Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-10-24
InI HELENA HERALD.

other hands and was enlarged and inn
proved every way, the ARsUs with
many other state papers, hailed the
change and paid the new owners a de-
served compliment for their Energy, en-
terprise and ability. With many Others
we recognized the necessity of a live,
newsy and fearless Republican paper at
the state capital. Soon after there
came rumors to the effect that w. A.
Clark had furnished the bulk of the
money to make the purchase Of the
Herald. These reports were consider
ed very reliable AT the time they were
first given currency and the curse of
the Herald since then has been such as
To strengthen rather than disprove
them.
The Helena Daily Record Of the 18th
inst. contains what purport, TO bc n
history Of the deal under the heading.
The Story of "a Crime" from which we
quote the following extract;
"Ou July Isl the Helena Herald pass.
cd from Republican control into Demo
cratic control. and William A.. Clark. of
Butte. the arch-boodlcr of the state,
became the controlling spirit In the pa.
per. lie furnished the money 10 pur-
chase ii and the money that Is running
it today, Not one dollar used To pur-
chase or invest in hrttrrmrnls for the
paper was furnished 10y a Republican.
some time about the 9Th of Mag, the
present business manager Of the Her
aid. H. l.. Boardman by name. went to
New Work. and obtained Clark money
to buy the Helena Herald. II WAS ar
ranged that Keith should edit il: twas
arranged that the paper should be run
as a Republican paper in Clark's inter
est, ItN editorial pages within the last
month have clearly disclosed the pur-
posi- of the paper. while sailing under
false colors, to injure the Republican
campaign to the extent of its ability,
keep the Democratic party united as far
asst could and aid in every manner pos
sible to secure vindication for Clark at
the coming election.
knowledge Of these conditions led a
band of faithful Republicans to start
the Montana Daily Record. Had the
Record not been started. the conspiracy
formed to capture the only Republican
paper at the capital would have been
worked out To a complete success. The
Record having started. its management
was loath To believe that when the final
test came. any onc claiming 10 be a Re.
publican could he found who would
execute this scheme of deception wrap
ped up in the Helena transfer. During
the last month this illusion has been
disprlled. Each issue of the Herald
has borne additional evidence of the set
purpose of its management To use what
ever influence il could exert as n pre-
tended Republican paper TO contribute
to Mr.. Clark success"
From what we have heard from other
sources we believe the above to he true.
The Herald might rs well he published
in the British possessions for all the
good it does the Republican party of
Montana. Hundreds of Republicans
in this county have read its columns in
disgust, regret and shame. Not since
the change in contro! of that paper
has there been a strong and virile
denunciation of Clark, the boodler and
briber. Its sickly editorials on matters
in no way germane To state or national
politics, leave only N impressions on
the mind Of its readers and that is OF a
complete handicap. What little intru-
ence it does exert is in favor of the OPP
position. While it pretends to take a
lofty ground in condemning the Anal
gamated Copper company and ''kero-
sene' it is simply doing this to offset its
infamous obligation to w. A. Clark.
This will fool no one.
The Republicans of Montana want an
organ free from the faint of Clarkism
and his filthy luere. We trust the
Helena Record will become a perma-
ncnt fixture in this state. II is a good
paper and winning friends every day.
The people know where it stands polit.
ically.