Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-21
AN OBJECT LESSON.

| The election of a United States senator
Is serious business. 1t is not in Mon.
tana a matter affecting half a dozen
candidates and three score legislators.
so much as it is a matter .affectins
nearly quarter of a million people and
their individual and common interests.
The republican members of the legisla-
ture, having an organization to main
tain. future to guard. and what is
more important. vital principles to pro-
claim and defend, went straight ahead
with their business. They selected, in
a regular party caucus. the two candi-
dates of their choice and voted for them
Later when but one vacancy was to
be filled they still stood steadfast and
voted for the nominee who remained.
They did so because that candidate
stands, as they do, for the perpetuation
of the system and policy of the repub-
lican party-the party that has made
14-cent wool, Accent lead and lucent cop
per in Montana, the party that is bound
to win Montana at the next election.
record to be proud Of. 1t has done, since
it was founded, all that has been done
for the upbuilding of the eountry's in.
dustries, it's liberties and its prestige
But look on the other side of the pic
ture! Look at the spectacle presented
by the fusion democracy! Charged with
the solemn duty of electing two sena>
tors and attending to the Legislative
needs of the state, it managed to elect
a single senator. despite treachery in it's
own camp and now stands divided and
demoralized, engaged in bitter personal
wrangles, exchanging epithets instead
of courtesies, and likely to elect, for the
! short term in the federal senate, the
! least worthy and least capable of all
the men named for the position in the
fusion ranks. The question of principle
! has long since been cast to the winds.
Who knows or who cares what any CAM
didate believes about the tariff about
the Philippines, about the army and
| navy, about Oriental markets for our
| surplus products to keep up American
wages by providing employment for
w
| needs of Montana, or whether one can
didate would look after them in Wash
ington or another would not? Who
cares whether one candidate is man
of upright character, pure patriotism,
dignified bearing and practical good
sense, Or another, lacking all these
essential qualities, possesses others
of aS
are propounded in all seriousness,
because in the fusion contest at Hell
ena petty contentious, private law
suits. local jealousies and Interior de-
signs seem to have dulled the judgment,
or blinded the eyes of certain members
of the legislative assembly to the i'm
portance of their oaths and the magni-
tude of their responsibilities. Thing.
have come to such a pass that the
better class of democrats, the patrl-
otto democrats, those who love Mons
tana and propose to live under its
just and uniform laws-are themselves
alarmed at the tendency of events in
Helena. Fortunately, SO far there has
been more noise than crime, more boast
and promssory notes than goods deliv>
cred or cash in sight. There are signs
that the dominant power in democratic
circles is disposed to be conservative
that it is here for permanent identified
ton with the states business interests
that it would see the law respected and
supreme, and not made into a football
to be kicked around at will. Whether
this law abiding element is really doml
nant remains to be seen. The character
of the legislation to be enacted and ths
, ! tendency of Governor .Toole's influence
! will alone determine that. So far, how
, ever the situation at Helena is chiefly
important as an object lesson. Let al
the people of Montana study it WE'LL lie
them view the republican membership
united cheerful, hopeful, devoted t.
+ principle, true to the administration a
I Washington and sending daily message
! | to the COMMUNICATIVE chief that the it'll
band in the beeaguered republican for
tress will fight to finish and prepar
for the victories of the future Then lie
S them view the democratic membership
f quarreling, abusive. suspicious ignOrin
d principle. caring nothing for the state
welfare OF good name, delaying a sena