Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-11-23
~REFoRMAToRY MEASURES.


The Republican papers of the state,
so far as we have noticed, are urging
that the coming Legislature take early
action upon the reformatory measur.
es proposed and advocated in the Bill.
ings platform. II is not only import.
m that bills be offered bearing on
each question, but that they be draft.
that an opposition governor can find
no EXCUSE for attaching his veto.
There are a good many people VINO
believe now, just as sincerely as they
believed before election. that Mr.. Toole
Is under obligations to the mining %
pOrations for his election, and that
lac viii trump up any subterfuge to
oppose Republican legislation along
the lines demanded. Even the mis-.
use of a word or the neglect to dot
an eye might furnish an excuse for
the governor to register his ~disapproy-
al.
Not only the governors opposition
must be anticipated but the interfer.
ence Of the ever present lobby which
invades the legislative halls every ses.
sion. There will be opposition to all
of these propositions, undoubtedly and
there will be a good opportunity for
Republican members to show the stuff
they are made of by giving the lobby.
lists scant attention.
Every Republican legislator elected
On Nov. Sth, knows what platform he
was running on and the nature of its
pledges. Every plank in a Republi.
can platform is placed there to be
kept, not merely to catch votes. and
while every n of these new laws
should be safely guarded as the plat
form declares, in order that they can.
not be made an instrument to work
injury TO any class OF section, they
should be made strong and effective,
TO avoid any trumped up objection by
a Democratic governor. The initiative
aid referendum cannot be acted up
on directly. The Legislature by atwo.
thirds vote must get this question be-
fore the people for their rejection or
approval. In this they can at least
put the opposition on record. 1t must
aid in securing the two thirds vote.
The Billings Gazette in an editorial
on this subject, takes no uncertain
ground as TO the duty of the legisla.
ture. Among other things, it says:
The Gazette is willing to make 1t
even stronger and say that regard
less of what the governor may or may
not do, the controlling element in the
legislature will see to 1t that the peo'
pie are not deceived and that every
promise will be kept to the letter.
The Republican majority cannot af-
lOIu W uO Olltl Wise. NON ohty 10 thc
honor of every individual Republican
legislator at stake, but that OF the
party as well and the latter may be
relied upon to see that the individ.
uals do their duty. should any of them
manifest the slightest desire Or inten-
ton to play unfair. The party's sol
emn pledge must be kept. The legis-
lature must pass an act for submits
sion of the initiative and referendum;
it must pass a fellow servant law
one that will be valid and constitu.
tional, II that will meet with the
unqualified approval of those for
whose benefit it is intended; il must
pass a law creating a railroad COM
mission and 1t must pass a law max
ing the primary election M Of the
institutions of the state. There must
be no bubble or evasion. The people
have spoken in no unmistakable terms
and their will shall be obeyed. Scant