davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
ITS SPIRITS REVlVlNG,

The esteemed Helena Independent
has so far recovered it's usual equani.
nifty of spirit and accustomed good
nature that it grows absolutely cheer
full as it contemplates or processes to
contemplate the outlook for two years
hence. 1t notes with unmistakable
glee that Tammany is again in con
troll of the board of aldermen of New
York, made possible by the treachery
of some of the fusionists, who voted
in a contest to seat a Tammanyite in
place Of n of their number. This,
it declares, shows conclusively that
the stripped animal is one more on
top and snarling defiance at it's enc
mics. The reform forces, it says, are
disintegrating and that at the next
election Tammany will have a walk
away.
Another source of great satisfac.
ton to the Helena satellite of the a
ty working to again secure control
of the municipality erstwhile dominat-
ed by Boss Croker is the fact that at
the next election a mayor will be vot-
ed for there. This, it argues, will in
duce Tammany to exert itself more
than ever to carry the city and in its
effort to elect its mayor will give a
proportionately large vote to the pres
idential nominee Of the party and as
sure a large plurality for him. In
conclusion the Independent feels con-
strained to say that the outlook for
democracy is about as bright and al
Turing as it's most devoted friends
could wish and solemnly declares it
to be it's belief that if only the right
mar is nominated there is every rea7
son for believing that he will be sue
cessful. The right" man, it says
will be the one who can unite all the
elements of the party. ?
Notwithstanding it's assumption of
cheerfulness and confidence, it is very
evident that the Independent trusts to
a miracle to bring about the results,
it predicts. Nothing short of one
sent from heaven can do that which
it says is only necessary to insure
democratic success. The man born
of woman does not live who can do
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
AN UNBIASED OPINION,

Many Of the democratic newspa-
pers of the state seem to find a sort
of gruesome pleasure in holding in
quests and conducting post mortem
examinations Of the decaying body
of what was cnce their party in Mon
tana. On only one qestion do they
seem to be ~agreed-that they were
badly defeated and that the party is
dead. AS to the causes of death the
difference of opinion is limited only
by the number Of editorial minds, for
each appears to consider the fact due
to a different cause, no matter what
the effect.
One of the latest to undertake all
explanation Of the result they deplore
Sc greatly is the Bozeman Chronicle,
n of the ablest and most conserva-
tive of the democratic organs in the
state. 1t goes about the matter in it's
usually calm and deliberate manner
and does not permit itself to become
hysterical and give utterance to. all
sorts of foolishness and vagaries of
minds made bitter by defeat. 1t rea-
carefully and calmly and it's con-
illusions are these: "
"In Montana the democratic party
has received a strong rebuke at the
hands OF the people. 1t may, of course,
be pointed out that the labor party
and the socialist party drew many
democratic votes from the regular
democratic ticket, and that the re-
turns show hat the republicans owe
their victory to the presence of third
parties in the field. That fact does
not alter the statement that the demo-
cratic party in Montana failed this
year to appeal to the majority of the
voters as it has in times past, and it
becomes the leaders of the party and
those interested in the preservation of
democratic principles and policies to
ask themselves why this change has
come about. We think II of the a
sons, if not the only reason, lies in
the fact that many democrats have
been growing more and more disgust
with the business and personal
quarrels injected into the political sit
uation that have no legitimate bust
ness there. The democrats of Mon
tana are not Clark democrats or
Heinze democrats, or Amalgamated
but simply democrats, and
a great WEAKNESS assails many OF
them over the determined effort made
by interested parties to make the par
f. the vehicle of the plans or personal
interests of any individual or corpora
In another article the Chronicle pays
it's respects to the Great Falls Tribune
and some other democratic newspa-
pers hat are trying to make it appear
that the defeat of the party was not
republican victory, but the result Of
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
ONE OF THE REASONS,

For the benefit OF those democlatic
newspapers who have not yet been
able to account for the amer in
which things went in Montana Tues
day, November 4, the following from
the Choteau Chronicle is given as only
one of many hundreds of similar cases
which might be cited as explanatory
of the great change that is over
whelming them:
"Uncle Jacob Schmidt, one of the
o1d-timers of Choteau, arrived here
Wednesday from his home on the
Blaekfeet reservation for a months
visit with relatives and numerous
friends. It has been over two years
since he was last in Choteau and the
only change we have been able to
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
OLD FOGIEs.

