Fergus County argus., 1904-10-05

NNdlts we tdht, lul lualduct, tIle Bill
ings convention. Not since have
known anything about politics have
| met in a convention that seemed TO
he so independent, so free from die.
tatlon, so absolutely in control of the
common people. as was the conven.
ton held at Billings on the eth day
OF September. Every man that was
dominated upon that ticket was nomi.
mated by the free anu uncontrolled
choice OF its delegates. and every man
upon that ticket is not only a repre-
sentative of the Republican party, but
10 a representative of the best inter.
ests and the best citizenship of the
state of Montana. The platform adopt.
cd by the Billings convention is some.
what similar TO the platforms adopted
10y the other conventions, and we are
accused by the Democratic papers and
by some of the Democratic leaders of
lEslncerity in adopting the platform
utlt was adopted upon that occasion; /;
that ii was adopted simply to catch
ne vote of certain political parties in
lie state. Well. now | want to see
wherein the inconsistency or insin.
ceTiiy of that platform exists. We
VIII take, for instance, the plank that
guarantees the Incorporation in the
constitution of The eight hour law. |
believe that The two great parties are
sincere so far as that plank is con.
cerned. | realize that we are living
Ill an age where reason and where
Justice to all classes of our fellow-be-
ings is becoming more dominant ev-
cry day. The eternal law that time
shall be divided in such a manner as
To best suit the condition and the
needs of man, requires that the day
snail be divided into at least three
equal parts: Eight hours for toll,
eight hours for rest and refreshment,
dnG eight hours for sleep. believe
mat all of our political parties here
today recognize that, and | believe
that they are sincere in adopting that
plank in their platforms.
We will take the direct primary"
plank. The Democratic party is claim
ing today that it is the whole origi.
ndtor of that plank in this state.
Well, now, that may be so, but II we
80 back to the states where the di-
rect primary law is in operation. we
will find that the great majority of
those states are Republican states.
/ voted under the direct primary law
in PENNSYLVANIA before | came to this
state twenty-one years ago; and 1t
is no more of Democratic doctrine
Than il is a Republican doctrine. II
IL .-s, Ia. tlnt sa. Int.. l.aI
because of certain conditions existing
la this state.
The next plank in our platform,
the railway commission, Is one that
is also claimed as a Democratic in
yention. But | want to impress upon
your minds tonight that that also Is
a plank that was put in there because
OF the interests that are at stake
principally among the Republican in
Gustries of this state. We have IN
The past been fully conversant with
the irregularities and sometimes the
discI limitations that exist in the rates
on traffic charged by certain lines,
and we believe that a railway COM
I.iission. formed in such way as to
be absolutely just TO the railway COM
panies and at the same time securing
d lower and more even rate for the
patrons of these roads, will not only
result to the benefit of the companies
themselves. but to the benefit of their
patrons and TO the state of Montana.
We will take the initiative and ref
erendum, which is distinctly claimed
by Democrats as part OF the Demo-
cratic platform that we have stolen.
Now. let us see about that. In the
Filth legislative assembly an initiative
ana referendum bill was introduced by
a member from Silve, Bow county,
Martin Elliot. think, by name. II
you will remember, at that time the
measure was distinctly populistic
one. There were about twenty men,
bers of the Populist party in the low
er house in the Fifth legislative as
semby, and il was by one OF their
members that this bill was introduc-
ca. and il was fought persistently and
determinedly by the leader OF the
Democratic party; and the Helena In
dependent, which today is accusing
me of being insincere because vot-
ed against that bill, opposed 1t with
ali the determination i, could oppose
any measure-fought 1t until 1t secur,
eu its defeat. | remember when that
bill came up for consideration that
the Republican members, who were
out four or five in number. realizing
that a measure of that kind would to
sume extent discriminate against the
.,.o,.nI,, ,attIad coun a, = pf The state
called a caucus to vote upon the
question, and by that vote they de-
Cided to oppose the passage Of that
blli. But | take the position today
tnat properly framed initiative and
referendum bill is absolutely neces-
say in the state of Montana, and |
will tell you why. There has crept
into our legislative halls an influence
that controls to some extent, and in
many instances controls almost en-
Ciieiy, the vote of our legislatures, in
uCh a way as to nullify the voice OF
lie people. II Is known beyond any
question that our state senate has
been controlled largely by cooperative
interests for the last eight years. The
methods employed by the Democratic
patty in carrying out their political
schemes in the halls of our Legislature
have practically stiffled the voice OF
JIe people, and 1t becomes necessary,
in order To preserve the representation
of the people in our state assemblies,
to provide some means by which they
can appeal from the decision or from
the passage OF laws that are for some
special purpose, or that are detrimen-
tai TO the real interests OF the state.
| lake the ground that when condi-
tions change, man has right 10
change his position TO meet those
conditions.
Before | drop this initiative and ref
ere endum subject, want TO call your
attention to the insincerity OF the
Democratic party in this respect.
Four years ago when the legislature