The river press., 1903-11-11
AT THE GOVERNORS OFFICE.

AT THE GOVERNORS OFFICE.
The past week has been busy time
at Governor Toole's Office in the state
capitol. 1t has been flooded with petit
tions requesting that an extra session
of the legislative assembly be called,
for the purpose of dealing with the in.
dustrial situation, and numerous dele.
cations of citizens have visited the
state executive and impaired to him
their individual views as to what ac-
ton should be taken in the premises.
Governor Toole is confronted by
condition that calls for calm and de-
liberate consider alton, but this is what
many of the petitioners apparently de-
cline to cOncede.
So far as the petitions go, they can.
not be rightly considered as a spon-
taneous appeal from the people of
Montana. Most of them have been
drawn up and circul ated by the paid
agents of corporate interests that de-
sire the legislation requested, and sig.
natures secured in this manner do not
carry the significance tn at would at
tach to petitions that came voluntarily
from the people. In the absence OF
an organized effort to counteract this
movement, the petitions presented to
Governor Toole are almost unani.
mously in favor of an extra session Of
Montana law makers. 1t is possible
that the state executive has been in re-
ceipt of numerous protests against
calling an extra session, objections
being made by personal letters or in.
terviews, but of this side Of the propo-
sition there is no public record.
In trying to arrive at a fair and i'm
partial understanding Of the stu alton,
the average Montana citizen is con.
fused by the conflicting statements OF
the rival mining interests whose war.
fare has had such unfortunate results
upon the industri al aft airs of the state.
One interest decla that relief can be
secured only through Legislation that
will effect change in the method of
deciding civil suits; while the opposl'
ton interest announces willingness to
settle all m alters in dispute by arbi-
tration. And there you are-the gen
eral public is invited to favor either
of the remedies offered, neither Of
which appears to be satisfactory to
both of the principal parties to the
controversy.
The district judges of Silver Bow
county, against whom charges OF
prejudice and unjust decisions have
been made by unsuccessful litigants,
were elected to positions of honor by
the citizens of their district. Whether
they deserve the abuse and criticism
heaped upon them by the corporation
controlled press and attorneys re-
tanned by interests affected, is mat
ter which the average layman is not
GUN pcCcut W pass upous Duu VlC C4CC'
torate of Silver Bow county is sup
posed to be in favor of justice to all
parties who find it necessary to ap-
peal to the courts. If the voters OF
Silver Bow county decided to entrust
the administration of justice to men
who, because of political oblig ations
or personal friendship toward certain
interests, were not disposed to give
fair trials in matters presented fol
ad Indication, the people of Montana
are given an object lesson of the de
fects in present methods of choosing
their judiciary.
If we accept the alleg alton that dis
trict Judges elected by popular vot
are subject to influences other thar
those that should obtain in dispcnsin!
Justice, we must admit the possibilit
of similar deplorablc conditions in tn
highest court of the state. In tina
} event, what are we going to do abou
, it?