The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-06
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1eo1.>
A o

cite appears an article contributed to
the Chicago Public by DR.. James E.
Free of this city. The article in ques-
ton is reprinted because of the local
interest it possesses in coming from
a citizen of Billings and not because
The Gazette endorses all the senti-
ments expressed therein by the
author.
In the matter of the necessity for
government ownership of irrigation
systems for the arid west The Gazette
is in full accord with the estimable
gentleman who expresses his views in
the Chicago publication, for this news
paper, like every n else who has Civ
en- the subject thought and study, is
satisfied that in the adoptio nof sucha
plan lies not only the future welfare
and prosperity Of a large territory
west of the Missouri river, but the
people of the entire nation will be
benefited when the vast area now ~
ing unproductive because of the lack
of water can be placed under cultiva-
ton. Settlement of the millions of
acres awaiting the magic touch of
water will, as DR.. Free says, add to the
demand for the manufactured goods
of the east and effect internal eXpan-
sion which will increase the wealth of
the nation as probably no n other
cause could contribute to it's aggrand-
iZement in that direction. But it is
hardly fair to lay the blame for the
local condition which he describes to
the failure oftthe government to adopt
the remedy he prescribes. Other caus-
es, and far removed, are responsible
for their existence. Even if every
acre of land in Montana We're under
cultivation and adding to the material
wealth OF the state, it would yet be
extremely doubtful whether one more
mechanic than now finds employment
in the city of Billings would be added
to the list of che employed. The doc
tor certainly is aware of the nature
of the disease for which he would
have the government minister and it
is but just to conclude that his own
diagnosis must convince him that the
remedy he recommends would not eff
feet a cure, be it never so speedily
applied. The cure lies elsewhere and
an entirely different form of medica-
ton is required. The existence of the
idle men which he very naturally de-
plores, as does every n else, is not
to be considered as zone of the pre-
monitory symptoms of a cloudburst
of colonial expansion" neither is it
"only indicative of a spell Of bad
weather." The cause lies in neither
of these directions, as the doctor must
know. If he does not know the real
aus he is probably the only person
in the city who is not informed.
Free trade with the countries of
South America is one of the specifics
he would apply were he called upon to
treat the great American body polite.
How enthusiastically his remedy is
endorsed by the producers of the west
finds ample illustration in the resolu-
lions adopted only a few days ago in
this city by IN organization CT men
devoted to the production Of one of
the greatest staples of the state and
whose investments represent millions.
The charge cannot be made that the
resolutions referred to are expressive
OF the political prejudices of the men
who adopted them, for in their organi.
cation are represented all shades of
political belief. Many Of the members
democrats, yet they enter their pro-
tests along with those of the other
parties against any reciprocity treaty
with the Argentine republic by which
the tariff on wool is to be reduced be
low the existing schedule. While the
tariff may not, as DR.. Free says, al
ways keep up the prices of wool to
the figures reached last year, the
sheepmen of this and other counties
well know that the way to obtain high
prices for their staple is not by adopt
ing free trade with countries whose
principal product will be brought into
open and unlimited competition. with
their own. especially when the wage
and other conditions existing in those