The Irish standard., 1904-07-09
part cash and part interest, netting
him in all nearly four millions Of dol

lars, he started bank in Helena;
and when the panic of '93 came it
found many reputed millionaires who
had refused him credit in his adverse
days, supplicating him for the credit
which they had themselves refused.
They went to the wall, while those
who had assisted him We're afforded
generous help. He is now the lead
ing banker Of Helena, and a practical
Catholic who, like SO many other
noble 1rishmen, has kept the faith in
and out Of adversely, through stress
and storm, and good and evil report.
Mr.. Cruise has one child, Il daughter
his wife, Il sister of Senator Carter,
having died shortly after their mar
riage.
Thomas c. Power is another of the
prominent Catholics of Montana. He
is Il banker and merchant of Helena,
progressive, enlightened man of at
fairs, and has served one term in tue
United States senate as a Republic
can. Senator Powell has devoted
more time to business than politics.
and is one Of the very wealthy men
OF the Northwest, whose standing in
the business world is known from the
Atlantic to the pacific He has al
ways been Il power in financial circles
in the Northwest.
started this article with the pur-
pose to disabuse the minds of the
members of our order throughout the
country Of Il rooted impression which
| feel sure prevails, that the material
from which our various Montana
councils may be drawn is limited.
There is no state in the Union, ac-
eording to population, so Catholic as
Montana. 1t is one of the wealthiest
Catholic dioceses in the world, Judged
by the numerical standard. Butte,
which has Il population Of 10000, is
more than half Catholic. Our judges,
leading lawyers and statesmen are,
as their predecessors have been, large
ly Catholic. The Jesuits planted the
cross and the seeds of industry and
education among the Indians, and
their undaunted and unselfish devo-
ton to works of mercy and charity
created a spirit of broadness and lib
erality among the pioneers of Mon
tana that will probably never be eff
faced. Thomas Francis Meagher,
whose bones lie somewhere in the
Missouri river in the northern part
of our state, was Catholic and Irish,
and his devoted relict has made fire.
uuent journeys to the scenes of her
husbands last labors, and has done
| noble work among the Indian tribes
OH the reservations. Meagher was
| acting governor Of Montana at the
time of his death. James &. Blaine's
favorite sister lived for many years
in Helena, and reared family of de-
won't Catholics. His brother, John
Blaine. was paymaster Of the army
at Helena for years, and practical
Catholic. Mrs. Daniel Fisk, a niece
of James G. Blaine, was for many
years. in fact until her death, the Or
ganist of the cathedral in Helena, and
two daughters of John Blaine still live
in Helena. and are constant communi-
c;lnts and devout Catholics. The pres
ent governor of Montana, Joseph X.
Toole. now serving his second term,
though not himself a Catholic, mar
ried the daughter of General Rose
crans who, like her father, is Catholic,
living up to the strictest admonitions
of the church. In politics, in business,
and in social life, our Catholic people
are prominent.
1 mention these facts not in any.
spirit of religious zeal or boastfulness,
but as showing the broad spirit which
prevails throughout the Northwest,
the absence Of UNCONVENTIONAL rancor,
and the excellent field which exists
for the spread of such an order as
the knights of Columbus.
At the head of the Amalgamated
Copper company in Butte, since the
death of Marcus Daly-who was also
a Catholic - has been Hon. William
Scallon, who, without those family
ties which make us better Christians,
is practical Catholic who carries
into his everyday life the precepts
and example of the best religious and
moral training. He is an able law
yer who, after years of active practice
involving the greatest interests of the
West, bears no stain, blemish or faint
upon his reputation in public or pri-
vate life-a clean-cut character,
student Of books, Of men and affairs,
who honors not only his religious af-
filiations, but his state. Stepping
from the forum of the courts into the
place made vacant by the death of
Marcus Daily, whose legal adviser he
had been for years, his administration
of the vast business interests entrust-
ed to his care has been such as to
evoke high tribute and unstinted
praise from his associates and the
10000 employees of the great corpora
ton throughout the state.
Daniel J. Hennessy of the Hennes-
sy Mercantile company of Butte, the