In these times Of high pressure and
fondness for display, amounting to
extravaganza in many instances, it is
no doubt good that the old spirit of
conservatism which impels many to
cling to that which the newer genera
ton regards as distinctly passe still
prevails in all communities. It acts
as a regulator and keeps in check
those who would go to extremes, were
it not for this resistance, but some.
times the fellows who think a thing
good enough because it was good
enough and answered a purpose in
times gone by go to extremes.
That there are quite a few of the
old style boys left here in Yellow
stone county was made apparent last
Friday when the c%anvassing board
counted the vote cast at the recent
election. There were actually a re-
spectacle number of votes cast against
the proposition to bond the county
for a new court house and Jail. Of
course, the number was not large
enough to defeat the measure, but it
was still large enough to- cause COM
ment and surprise that the county
should have SO many who are opposed
to progress in an essential direction.
The court house will be built, but it
should not be forgotten that there are
several hundred persons in the county
who are sorry and had the matter
been left to their decision the present
structure would continue to be used
for a purpose for which it has become
unfit and when it should have done
what it has been threatening to do
collapse and tumble into ruins-they
would probably have been found ad-
vocating the purchase of a tent and
bread box in which to conduct the
county's business and store it's rec
Ords.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
FAMINE AMIDST PLENTY.

indianapolis Journal: The only
famine that threatens the country is
a deficiency in locomotives and car
to handle the traffic, the transporta-
ton being $4,000 cars in excess Of the
supply, and yet the railroad compan-
les expended $500, 900, 900 on equip
ment in 1901 and the expenditure for
that purpose the present year is es-
timated at $3.50, O00, 1000. During the
past two years $50, 900 cars were built
and all the shops in the country can
not fill the orders. The sum expended
for power and equipment is over ST.
900 a mile for every mile of railroad
in the United States.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
TUESDAY,, NOVEMBER 1s, 1902.
A OPINION.

The attorney general of the state
has been delivered of another opinion.
The delivery was made in conse-
quence of a request from the state
superintendent of public instruction,
who declares that the concerns having
the contracts for supplying the schools
with books have been guilty of repeat
ed violations of their obligations by
overcharging for their goods. For
this the superintendent wants them
hailed into court and compelled to
make restitution, beside being mulct-
ed in accordance with the terms of
their contracts, they having given
bonds to secure the state in case of
non-fulfllment of contract.
Perusal of the opinion compels the
belief that Mr.. Donovan at the time
he composed it was laboring under a
misapprehension. He appears to have
considered himself as acting in the
capacity of attorney for the &C
cused, for he certainly makes out an
excellent case for the publishers. Ad-
hitting that there have been viola
tions as complained of by the super
intendente. he dismisses them as
trivial and expresses it as his opin-
ION that the facts are not sufficient to
ings against the companies. He de-
clares that as the school authorities
of the different counties have offered
no complaint, the violations complain
ed of by the superintendent are more
technical than material and that there
is little cause to enter any action
against the offenders. ...
Being a wealthy man, the attorney
general cannot see how anybody could
care to burden his mind with so trifl-
ing a matter as a few cents over
charges on books, especially as the
overcharges are distributed among
so many and no cases of ~impoverish-
ment because of them can be cited.
Continuing as counsel for the defense,
the attorney general calls attention
to the fact that in almost every in
stance the companies have agreed to
make good to the state the amounts in
excess of the contract prices they
have collected. and says that SHOULD
the companies fail to make settle
ment, the remedy which lies in the
law is always at hand to bring them
to time"
The trouble seem to be that the
attorney general does not understand, |
or else does not want to understand
That's application of the remedy of
which he speaks so learnedly is exact
ly what the superintendent asks. That
has been the burden Of all of Mr..
Welch's communications to the at
torney generals Office. What the SUI
p~erintendent and the people would
like to know is how long does Mr..
Donovan think the application should
be deferred. Offering to settle and
settling are entirely different propo-
sitions. What is demanded is that the
attorney general perform his duty and
bring about a settlement by insti-
tuting suits against the offenders. Ac-
cording to the showing made by the
superintendent the people of the state
have been defrauded by the book
concerns and it is time that action be
taken to stop the abuse and compel
restitution of that which has been
wrongfully taken from the people.
Mr.. Donovan should cease acting as
attorney for the defendants and bestir
himself to do something for the side
on which he has been retained.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
BASED ON EXPERIENCE.

