davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana news., 1906-07-26
STEVENSVILLE FRANCHISE GRAB

this great monopoly brace game which
will give the owners power to tax you
at arbitrary prices, and will be a mint
for him, for four little hydrants, a pub
lie drinking fountain for six months and
for from one to four per cent of the
net proceeds from the water charges
in other words you are giving away a
fortune for a mere nothing.
An Exclusive Monopoly.
The clause making the grant an ex-
elusive monopoly, is found in the title
of the act and reads:
And also granting TO said Calvin
Cook, his heirs, successors and assigns,
the exclusive use of the water right and
water owned by said town for the pur-
pose of carrying out the provisions of
this ordinance"
Also in section IL which reads;
"The Town Council of the Town OF
Stevensville. does hereby give and grant
to the said Calvin Cook, his heirs, sue
cessors and assigns, the exclusive right
to a certain water right, and the right
to use One Hundred (Ioo) inches of the
waters of Burnt Fork Creek, in Ravalli
county, state of Montana, now belonging
to said town of Stevensville under and
by virtue of certain decree made and
entered in the Fourth Judicial Court of
the state of Montana"
Section II Is surely trick to purpose
ly mislead the voters. II reads:
"Sec.l7. That nothing in this ordin-
ance shall be construed as giving the
exclusive right or privilege for laying
water pipes in the streets and alleys of
said town, and supplying said town and
the inhabitants thereof with water"
Placed along side of the other propos-
ais this section reveals about as low a
degree of trickery as we ever came in
contact with. They first grant fran
chise on the only available water sup
ply practicable for Stevensville. 100
inches from Burnt Fork Creek. What
little there is left of Burnt Fork Creek
is owned by the ranchers. How then
could a new company or the citizens
establish new plant in competition
with this exclusive water monopoly
What more does the franchise grabber
want than an exclusive monopoly of the
waterl Cook must think the Stevens
vile citizens soft TO attempt such raw
Montana news., 1906-07-26

public franchise, it is the real protection
guaranteed by the public against mon.
opoly. To grant a company OF an indi-
vidual exclusive privileges and then to
fail to fix a maximum pirce TO protect
the public is down right robbery
and crime, and town councilmen who
will do such a thing, do it either because
they are ignorant iackasses, or else be.
cause they are downright rogues. It is
about time the people of Stevensville
find out to which of these classes their
town council belongs. They have simply
put you into holdup game, where you
will be compelled to patronize the water
monopoly and they have refused to pro-
tect you by establishing a price
A Fortune For a Song.
Cook is playing Stevensville citizens
for dupes and we sincerely hope they
will show their true good sense August
2. If you will look over the proposed
franchise carefully you will discover the
unique collection of gegaws he offers for
something that will give him an enorm-
Gus and independent income for forty
years. 1t certainly shows remarkably
brilliant trading ability on his part
He offers you the use of four hydrants
in case of fire and IL you will be so kind
as to furnish the material he will put
in a public fountain to be used six
months of the year.
But the hydrant proposition has a
string TO it. Look up section Q and you
will find that every additional hydrant
is to bring the owner the neat income
of $5 per year. Now figure about how
many buildings four hydrants would
protect in a town that spreads over a
much ground as Stcvensville and you
will see that the hydrant proposition
itself is a pretty good thing for our
tricky Mr.. Cook
In addition he offers To hand back to
the town for all these monopoly priv.
| ileges for the first ten years one cent
out of every dollar he clears above eX-
penses. You will find this brazen prop
osition set forth in section l3. He will
give two cents out of every dollar net
income the second ten years, three cents
the third ten years and four cents the
last ten years. A magnificent sum in
deed for the 5000 cents he keeps of
every dollar. The whole proposition
amounts practically to giving the fran
Montana news., 1906-07-26

