The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-04


been instituted against its board !
OF commissioners. Before the matter
could came to a final issue the pro-
ceedings had been allowed to drop by
the state, because it had been found
that the action could not lie, as it was
attempted to compel the doing o.
something prohibited by the consItu-
ton.
Speaking of the difference in the
assessments of railroads during the
administration OF Governor Richards
and the present administration OF
Governor Toole, Mr.. Lindsay said that
when Richards was governor the rail
road companies operating in the state
were facing bankruptcy and in few
years afterward the most OF them
were in the hands of receivers. Since
then conditions had changed and the
roads had been rebuilt and improved
until they were practically entirely
different institutions. Manifestly
they were worth much more now than
then and should be assessed higher.
In spite of all Governor Toole had to
say concerning the increased railroad
assessments, the roads even now were
paying taxes on basis of only 25
per cent of their actual value, while
the people, the individuals, were com
PEELED to pay taxes on a basis OF Is
per cent of the actual and real value
of the property they owned.
| At the last session of the state
board of equalization, Mr.. Lindsay
/ said, motion had been made to in
4 crease the railroad assessments 20 per
cent. Against this motion Governor
Toole had voted. Finally, however,
he had consented to raise OF 21s
per cent. There were two sides to all
: stories and the one under considera-
! ton was no exception.
The republican party had nothing
against the railroads and was making
! no fight against them, but Mr.. Lind
say said he wanted the people to know
the truth and all the facts, so that
4 they could see for themselves how the
democratic state administration was
1 working for the common people.
u Appeals for State Ticket.
~ Mr.. Lindsay made a strong argu-
\ ment and appeal in favor of the repub-
lican state ticket. He declared that
it, had been nominated by convention
dominated by no clique, faction or cor
poration Its delegates had been free
and untrammeled and had given ex-
pressioff-tp the voice and preferences
of the people who elected them. He
asked his auditors whether they
wanted to entrust the administration
of the states affairs to men who were
nominated at the dictation of corpora
tions, or whether they wanted an ad-
ministration conducted by men who
!. would work solely for the interest OF
the common people.
He had heard many democrats, old
and tried ones, say that they would
vote for Roosevelt. Ii they were anX
ious to give him all the support pos
sible it was essential that they vote
for Dixon and for the republican legis
!, lative ticket in order that a republi-
can representative and senator might
be sent to Washington to strengthen
him and uphold him. The republicans
were urged to do the same and stand
t steadfast by their ticket.
, In a brief manner Mr.. Lindsay re
| ferred to Colorado and the attempt ol
J democrats to make political capita
for themselves out of the unfortunate
t conditions that have existed in that
, unhappy state. He characterized as
: an insult to the intelligence of the
masses the efforts making by the dem
( ocratic speakers and writer's to cause
> it to appear that the national admin
istration was to blame for some o,
: the things that have occurred there
Furthermore, it was an outrage and
!. an insult to say that if republican
: administration was put in charge o.
off ir, Of 1i1yn 0nn6ifinne
: would speedily exist here.
: Great corporations, such as were
!, operating in the two states, were alb
solutely necessary in order that thu
! large number of laboring men and toll
ers might find employment for willing
hands. His sympathies, said MI
: Lindsay, were with the workingmen
: for he had been workingman all hi
>, life. If elected governor of Montana
!. : he would do his utmost to give tn
people an administration tina
). was fair, just and equitable alike t,
> the employers and employees. H
would let capital know that it wa
safe here and would be protected. H
!. would be governor for all, and whil
: saying to the great corporations tha
: they were entitled to tn
:, same protection and cOnSldera
y ton as the individual h
: would give them to understan1
y they must keep their hands off polit
: ical matters and allow the people t
! conduct their affairs themselves.
: Mr.. Lindsay was frequently intel
= rupted by applause and when he cor
cluded the audience gave way to
demonstration of approval and salts
= faction rarely seen.
= Senator Carter Speas.
: Mr. Lindsay was followed by forme
a Senator Thomas H. Carter, who sal
: that he would speak only briefly, TO
. he was accompanying Mr.. Lindsay o
n his present tour merely as a filler.
g Mr.. Carter jocularly commented Q
:, the democracy's lack OF issues in tn
:. present campaign and the makeshltt