The river press., 1903-01-28
REPUBLICAN RESPONSIBILITY.

In the eighth legislative assembly
there is an overwhelming republican
majority in the house, and in the 'sen'
ate there appears to be an understand
ing between the republican members
and a few democrats to act together
in matters that affect the welfare OF
the people. Under these circum-
stances the republican party of Mon
tana will be held responsible for what
is done or left undone by the present
state legislature.
This recalls the fact that Montana
republicans, through their represent.
atives in state convention assembled, i,
made certain promises or pledges to
the people. Many matters that could
be legislated upon were the subject of
remark in the republican state plat
form, and after stating the position Of
the party upon these questions, and
pledging its candida ates to do certain
things, the platform requested the
electors of Montana ito support the
nominees this day put before them by
the republican convention.
The people accepted these promises
in good faith, and elected republican
candid ates for the legislature in the
belief that all these promises would be
redeemed. They are now waiting for
the expected results.
In asking power and responsibility
at the hands Of the people of Montana,
the republican state platform said:
'We denounce the democratic ad.
minstration of affairs in our state
and in the various counties of the
state dominated by the democratic
party as extravagant, wasteful and
dishonest. We condemn the hypoc-
risy of that party in pronouncing
itself in favor of an economical
administration of the government
while devoting its energies to the in.
crease of salaried Positions and the
flching of money from the public
treasury of the state and counties.
through illegal and questionable de.
vices.'
In denouncing democratic extrav.
agance and wastefulness in public af.
fairs, the republican party of Montana
pledged itself to give the people some-
thing better, and prevent the further
filching of money from the public
treasury. Montana republicans are
committed to legislation that shall re-
lieve the people from wasteful ex-
penditures in state and county aft airs,
and If the eighth legislative assembly
shall fail to do its duty in this con-
nection the republican party will be
held responsible, and discredited be-
fore the people.
The republican state platform also
said:
"We favor equality of valuatio
and assessment of all property and
franchises within the state, whether
owned by individuals or corpora rations.
We are in favor of equal justice to all,
capital and labor, and against special
favors to any interest, whether indi-
vidual or corporate.
That pledge should not be forgotten,
and every republican member of the
legislature should paste it in his0hat
and read it carefully several times
day. In view of the notorious in
equalties of our tax laws, and the
small share of the tax burden borne
by wealthy individuals and corpora
tions, the interests of the people de-
mand that such discrimination shall
cease. The republican party of Mon
tana professed to favor ''equality of
valu alton and assessment of ALL PRO-
PERTI,' and it is now up to their
members of the state legislature to
prove the sincerity of their profession
by their works.
Several other matters affecting the
welfare of many of the people of Mon.
tana were touched upon in the repub.
lican state PLATFORM, and the republi.
can candidates elected to the legisla-
ture will be expected to work, and
work hard, to secure the enactment of
laws for the betterment of existing
conditions. Upon them rests the res.
possibility of redeeming the pledges
made by their party.