The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-20
WEDNESDAY, DEC. ~, 1905.
THE HELENA RATE CONVENTION.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. ~, 1905.
THE HELENA RATE CONVENTION.
An excellent illustra ton Of the diff
ference between boosting and knock.
ing is furnished by circumstances con.
nected with the recent Helena meeting
OF Montana business men to devise
ways and means by which better rail.
roads rates may be secured by the
people Of the state. AS soon as the
convention was proposed, certain
Montana newspapers and politicians
undertook to discourage the move
ment, alleging that it was instigated
by a clique of schemers who had in
view other ends than those for which
the convention was suggested.
These knockers intimated that the
real purpose OF the~:convention was to
rebuke and humili ate;;G Governor Toole,
and to embarrass him by demanding
. special session of the legislature ut
which q railroad commission bill may
be passed. Another allegation was
that certain local interests, lanimated
by motives OF jealousy toward com.
munities that would be benefited by
proposed new railroad projects, cal.
culated that a rate convention would
be viewed as an anti-railroad demon.
stration and might possibly result in
causing the abandonment Of these
proposed railroad extensions. For
these reasons, and possibly others,
the newspaper and3political knockers
advised their constituents not to take
any part in the rate convention, and
their advice was probably accepted by
many.
1t did not seem to occur TO these
critics that the best way to defeat the
alleged nefarious designs of political
echemers vas to send ito the conven.
ton a number Of. earnest, patriotic
and square'dealinglL. citizens, whose
voice and votescould be exercised on
behalf of what is right-whose best
thought and judgment would assist in
mapping out.(a course of procedure
calculated to benefit the Montana
public at large. That was not their
plan OF securingSrailroad rate reform.
They preferred a;policy of inactivity.
They advised the people OF Montana
that present railroad rates in this
state are unjust and excessive, but
that they should do nothing to obtain
relief from the burden. Montana
shippers were recommended to keep
on paying these unreasonable rates
until the railroads voluntarily re.
duced their charges, or some outside
influence should effect a revision of
the schedules.
There were other Montana citizens.
however, who believed In helping
themselves and who responded to the
call for a state convention. They had
no selfish interests to serve, there was
no personal advantage In view except
snch as would also apply to their fell
low.citizens; they were not attracted
- the convention by q desire to ele.
vate any of their friends to an Office
o! honor or Lucrative salary. They
took part in the proceedings as public
spirited Montana citizens who know
there is a gross injustice that calls for
q speedy and effective remedy.
What did the convention accom-
plish? Its result is a state organiza-
ton of Montana citizens which pro.
poses to collect anlexhibit of railroad
rate injustice in all parts of the COM
monwealth; which at q proper time
shall present we'll founded complaints
to a federal tribunal with q request
for adjudication. The convention also
authorized :theioficers of the associa.
ton to become an intermediary be-
tween the executive and legislative
belligerents, with q view to etfecting
a peaceful settlement Of their conflict
Ing opinions and securing the enact.
ment OF necessary:railroad legislation.
The convention provided an agency
which is capable Of great benefit to the
people OF Montana. What it will &C.
complish depends largely upon the
support and:confdence of those whose
interests it proposes;to advance. The
soil had been prepared by public dis
cussion Of the railroad rate problem.
The Helena convention sowed the seed.
1t remains for thesDcOple to assist in
the work of cultivation, and when the
crop natures and the harvest is gath.
cred, every citizen of Montaua-in-
GLIDING the knockers-will share in