In the opinion of the editor of the
Yellowstone Journal, who speaks from
experience gained while serving Gus
ter county in the capacity of lawmak-
er, some of the republican newspa-
pers and prospective legislators are
just a trife forehanded in trying to
commit the coming legislature to pro-
nounced economical measures. He
thinks that they might not be able
to make good and then they would
find themselves in an awkward pre-
dicament, to say the least.
He has been there and consequent
ly may be supposed to know whereof
he speaks when he declares that no
n can safely make any predictions
as to the number of clerks that it may
be necessary to employ. or the length
of time that will be required to dis
pose of the business that may come
before the legislature. Should it hap
pen that the number of bills introduce
ed is large, committees would find
themselves compelled to employ more
clerks than they would did not vault
ing ambition impel the members to
immortalize themselves by having
their m coupled with laws cal
culated to advance the state and i'm
prove the condition of it's citizens.
The same parity OF reasoning implies
the necessity of more time to dispose of
them and consequently an extension
of the session.
Notwithstanding the popular de-
mand for retrenchment in legislative
affairs. the gentleman says that the
people would rather see a legislature
sit the full limit of time allowed and
finish its business than to adjourn in
Z hurry and leave the calendar litter
ed with unfinished matters.
After all, he says, the largest item
Of expense in connection with a leg
islative session is attached to the
work of organization. This done, the
rest of the cost is a comparatively
small one and should be cheerfully in
Cured until the work is done.
Again speaking from experience,
the philosopher from Milestown hands
a little lump of wisdom to the advo-
Gates of primitive economy which
they would better digest carefully be-
fore binding themselves too strongly
with pledges and promises. He says:
Economy is a good thing to preach,
but when you come to talk about pry-
ing the average legislator loose from
Sc per diem and a job that can be
made very easy by spreading it out
over the full limit allowed by law,
you are simply Grating through your
hat, and it never was and never will
be good politics to use that form Of
communication with an intelligent
constituency"
The gentleman's reference to the
amplitude of time with which the
average legislator from the rural dis
tricts is endowed about the season
of year when legislatures are wont to
convene and the joys he experiences
in the sights and pastinnes of a city,
together with the alimentary delights
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
THEY ARE

New York Evening Post (ind.): One
lesson of Tuesdays election is writ.
ten large on the face of the returns:
The democrats have not regained the
confidence of the country. More mar
rowly, there remains evident a dis.
trust of democratic leadership. The
democratic policies give no signs of
winning their way again, but all the
would-be party leaders of the hour
have been dealt terrible blows by the
electors. Even Bryan's volubility is
quenched under the cold douche of
both Nebraska and Colorado gone re-
publican. His fellow-charlatan in
Ohio has folded his tent like the Arab.
In New York Hills offensive personal
ity was the obvious and agreed cause,
ultimately, of democratic defeat.
Emerson used to say that he pre-
ferred to vote with the democrats but
to live with the whigs. Changing the
name wings for republicans, that at
titude exactly corresponds to the posi-
ton taken by great numbers of our
best citizens for many years. Their
political convictions were the demo-
Gratis, their friendships and social af-
fnities were the republicans. But
now they have been preferring to
vote with the republicans for several
elections, as we'll as to live with them.
That is the situation which puts the
democracy to its trumps.
The time has gone by when the
party name alone will suffice. 1t is all
very we'll for a candidate, or a leader,
to label himself a democrat, but the
name has been made of recent years
to cover so many brands of political
v~illiany that precise specifications are
necessary. Is. he a corruptionist like
a reckless agitator like Bry-
an, a demagogue with a brass band
like Tom Johnson, or a
creeping thing like Hill? Then to
call himself a democrat will only de-
grade the adjective and not help the
in the least. At the pass
which party affairs have reached none
of the old shibboleths will do. The
voters who now hold the
balance of power in this country, and
are fully conscious Of their strength,
are not going to be taken in by, any
sham reform, any hybrid reorganiza-
ton, any dubious leadership.
Unless the democracy, in addition
to a good cause, can produce a good
man and put him in command of it's
it's battle is lost in advance.
Let the party take a long look at the
destined leader of the other side,
Theodore Roosevelt; let it consider
MS heightened prestige, his immense
personal following, his remarkable
hold upon young men, the high favor
in which he stands in the world of
and then let it reflect on
the insensate folly and the foredoom-
ed failure of sending out some old
party hack to meet such an antagon-
st.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

a contest between two copper COM
panies. 1--WE are beaten" it says,
but thai is no reason why we should
be silly about it. 1t is true that mat
ters not exactly political and partisan
had some influence on the result, es-
pecially in Silver Bow county, but
aside from that the evidence of a re-
publican landslide in the state is over
whelming."
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
BASIS FOR DISTRUST.

