Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-21
DAN MCDONALD.

As this page was closed on Tues
day noon Of last week what was writ
ten was necessarily in anticipation OF
the coming and the presence of Mr..
Dan Mcdonald in Lewistown.
Not having the pleasure OF hearing
his address and witnessing his contor-
lions we are not prepared to take is
sue with him. We understand Mr..
Mcdonald paid the Argus many COM
pliments. for all of which we are duly
grateful.
So far as the late strike is concern
ed We believe We covered the ground
fully in our last issue. The strike is
a closed incident. Notwithstanding
Mr., McDonald's ill-timed and injudic-
ious advice. No doubt Mr.. Mcdonald
was less bitter in his treatment of
citizens who see fit to form an ALI
ance for their own protection. Hav-
ing made one bad break he will I'M
d%oubtedly be more guarded in the fu-
ture against denying others a right
he 81 freely enjoys himself and from
which he Is realizing so handsomely.
However. his name does appear in a
statement or resolution denunciatory
of the local citizens alliance that is
wholly and absolutely false, a fact
which Mr.. Mcdonald could have learn.
ed by reading the address recently is
sued. The position there taken is so
clear, and so strongly %intrenched in
law. common sense. justice and fair
apology. The alliance rs not opposed
to organized labor, but the abuses
that may arise from organized labor.
There is a great distinction. This
community proposes to stand for law
fGl and orderly procedure. giving
both the union and non-union man an
equal chance to live. THAT is the
oplli VI ~, lDdl Is WHdt BONtTH'
ment is for. II, under wise leadership
and peaceful and convincing argu.
ment the whole lump is leavened into
unionism. well and good; organiza'
ton has accomplished much for the
toilers. But bitterness of feeling and
a resort to force is undoing much that
has been achieved . Harsh meth.
DDS and exactions are turning public
sentiment against unionism. The
question is being asked: Must eigh
~ millions OF people, more or less, sub
nit to the dictation of three mil
lions?" II is simply an abuse OF pow
er. a resor to tyranny" that Mr.. Nc
Donald prates about so much. Tyran
ny exercised by a million men is JUS
as bad as II exercised by one. Car
there be a worse exercise of tyranny
than to say to a man: "You will
have to join the union or quit thi!
town." 1t is depriving him of hi
rights to work and to live where h,
may choose. and is also saying to hin
Join the union or starve."
No. the Citizens Alliance of Lew
istown simply stands for justice unde
the laws of the land, and there /
should and will stand until might an,
numbers makes IL quail and grove
in the dust of shame and defeat, am
We trust that day will be long defer
ed.
! The strike in Lewistown Is settled
not pending. hence there is nothing
to arbitrate or consider further.
/. Returning to Mr.. Mcdonald, hi
own utterances condemn him as al
unsafe leader of men. His ~inoendiar,
talk In behalf Of socialism has estrane
ed the more conservative elemen
among the unions. Last June, at Mis-
soula, he attempted to commit tn,
!; state federation of labor to socia
ism, but was finally beaten at tn
: game Oh a close vote. several union
declaring that they would withdra,
from the federation if he succeeded
At this time it was charged by tn
Butte Reyille that he was in the en-
ploy of the Amalgamated Copper con
pany in fostering the cause of socia
ism in this state. We have neve
seen this denied and as to the cree
ihlliiM Of lLn Rnuilln tho rnadnrc Of