Fergus County argus., 1900-10-17
CORTS StNSELESS IALK.

w. T.. Cort, Democratic candidate for
the Legislature, in his speech at Grass
Range, as well as at other points in the
county, is carefully avoiding any refer
ence TO w. A. Clark or state issues, but
confines his talk TO Imperialism, mill
tarism and trusts. Upon these bugaboos
he even surpasses in audacity and dem
agogy w. ]. Bryan, though lacking, of
course, the oratorical ability Of the lat
ter. In his talk he pictures to an in
telligent audience of Montanans the
horrors of militarism. lie says that IL
Mckinley is elected every young man.
when he becomes of age, will be subject
to military duty, conseripted, etc; that
we will have large standing army.
which will be- used forintimidatlon and
the suppression of free speech, 50 ON
worse and more of it.
Now. man is either dishonest with
himself or is banking on the ignorance
Of h, audiences when he indulgcs in
such talk as this, At GraSs Range it is
reported that Democrats denounced his
assertions as wild aud foolish" show
Ing that the audience had more ntelli-
~rucc and honesty Of conviction than
thc Clarl, candidate for the legislature.
Mr.. Cort knows, or should know, that
the president of the United States has
not tac power 10 increase the Standing
army Tli> isa prcrogatiyc that lies
absolutely with congress. the most the
president can do is to recommend. Com
grcSs derives It's power directly from
the people and how quickly their repre-
scntatiycs would hear from them ifany
attempt should De made to increase the
army beyond the actual needs of the
country. Owing TO the war in the
Philippines the armyis larger now than
it will be again probably in this gener-
alton. 1t is safe TO say that in six
months from now it will be smaller
than it is at present.
But this talk of imperialism is so alb
surl that it is hardly worthy of passing
notice. Search this land from ocean to
ocean and William Mckinley would lie
the last man To think of an empire; the
last Ia WELD n ccptre or decorate him
self in kingly robes At the age of II
he offered his services 10 his country
and was in the forefront Of the battle
for human liberty. when some of his
present traduccrs were being nourished
on copperhead broth. But this very
charge was also brought against An
drew jackson, Abraham Lincoln and L.
;. Grant and was just rs devoid of
truth.
Mr.. Cort is also endeavoring to make
his hearers believe that prosperity is
not general lie admits, we under
stand. that there is some in Montana,
however. 1t is likely that a majority
of his audiences read quite as much as
he does and are just as well posted As to
the general condition of the country
No one but a demagogue will take some
individual instances of labor troubles
or strikes among : ,O0O, 900 artisans and
worliingmcn and point to those as an
evidence of a lack of prosperity. 1t is
a scurvy trick through which every fair
and intelligent man can clearly see.
Prosperity among the laboring peo-
pie was never greater than ii is atpres-
ent. This is clearly demonstrated by
the increased deposits in saving banks.
gain of nearly Sl.0OOOOO,OOO over
l>9G. There are more men employed
than ever before in the history of the
country; they get their pay and ingood
money. thanks To Republican states
manship.
When il comes To the farmers Of the
United states the showing is equally
rs great and satisfactory. The value
on the farm of the nine principal crops
raised in the lnited States was S7IO.-
722.Gl7 larger this year than in ls9G
according 10 the statement of the de
partmrnt of agriculture, which is more
reliable than Mr.. Cort. American far
merS received almost Sll5. .0uo.OO0 more
money for their wheat this year under
a Republican administration than in
1890 under Democratic administration.
They received S3iG. 900, 900 more money
this year for their corn crop than they
did in lsoG and So on in the same ratio
on other cereals. The increased value
nf live Stnrl, n,.nr l.uE 1. ssn1 ~ IL