The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-14

common point of emanation and find
all have been brought into ex-
for the same purpose" The
fight this year was all the counties
the state against one county, Sill
yer Bow, said the speaker, and the
people were determined to overcome
the combinations formed against them
in that one county; they had grown
tired of the domination exercised by
the element there.
Taking up the platform Of the re-
publican party, Mr.. Dixon showed how
the delegates assembled at Billings
had pledged themselves" and their
party to all the reforms demanded by
the people. A railroad commission,
a fellow servant law and the initiative
and referendum were promised in the
event of republican success. In this
regard both parties stood on the same
footing before the people. 1t only
remained for the latter to decide
which they would rather trust.
National politics was next taken
up and MI. Dixon made a strong plea
for the election of Roosevelt, who all
knew to be a man OF independence
and who was owned by no one and
controlled by nobody or clique. His
record as a city, state and national
official showed this and proved him
to be absolutely fearless. This fear.
~lessness and independence he had
shown when, against the advice Of the
politicians, he undertook to bring
about a settlement of the strike in the
anthracite regions and by the action
taken then had prevented the great
est industrial crisis in a quarter of a
century. His prosecution of the
trusts and his defiance of the men OF
millions in the east in his determine
ton that the laws of the land should
be obeyed and respected were recited.
When he gave the order that resulted
in the successful prosecution OF the
Northern Securities company he hal
awakened powerful influences against
him. AS soon as the United States
supreme court had rendered its decis-
ion in that action a meeting had been
held at New York and the trust mag
mates had issued the command that
Roosevelt should not be nominated
for the presidency and that he be
eliminated as a political factor in the
land. The metropolitan press that
was influenced by the trusts had
taken up the cry against Roosevelt
and declared him to be an unsafe and
dangerous man. When it was found
hat his nomination could not be pre-
vented, the trust magnates had
looked about for a man to name on
the democratic ticket who could de-
feat him at the polls. Inc result was
the nomination of Parker, a "safe"
man, in other words, one whom the
trusts could handle.
The democratic party was now the
party of the trusts, as was shown by
the men who we're in charge of its
national affairs, Belmont, Hill and
the others that took their orders
from Wall street. To prove this, Mr..
Dixon read excerpts from articles
published by Bryan in his Commoner
and by quoting from his famous
| speech at the st. Louis convention.
While both political parties might
| claim the credit for the national irri.
CATION law, Mr.. Dixon said, to Roose'
welt was the west indebted for its
enactment. He was the first presi
dent to incorporate in a message to
congress a recommendation that it be
passed. While the measure vas pend
ing in the senate, said the speaker
and while much opposition to it was
manifesting Is senator's had received
an invitation to attend a conference
at the White house. Il don't KNOW
what transpired there" added Mr.
Dixon, 'but / do know that the mex
day it became public that opposition
to the irrigation law was to cas- II
the senate and the fight against it wa
withdrawn" The benefits to Montana
which the law conferred Dy the event
ual reclamation of millions OF acres
of land received attention from Mr.
Dixon and he said that this alon'
should entitle Roosevelt to the sup
port and gratitude OF the people o
the state.
AS another evidence OF the presl
dents friendship for Montana MI
Dixon related the assistace he had re
ceiyed from him while the bill TO