Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-01-15
MEETING OF THE STATE COM
MITTEE.

When President Roosevelt made II
known that he desired the resigna.
ton Of all federal officers from chair.
manships or other positions of a pc.
litical nature in Colorado II was TAX
en- to be his wish as regards other
states of the union as well. In &C.
cordance with this view the members
of the Republican state central COM
mittee of Montana met in Helena on
the Sth inst, twenty answering pres
ent and five being represented by
proxy. to take the necessary action.
Chairman Webster was present and
formally resigned his position, where.
upon the Hon. ]. C. Aud was unan.
imously chosen to succeed him. Mr..
Webster's letter of resignation was a
straightforward and manly statement
of his stewardship. such as could be
expected to eminate from that gentle
man. During the proceedings ex-Sen-
atOr Carter was called upon for an adj
dress in which he excoriated his per-
sonal ~detractors. showing the animus
OF their attacks upon himself and the
Republican state central committee.
He reviewed the political situation
and showed how the Republican party
had rallied since its overwhelming de-
feat in 1896.
II is not the purpose of the ARGUS
to call names or abuse any Republi.
can in the state of Montana, as il has
the highest personal regard for some
o! those who claim to have grievances.
In a state as close as Montana is po-
litically party discussions are most
Unfortunate and efforts should be
made by the press to create party har.
mony instead of discorG.
But the action taken by the meet
ing in unanimously characterizing the
Helena Herald as 4 Democratic sheet
existing for the purpose of foment-
ing strife in the Republican party of
Montana will be endorsed by every
true Republican in the state.
For weeks and months as that paper
has seen its prestige and subscription
list waning it has poured out the
rhials of its wrath upon Senator Car.
ter. Chairman Webster, the gentlemen
holding federal offices and every mem
Der of the state central committee.
In fact it has personally assailed
every Republican in Montana who did
not subscribe to its course of detrac-
ton and vilifcation Of federal Off
GERS in this state. For instance, take
the federal officers of the Judith land
district. No men ever had a petition
filed out with better endorsers. II
embraces the names of both Republic
cans and Democrats alike-men of
the highest character and integrity in
this community. Yet, if the Helena
Herald has made any distinction in
its abuse of federal officers it has es-
capped our notice. We are not familiar
with the character or stewardship of
federal officers in other parts of the
state but If they have performed
their duties as faithfully as those of
the Judith land district and command
equal respect from their fellow citi-
zens there can be no ground for COM
plant, and as to taking any hand in
politics they would be glad to be re-
lieyed from any such labor, perform.
ing only such service as is the duty
OF every loyal citizen and party man.
To achieve success there must be
strong party organization and recog-
nized leaders OF ability and tact and
Il is human nature and good politics
to look to such leaders for influence
and faygrs. To denounce men as
strikers" and 'sibservient tools" be-
cause they happen to hold federal Off
ces is an injustice and the basest
SANDER.
Considering the devious and das.
tardly course OF the Helena Herald
for the past two years it is not strange
that it should distrust and malign
others. In the hour of its greatest
need it betrayed the Republican party
and tried to lead it into the camp of
the enemy. Its new owners sold its
birthright for a mess Of p%ottage." soil
ed a record for honor and ~steadfast-
ness to Republicanism that begun
with the history of the state.
Whatever the grievances OF those
Republicans who met IN Helena re-
Gently. they were most unfortunate in
using the Herald as a vehicle to pro-
claim them TO the world, The Repub-