Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-15

NN
up and exploited from time to time
whenever our state seeks a favor from
the COVER nment which jealous rivals
would deny.
If Mr.. Clark's defeat would indicate
the inability of our people to punish
crime at home. instead of appealing for
outside aid, his victory would not relieve
Montana of the stain which a feudal
fight has inflicted upon her good name.
The r~otterness of the political methods
employed by both wings of the demo-
cratic party has been conclusively shown,
and it will be difficult for that political
organization to point cut a victory at
the polls which has been honestly won.
Thus, while Mr.. Daily or Mr.. Clark may
realize a victory or a defeat. insofar as
their personal feelings are concerned, the
great state of Montana must suffer ire
trievably which ever way the contest
goes. Tbs good name of the state is
dragged through the mire from ocean to
ocean and its prospects damaged beyond
human computation.
="
Were millions spent in advertising the
advantages of the state and the character
and honesty and enterprise of its people.
as an inducement to the homeseeker and
the investor. the good name of the COM
monwealth could mot be dragged out from
under the oderiferous mire which the
Daly-Clark feud has piled upon it. The
press Of the United States are attacking
our beloved state. holding the common
wealth itself It fault for the conditions
that prevail. Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Daily. as
politicians, are advertised merely as incl
dents or out-growths of a fundamentally
rotten condition of the public mind-just
as boils come to the surface when the
blood is impure.
The people of the state are blamed.
rather than the products" of ill-favored
political conditions. The tremendous
energy of the press of the nation. assaii-
ing the character of our people and COM
ment.ng on their lack Of integrity and
honor, is enough to almost ruin the future
of Montana. This monstrous injustice is
due to the fact that our family troubles
were not kept at home and punishments
inflicted when need be through the courts
of our ow state. Had that been one we
, would have been spared such diatribes as
the following editorial from the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, whsch is a fair SAM
pie Of newspaper comment the country
over:
If it we're possible for the United States
senate to pass a resolution declaring taat
| there exists in Montana such a condition
: OF public corruption and such tolerance OF
it by. public opinion h no senatorial
claimant could take his seat until some
security was offered by the state for a
free and decent conduct of elections, II
would about fill the bill. That being I'M
possible the next best thing is to hold up
the political status there to universal
contempt and ex%ecration. 1t may be-, it
certainly must be, that the people of the
state can be shamed into driving the
money-changers and the brlbe-givers and
takers and all the filthy spawn of politi-
cal venality forever from public place
and public activities. If they cannot or
if they do not, there is out one thing to
be said: God help the commonwealth of
Montana"
Through long weeks the opponents OF
MI. Clark occupied the floor. and the on
esty of the American people was lnsulted
with sickening tales of what went on dur
ing the session of the legislature. 1t was
money, money everywhere. State pride,
care for state or national interests, all
thought of honor and all regard for com
mon decency disappeared as complete
ly as If this were n Of he old pagan
revels. All the birds of prey and all tht
f~easters on carrrion gathered in Helena
and the ordinary SALVATION of Good day
) was succeeded by, Have you anything
good on the string?" and "How much Is
there in it for me?" Merely to read of i
makes the gorge rise in any honest man:
7 throat.
Now the opposition has it's innings. A!
might be expected, it does very little il
; the way Of clearing the fame of the STATE
or wiping way the stains from smirche<
j. honor. 1t seems to think that everything
, will be lovely and everybody indicated i
: it can only be established that the pot i
, as black as the kettle. Through the smu
Of this scullery the investigating commit
I tee is feeling its way. with the same oil
D tumult of witnesses to prove hat every
body offered brides and everybody wa
pleading piteously to be- bought; while tn
e country holds its nose and wishes devOu
ly for some way to set the commonwealth
, of Montana on the ducking stool and di1
u it under water again INT again unit
Y some Of this foulness should be washe
= away
T ruE n1iIAp ?