The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-25
TooLE's OPINION OF TooLE.

delivered himself as follows:
Possibly fusion might make more
certain the accomplishment OF Ger.
tain desired results in certain states
where local evils need correcting, but
who cannot forsee that a victory won
under such a combination would be
freighted with hazards and followed
by a train of evils that would prob
ably outweigh and outnumber any
possible advantage obtained. Chief
among these, l reckon that almost uni
form lack Of responsibility which a
mongrel ticket feels for it's course and
conduct. To encourage such, in my
opinion, tends simply to demoralize
and destroy those patriotic forces &C.
customed to act upon principle, and
substitute in their stead that discord-
ant, disappointed, scrambling element
that never rises higher than 'expedi-
ency' or policy the p%rofoundest
craftsmanship of which is employed,
first, in a satisfactory division OF the
offices, and, second, in devising ways
and means by which, upon the expira.
ton of their terms, they can divide
them again.
:If breaking into public Office is to
be encouraged or tolerated, the much
talked of fusion may succeed, but il
something higher than a mere strug-
gle for place and preferment shall
animate us, is will fail utterly and
completely"
"Unfaltering and answering in It's
great purpose, the democratic party |
challenges the gold standard, and in
vites and welcomes into its fold all
who can subscribe to it's chief tenet.
But in doing this, no prudent or loyal
democrat, no populist OF silver re-
publican of intelligent conviction can
expect this great historic party to
abdicate it's power and prestige, de-
stroy it's organization and forfeit the
well earned confidence of the people,
by assuming the name and submit
ting to the leadership of that tenta-
tive political fungus called fusion"
At the time when Governor Toole
spoke these brave words he was prac-
ticing law as the attorney OF some OF
the corporations that he is now serv-
ing in another capacity. He was not
a candidate for office, and had moth
ing to gain or lose in the campaign
that was then approaching. 1t may
be assumed, therefore, that he ut
tered his real sentiments, and every
word that he then spoke damns the
combination OF which he is now the
head and front. The fusion OF which
his present candidacy is the product
is far more offensive in it's elements |
and it's methods than any that was
contemplated at the time when he
used the above language OF condemn
alton.
While it pretends to be a union OF
the democrats, the populists, the So
called labor party, etc., it is nothing
OF the kind. 1t was the work OF a
squad of tricksters and hirelings, rep
resenting no principle and no respect
able element OF population, united
only in a conspiracy to secure the
Offices, gain the control of the state
government, and turn it over to the
corporations. 1t is far worse than the
aggregation which he justly charac-
terized as that discordant, disap-
pointed, scrambling element that
rises higher than expediency
or policy, the profoundest statesman
ship of which is employed, first, in a
satisfactory division of the offices,
and, second, in devising ways and
means by which, upon the expiration
of their terms, they can divide them
again."
1t is no answer to this that the
| candidates on the ticket are demo-
Gratis. The ean by which the fu-
| sion was brought about are notorious.
The "grafters" who usurped the au-
thority to represent the populists, the
labor party, and the rest of the mon
grel" collection, made their terms,
and the terms were that they should
have the appointive offices. Hence,
we are asked to invite that train OF
evils"-that almost uniform lack OF
responsibility which Governor Toole
represents as the fruit of fusion.
There is another feature which is
strikingly exposed in the above inter-
views, it is the intense fragrant self
ishness of Joseph K. Toole. In 1898,
/ xthon ho had nothinn Of a4alxo ha