The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-14
ADVICE TO REPUBLICANS.

lCdu SLdtC COAtNACAOA uAo"AA6 ASN
it is time to begin serious considera-
ton Of the platform upon which the
party is to go before the people this
fall and ask their support. Everything
thus far is favorable to republican
success il the approaching campaign.
Never was there a stronger or more
popular administration in control of
national affairs and never has an oc-
cupant of the White house had the
same secure hold on the confidence
and friendship of the masses as is
held by Theodore Roosevelt. His
nomination is a foregone conclusion
and his election is equally certain.
With a man of his strength and popu-
larity heading the national ticket, the
party at home should enter the con
test with confidence and assurance
of complete victory.
! The advantage possessed in the
popularity of the national ticket
should be strengthened and increased
by proper action of those to whom
will be delegated the authority OF
naming the state tickettaThere should
be a plain and u%nequivocal statement
of what it is intended to do and a
declaration OF policy that all may I'M
derstand. On top OF this should he
the solemn pledge OF the republican
party of Montana that every promise
will be kept in the event administra-
tion of the states affairs is entrusted
to it. Demand exists for remedial
legislation of the most urgent nature.
Some of the present laws should be
repealed and others amended, while
new ones should be given place on
the statutes.
The time has arrived when the
state may we'll undertake to regulate
public transportation facilities, when
it shall say to the common carriers
how they must treat those who pat
Oyoi1o %h1~o 49, MI e1~-. ~.
examination by which a few favored
ones enjoy privileges and advan-
tages detrimental to the many. With
the community OF interests theory
carried into concrete rehabilitation
and competition existing even no lon
ger in name the time would seem to
be ripe for assertion of the right of
state supervision and control. This
is one of the demands of the people
and they will insist that it be needed.
Whichever of the two political par
ties acedes to it is bound to material
~ strengthen itself ald pave the
way to supremacy. The republican
party, always in the lead in all things
calculated to increase the general
good of the people, should take heed
OF the popular demand and be the
first to declare itself in favor of leg.
islation along that channel.
Another thing that would undoubt
eddy meet with strong approval would
be a plank once before suggested by
The Gazette. Let there be a decla
ration against the acceptance by
state, county and district officers OF
any of the usual "courtesies" from
railroads or other corporations. While
not prodigious, yet the salaries pai(
public officers are generous enough
to cause a healthful and healthy rival
~ TOT the honor and privilege of fill
ing every position, from the highes
to the lowest. The instance is We
to be recorded where an office remain
ed untitled because OF lack of desir
on the part of some good man to fiji
it. 1t cannot be truthfully said tina
because of the niggardliness of tn
men who fixed the rates of compenss
ton for those holding public office
the incumbents are compelled to a,
cept favors from the railroads q
other transportation companies. Flu
thermore every officer travelling q
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