The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-11-22
an effective state railway and ware
house commission measure, will do
the business effectively.
NEWSPAPERS AND STRINGS.

"AN
During the few weeks that have
elapsed since the Helena Record
changed hands, the editorial page of
that paper has teemed with bombastic
self adulation which at first was anus.
ing, but has since become offensive.
Due allowance was made for the fact
that it had been rescued from the
clutches of the octopus-a number Of
Its friends having contributed the am.
cunt OF ransom demanded-and under
the circumstances it was not surpris-
ing that the Record felt good v its
release from captivity and made boast
|ful remarks which were intended to
exalt itself in the eyes of the public.
It appears. however, that the Helena
paper is not satisfied with boosting
its W alleged merits; it is acquiring
TIE habit of knocking other Montana
papers which, to say the least, have a
fair reputation for truth aud political
integrity.
On Saturday last, for instance, the
Record posed before the mirror, and
after a long, admiring glance at the
reflection of itself. made this announce.
ment In large type:
The long and short Of it is that the
fearless stand of The Record on all
questions Of public moment has won
the confidence of the people. The
proof lie at hand that, for once, Mon.
tana has q newspaper without strings
on it.
Wouldn't that make you gasp for
breath! Behold the immaculate, the
nonpareil, the newspaper without a
fault or blemish. The above an.
nouncement reads almost like the bak-
ing powder advertisement which says:
"Absolutely pure; beware of worthless
limitations" 1t reminds one of the
Biblical character who went into the
temple to pray, and began his appeal
with: "God, | thank Thee that l am
not as other men are"
From its twenty-five years. %acquain.
lance with Montana newspapers, the
River Press is In a position to say
that nearly all of them, republican
and Democratic, are evidently honest
in their political convictions and true
to their obligation to advocate the
right as they see it. Most of the Mon
tana papers are edited by their pro.
prietors, honest and reputable citizens
who would scorn to do an intentional
wrong, and who would justly resent
any imputation that their papers had
strings on them. There may be a few
that are controlled by influences other
than an honest desire to give faithful
service to the public. but their mum.
Der is a very small percentage OF Mon.
tana newspaperdom.
1t is quite possible that the Record
was somewhat thoughtless in it's boast
full declaration that It is the only news.
paper ever published In Montana with
out strings on it. 1t may have been
carried away by the enthusiasm Of the
moment, aud INDUCED in reckless as.
sertion. To use q famous epigrau
originated by Mr.. Disraeli in q Brit
ish parliamentary debate, the Record
may have become 'intoxicated with
the exuberance OF its own verbosity.'
In any event, the Record shouli
come off the perch, or prove its ale
cations. 1t charges that all Montana
newspapers except itself have strings
on them. Before such an indictment
can be accepted as true, the accusel
must present specific examples ant
exhibit the string in each case. Fail
ure to produce the proof will convic
the Record rs the cheapest kind o
buffer and defamer Of its Montan,
contemporaries.