Fergus County argus., 1905-03-08
UNFAIR CRITICISM,

Butte lnter-MOunta1n: 1t is easy to
criticise legislative bodies. Also it
is the fashion TO do so. The legisla-
tors do not resent it. Sometimes they
plainly deserve it and not infrequent-
ly they deliberately invite it. Under
these conditions the critics ought to
exercise their talents without resort
to recklessness in statements and rea.
sonings. Certainly we cannot encour-
age respect for law by stimulating
contempt for the lawmakers. Surely
the character of public service will
not be improved when meritorious
and conscientious efforts of public
servants are condemned as readily
and without regard to facts as the
most reprehensible conduct.
No session of the Montana legisla-
ture since the state was organized
has been more free from scandalous
performance than the one now ap-
preaching it's close. No legislative
body in the states history has afford
ed so little employment for the pro-
fessional lobbyists. There has been
a conspicuous freedom from graft and
absence of measures designed to pro-
mote grating grown familiar to legis-
lative proceedings in many states. If
the session ends with less accomplish
ed than some enthusiastic citizens
have hoped for, or than vote-seeking
political conventions have promised
in platforms, it must still be conceded
that the state has gained much in
reputation and sacrificed nothing OF
the rights and interests of citizens
through the action of the legislature
of 1905. Il
So much in effect is practically con
ceded by an enterprising contempt
rary in an article wherein it utilizes
the generally praiseworthy results OF
the session to emphasize it's condem
nation of single measure. We sub
nit that, whatever faults the railway
commission bill may carry in its pro
visions, there is nothing in facts pre-
sented to justify the assertion that tho
measure was originally intended L
blackmail the railway interests fol
the profit of legislators and was pass
ed with purpose to enable the com
missioners to club the companies fOl
political tribute in the future. II
prove so much it becomes necessar!
to impeach the integrity of the gen
tlemen named to be commissioner
as well as the majority of the mem
bers of both branches of the legisla
ture which passed the bill; something
which nobody will attempt to do. l
will be quite as fair and quite a
proper, if the governor should con
clude to veto this bill, for some polit
ical opponent to intimate that execu
tive action was in the service of tn
railway companies rather than in tn
public interest, Notwithstanding tha
| ID huOWu llldL 0ONCAAOl AOO4C Ncu
not approve the measure without sac
rificing his position with respect t.
legislative encroachment upon execr
tive functions through exercise of tn
, appointing power in naming the con
missioners. Yet it is not probable tina
the public would be influenced grea
.. ly or any political advantage gained
to anybody by such misrepresents
7 tiOn.
The devil has had rather more tina
his due in Montana politics. Why nc
give politicians who indicate a col
trolling desire to be respected of thei
fellow men at least a partial pa!
ment of what justly belongs to theI
, | in the way of appreciation?