there was law ON the statute books
of Montana permitting the public 70 set
aside its contracts, that law would be
unconstitutional and imperative. An
editor who will deliberately put out such
rot in favor of q corporation deserves
the contempt of every honest man and
woman. II he deseires it we will prove
our contention on this point.
Free Advice.
Pursuant to the interests he is back
ing, which, quite evidently are not the
interests of the people Of Stevensville,
this editor ladels out the following ad-
vice:
$50 the Register takes the stand at
this time, that water system is great
necessity, and as the opportunity to
secure IL is at hand we had better i'm
prove it by voting that way. 1t has got
to come some time: better take il now
Surprising Haste.
A vote is called for August 2, which in
itself argues an intentional haste to
railroad the matter through before the
people are given a chance to examine
the proposition. We have never yet
heard of such haste. In less than three
weeks time from the appearance of the
ordinance people are supposed to be
ready to vote upon it. Although Cook
is given six months to get ready to
begin work and fifteen more months to
get the water on Main stree, there is
such haste to get the measure through
that the people are given only three
weeks to prepare to vote on it.
Amazing Proposition.
The ordinance contains about the
largest number of amazing proposals we
ever saw before condensed in so small
a document Some of them are.
First, il is an exclusive franchise or
monopoly.
Second. the town is to be compelled
to pratonize the monopoly by being re-
fused the right to use open bitches.
Third, no price is mentioned in the
ordinance, so that after the franchise
grabber get hold of the water supply
and prevents you from using ditch
you will have TO patronize him at any
price he makes to you or choke, and he
will have the opportunity under such
circumstances to make any price he de-
sires.
Fourth, you are asked to vote away
Montana news., 1906-07-26
LabOr'S Answer
To Capitalism
Colorado the Battle Ground Its Re.
markable Awakening Crisis
In Socialist Movement

Since the nomination of James d.
Haywood for governor of Colorado, the
forces Of socialism and capitalism are
concentrating in that state and It be-
comes more and more apparent with
each passing day that both the working
class and the capitalist class are NOV
ing to make this state the crucial point
in the coming contest. Idaho, whose
part in the conspiracy against the work
ing class is well known, will be another
hotly contested point and there the
hosts of labor are uniting as never be-
fore. Montana one of the seats Of the
Amalgamated's power and of the West
ern Federation of Miners is TO be an
other particular point of contest. The
issue at stake is working class rights
against capitalist misuse Of government
to crush labor.
Cheering News.
From Colorado comes news calculated
TO raise the hopes of the workers as
they have never been raised before.
Never in the history Of the labor move
ment of America has single act SO
wiped out all labor factions and reused
labor so nightly as the nomination OF
Haywood for governor. The mining
camps of Colorado and especially the
coal camps are on fire and the greatest
campaign of the west is in preparation
at the state headquarters.
It is reported from the national head
quarters that "The nomination OF Com
rade william d. Haywood for Governor
of Colorado, by the socialists has given
impetus TO the movement, the extent
Of which can only be appreciated by the
knowledge of the correspondence which
Is reaching the national Office from di'
visions of the party and new territory
within that state. The organization Is
A unit as a whole, and the state COM
mittee Is enthusiastic and active In the
extreme This nomination is recognized
everywhere as the revolstionists chall-
Montana news., 1906-07-26

After fifteen years experience watch
ing the devious ways of franchise grab
bers and purchased town councils, we
were aoored yesterday when We re-
ceived copy of "The Stevensville Re
gister" containing about the boldest grab
scheme we ever encountered. That such
q brazen proposition could ever have
passed any town council in Montana is
amazing. 1t is an insult to the intelli-
gence of the people of Stevensville, that
they are called upon to vote upon it.
An Editor Prostitute.
After going over it very carefully we
turned hurriedly to the editorial page
to read the just and scathing denouncia-
tions of an indignant public organ.
What was our astonishment to find this
supposed advocate of public rights, this
pretended denouncer of trusts, actually
defending the proposition and giving ut
terance in favor of this proposed water
trust to this brazen untruth,
"A few are inclined to think that the
matter might be deferred few years
in the hope that the city would by that
time be in a position to operate its
own system. That would be very desir-
able, but the great need, at the present
time, is the water system, and the town
is not prepared to build it. Further
more, if at any time the town finds it.
self financially able to take over the
system and plant, it may do so under
the general laws of the state, at an ap-
praised valuation, and the owners of the
franchise will not be able to prevent
It."
Looks Suspiciously Intentional.
The latter part of that statement
must be an intentional falsehood since
there is no possible chance for any man
with enough intelligence to edit paper
to be so mistaken. Is there any one so
foolish as to belive that the public can
make a contract with an individual for
forty years and then deliberately break
it before its expiration. If this is so
why would Cook or anyone ask for a
time contract When the public pledges
itself to sign away privileges for a GER
tain length of time, it is bound by the
contract as much as an individual, other
wise what are forty year franchises for :
This government could not stand a day
II all the contracts. obligations, bonds,
etc, were not absolutely binding II
Montana news., 1906-07-26

