The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-01
STAINING II STATE.

people OF Butte lead, still the res
OF the state can but regret that politl
cal and personal enmity between tn
various factions there should be pei
mitted to reach a stage when /
threatens to mar the pleasures of tn,
presidents forthcoming visit to tina
city. Instead OF sinking their ami
mosities and differences for the tim,
being and all uniting for the purpos,
Of showing proper honor to the mar
who honors them by becoming .theil
guest, the miserable l.tle factiona
Quarrels are permitted to continue un
til all concerned in them are making
themselves ludicrous in the sight o.
the world and the country beholds the
sickening spectacle of a lot Of men
fighting like boys for the privilege OF
being the most conspicuous person.
ages in the programme laid out fol
the entertainment OF the president.
When the ambitious leader OF one
OF the factions stole a march on the
other fellows and secured the presi.
dents promise to become his guest
at a dinner he fiattered himself that
he had the others distanced. On rep
resentation being made to Mr.. Roose-
welt that 1t was sought to make him
the victim Of a cheap trick, resorted to
for the purpose Of personal aggrand-
izement, he very promptly recalled
his acceptance and it was given out
that he would be the guest at no func-
ton, other than the public one OF a re-
ception to be rendered him at re-
sort by the various labor organiza-
tions of the city, and would eat his din
ner in his car. Then there was wailing
and rejoicing. The man who saw
what he supposed vas an advantage
clinched and nailed slip from his
grasp became desperate, while the
men whom he had temporarily out
witted could not restrain themselves
in their exuberance of joy and malici-
u delight. The ordinary mortals of
the big mining camp, the men who
do not control millions and are not
fortunate enough to be possessed Of
great copper mines, began to think
that the matter had been settled and
that the president would be received
as in any other city in the state-in
a harmonious and loyal manner, ev-
cry citizen feeling that he was as
much Of an entertainer as the most
exalted and that all shared in the
honor. But this would new do.
There were axes to grind and sup
posed advantages to be gained. The
man whom it was thought had been
foiled was not through. He had an
other trick up his sleeve.
BY the time the president arrives
at Butte that city will have a new
administration. Rightly or wrongly,
the idea is prevalent that that ad-
ministration will not represent the
whole of the community SO much as
only a part of it, the part that is sup
posedly the most friendly to the gen.
tleman whose dinner invitation the
president felt forced to decline after
having once accepted it. The mayor
elect and two men who are close to
him and his patron went to Gardiner
last Friday and there met the presi-
dent. AS the man who would be the
mayor when he visited the city, the
head of the delegation OF three invited
Mr.. Roosevelt to become his guest at
a dinner he desired to give in his
honor. The invitation was accepted,
not because it came from the individ-
ual who extended it, but because it
was from the mayor of Butte, at least
he would be mayor when the presi-
dent got there, which was practically
the same thing.
When the successful embassy re-
there was another row. The
arrangement did not suit. Viewed
from the standpoint of those who had
opposed the original dinner it was
still a victory for the man whom
they believed they had worsted. Meet
lngs we're held and an effort was made
10 change matters somewhat. Bat the
who is to be mayo did not pro-
pose to yield. He was master of the
situation and dictated terms. Finally
it was agreed that he vas to be per-
to issue fifty invitations and a
Joint committee representing the Bus
mess Mems association and the
Trades and Labor Assembly fifty
more, as the attendance is to be re-