Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-26
THE MINERS EXPLANATION.

Saturday morning the Butte Miner
gave it's unqualified endorsement to the
work of the democratic city convention,
declaring that the platform had in it
all the occasion called for
1t will be remembered by those who
have read that platform, which the dem
ocratic press seemed ashamed to present
to the public a second time, that the
democratic city administration is warm
ly applauded as being exactly what it
ought to be.
1t will be also recalled, despite the still
further silence of the democratic press,
that a resolution to endorse the six
o'clock closing movement was howled
down in the convention, with the state
ment that an attempt was being made
to bring discord into the ranks of the
democracy and get up a split in the
party!
All these acts of commission and omis-
sion were gleefully approved by the
Miner as pure and undefiled democracy.
Notwithstanding the fac that it has been
berating the city administration for the
past year, on account Of the gambling
houses which are permitted to do busi-
ness in direct violation of the law Of
this state; and the still further fact that
it has insisted upon making the six
o'clock closing movement universal, as
-.-Ak- - -, - oil 4o~oarnoI orS
for the best interests of the community.
Now, if the Miner was right in it's con-
tention that gambling was being permit
ted in violation of law, the democratic
convention was wrong in giving it's en-
dorsement to the fearless administra-
ton of the present mayor; and if the
Miner was right in it's advocacy of the six
o'clock movement, the convention was
wrong in laying a resolution to that eff
feet on the table, On the grounds that it
would split the party if adopted!
There is no getting away from the logic
of his argument, for it is patent upon the
face of it.
The questions referred to cannot be
compromised by the conscience on the
theory that they nave to do merely with
methods of procedure.
They involved principles, and as such
are clearly defined.
If the city administration is permitting
the gamblers to violate the laws of this
state, as the Miner asserts, then is it
equally guilty itself of the violation of
the city convention in extending u%nquali-
fed endorsement, likewise endorses the
violations referred to.
This proposition admits of no argu-
ment.
1t is self-evident.
Notwithstanding it's position on the
gambling question and on the six o'clock
closing movement, the Miner is doing it's
utmost to elect eight aldermen-four DAILY
men and four Clark men-who stand
pledged to the action of the city conven-
and it's failure to enforce the laws against
gambling; and who are equally pledged
to do all in their owe in an official way
to embarrass and break down the six
o'clock movement.
Sunday morning, he day following Its
enthusiastic endorsement of the action of
the city convention, the Miner doubles on
it's track like a scared rabbit and reiter-
ates its advocacy of the closing move
ment and the rigid enforcement Of the
anti-gambling laws by the city admins.
tration.
Tomorrow it will doubles contain ar
editorial on the splendid work of the
democratic convention, and the excellen,
record which will be made by it's alder.
manic nominees!
Then, a couple of days later it viii
again reiterate it's loyalty to the c!osins