Chicago Chronicle: Mr.. Morgan is
understood to marvel greatly at the
public distrust of the steel trust
shares. 1t is strange-strange that
people should be reluctant to put
their money into a corporation which
employees a lunatic at a salary Of ST.
100000 per year to furnish sensation
al reading matter for the civilized
world
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

note in Uncle Jake is his change III
politics. For nearly fifty years he
has been voting the democratic ticket
straight, but now he is wearing a
Roosevelt button and vows he will
vote the republican ticket from this
time.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
Takes the Cake.

"MiXem, the chemist, has made his
fortune at last" says the friend.
But | thought he couldn't find any
sale at all for his cough mixture" an
sWers the other friend.
FL couldn't, so he labeled it 'Genu-
Inc Maple, Sirup' and sold every drop
Of it the first cool day we had, Now
he is rushed with orders for it,
Judge.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

If the affidavits recently filed with
n of the courts of Kentucky are
even approximately true then one
state, has been prompted by the pos
ession of a large amount Of good
II in his persistent refusal to go
back there and new old acquaint-
anceS.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
A CAUTIOUS PROPHET.

Chicago Tribune: Editor Bryan's
prediction that time will prove the
policies of the republican party to be
bad for the people has one advantage
over his previous prophecies. He has
set no time limit for it's fulfllment.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

What seems to be Helena's great
est trouble as a corporate body at
present writing is not a scarcity of
money in its treasury, but how to get
it out without mourning the risk for
some n of getting brought up with
a short turn for contempt of court.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

If President Eliot reads some of
the Montana newspapers he will prob
ably conclude to cut the state out of
any western tour that he may be con
templating for his next vacation.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

The fact that during the past few
days several men have been shot in
the state by others who mistook them
for deer is tolerably conclusive evil
dence that all the immigrants from
the east last summer did not pass be-
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

1t is very evident that President
Eliot has no political ambition and in
teds to confine his application for of
flee to boards of trustees of heightened
seats of learning.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Molineux
will now spare the country the misery
that would be entailed upon it were
he to take advantage of the advertis-
ing he has received during the last few
years and go on the stage or write
a book,
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

The jury that tried Molineux evil
IDENTIFY was of the opinion that the old
and we'll known classification of ex-
ly as, applied to experts on handwrit-
inn -- -
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

Helena may not be quite prepared
to file a petition with a referee in
bankruptcy, but many individuals
who have done so have been no worse
off financially than the state capital
and with credit but little less impaired.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18
SIC SEMPER TYRANIS

Chicago News: President Palma's
effort to put an end to cock fighting
is interpreted by the Cubans as a dar-
ing attempt to pull the tail feathers
out of the palladium of their liberties.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-18

Even a meeting Of the Commercial
committee of the Billings club would
be taken as evidence proving it to be
still alive.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-15
CAN THE EARTH EXPLODE.

We frequently hear the suggestion
that the earth may some time explode
from the pent-up forces within, and
we often read theories about explo-
sions of heavenly bodies, but the earth
can never explode from its own pent-
up forces. Under our very feet at
this moment, between the earth's
solid crust and the molten interior,
there is a pressure eXerted more than
double that which is capable of being
exerted by the most powerful dynam-
tie in the world. 1t is a generally &C
copied and probably true theory that
the whole interior of the earth is a
molten mass of rock and metals
heavier than the crust above, and
upon which the crust floats in rel
atively thin layer. The thickness of
the earth's crust within the great
continents is probably from fifty to
one hundred miles. If we estimate
the pressure eXerted by the weight of
one mile Of earth and rock at ten
thousand pounds, which is we'll within
the truth, then fifty miles of earth
would exert a pressure of about five
hundred thousand pounds, and one
hundred miles would exert a pressure
OF one million pounds to the square
inch. Now, as the pressure capable
OF being exerted by the most power
full dynamite, exploded in a space
equal to it's own volume, is about
three hundred thousand to three hun
dred and fifty thousand pounds. it is
evident that if the whole interior were
filled with dynamite, and exploded, it
would be capable of exerting a press
ure only about one third great enough
to raise the continents or to disrupt
the crust of the earth.-Hudson Max
i'm in Woman's Home Companion.