansas City but did not suppress dur
ing the reign of Grover I. But whatever
the real animus of the charge may be,
the fact is that several democratic con-
ventions have inveighed against the
company, and the Butte Miner on Friday
morning plainly declared that the issue
of the campaign is the people Of Mon
tana VS. the Amalgamated Copper Mining
company"
The Inter Mountain does not believe
that is the issue. 1t does not believe the
people of Montana believe tina to be
a correct statement of the issue. It does
not believe they are going to the polls
on election day to settle such an issue
while the issues set forth in the political
platforms are pressing for solution. Ii
does not believe that the voters Of this
state can be arrayed in opposition to any
mining company which has lone no
demonstrable harm to the state, but
which, on the contrary, bought some
mines here for nearly $1OO. Oao, 900, max
ing a good many of our people rich;
which is now building a scooter
smelter; which las 10000 good men on
its payroll. and which, like other min
ing companies. is distributing the money
that keeps business moving, furnishes a
market for the states products and adds
to the value Of every farm, every town