The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-10-14

VI - AOOA0'
| straightforward democrat the COVER
nor has degenerated to a tricky poll
tician, overpowered by the greed for
office. What he formerly denounced
as political RIGHTEOUSNESS" he en-
| braced four years ago, when he en-
tered into a bargain with the much
despised populists and laborites by
which the names of some of their
candidates on the state tickets they
had nominated were paced on the
democratic ticket. In pursuance OF
this bargain Donovan, Calderhead and
| WEIGH were his running mates. With
the exception of Calderhead, the popu.
lists who were given places were no.
t~oriously incompetent and the ann
in which they have filled the offices
to which they were elected was so dis
gracefully poor that this year neither
one was even thought of iii connection
with a denomination. j. A. Ferguson,
who was named by the labor party
for governor, was taken care OF in
another way. Promise was made to
him and his party that in the event
of his withdrawal he was to be given
a state appointment. AS a result OF
this that gentleman subsequently be-
came commissioner of the state bur-
eau of labor, agriculture and industry.
Mr.. Ferguson may not have been al
ideal man for the place, but that made
no difference, competent clerks were
plentiful and easy to be had. The
people were forced to pay for the
fgurehead-$3,00O a year.
The course of the man who is de-
| clared to be immaculate this year is
no better. Once more he is reveling
in political Righteousness" having
taken to couch the same i'll savored
combination hes pretended to regard
with so much disdain and righteous
| contempt before his own contamina-
ton was effected. Already pledge
has been made to the labor party that
il given the support of that organiza-
| ton those whom it desired to. advance
would be taken care OF. 1t is true
no direct promise of appointments
was made-Mr. Toole is a lawyer
but evasion was easy. Attention was
simply called to the ann in which
things were done during the admis-
istration now drawing to a close. A
hint was as good as a kick in this
instance and the wished for endorse
ment was given. Then there is the
Observation-Disclosures deal, a po-
litical bargain as wicked as vas eve
consummated. While pretending to
be shocked and outraged at the con-
duct of those parties, yet he gladly
accepted their support and used the
influence of his position to secure
seats in the convention that nomi
mated him for a band of political pi'
rates whom he knew should have nc
recognition from that body. Glibly
he talked of Harmony" meaning
thereby something calculated to bene
fit Toole.
On the other hand, can anything o.
the same nature be truthfully sale
against Mr.. Lindsay? The onl,
charge that can be made against hin
is that he refused to accept thu
money of a briber who wanted to g
to the United States senate. He re
tanned his manhood and the conf
dence and respect of his constituent
by rejecting the money that woult
have attained him and damned hin
for all time in the eyes of every one
This is all that may be said agains
him, except that he is a republican
a man OF principle who proved him
self stronger than those that woult
have tempted him, and that he is i,
hearty accord with his party in it:
demands for reforms in the state gov
Tl.@-- ,..o nl ~~.r III.