Tricks as that.
Compulsory Patronage.
Even the beef trust or the Amalgam-
ated don't attempt to compel people to
patronize them but Cook seems to be a
fellow who balks at nothing. The braz-
en- effrontery Of the following PROPOSE
tion transcends anything we ever laid
eyes on before:
Sec. S. No water shall be conveyed or
distributed throughout the town in open
bitches, and all pipes and mains and all
material used in laying and repairing
the same, shall be new and first class in
all respects"
Do You notice how quickly he spits
out the proposition and hurries forward
to tell you something about the first
class pipes he is going to lay, for fear
you will get on to what is meant.
Let us look squarely at this bald face
proposition and see what it means. He
says in so many words, mo water shall
be conveyed or distributed throughout
the town in open ditches." This means
in so many words he is going to take
all the rights away you now enjoy.
He proposes to make a law to prevent
you free born American citizens from
taking water from any place and run.
ing it on your lot for drinking or irri-
eating purposes. He is asking you to
porhibit yourselves from doing things
you are now doing by your votes Au-
gust 2.
What does that meant
II means that If he can keep you
from getting water from anywhere else,
he can make you buy all your water
from him at his own price. He has the
nnadulterated timerity TO try to make
n law to compel you to patronize him
When he succeeds in shutting the water
off You. as he will unless you vote right
August 2. you will have TO choke and
let your gardens burn up. or patronize
the water trust.
| Can Fix His Own Price.
There is one thing about the proposed
franchise which is unique in the his.
tory of such documents-no pXice is
mentioned
Never have we heard of such rank
raw business. Never did St. Louis, OF
Cincinnati or Philadelphia boodlers ever
attempt anything quite so shameless
A stipulated price is the essence of =
Montana news., 1906-07-26
A WARNING TO HAVRE COUNCIL

Seattle, Kansas City and other places
have witnessed this battle within a year.
II IL is necessary all the resources Of
the socialist party will be mustered to
teach the Havre administration lesson.
This same warning applies to those
misguided official zealots who period.
ically hold up the U. s. mails, to pre-
vent the distribution Of socialist papers
and letters. We could name these in
dividuals and may be compelled to take
stern measures toward them before they
win obey the laws they claim to repre-
sent.
In a town recently where information
concerning the existence Of small pox
was suppressed. Three hundred copies
Of the Montana News, containing such
information were not delivered, although
they were repeatedly enquired after,
until after the authorities here In Helena
had received notice. The papers left the
Helena post-oflice Friday, but were not
delivered until Tuesday OF the following
week.
There is continued complaint from this
same place and other places from sub
scribers who do not receive their pa
pers. Important letters returnable to
the Montana News" are often not de-
livered for four or Ave days or they are
entirely lost.
Montana news., 1906-07-26

chise away, and IT is surprising that .
ina" VINO ssT. ssSs i''e''H.l. M. ''s's1G,s S'ts%ps.s
81 go asking for the monopoly and the
power to fix his own prices, didn't ask
the peoplee TO throw in their houses
and farms for good measure.
A Stevensville Voter Protests.
Here are points from a voter in
Stevensville, who sees the light, "If you
will get out your deeds you will see
you are decided a water right with each
lot. Now what is the sense in giving
your water right away in order to try
to get TO buy it back at the other fell
lows priceH The town of Stevensville
certainly needs water works but let
the town build, own and operate them.
Some say the town is not able to build
the water works. II Cook builds them
the town will pay for them and great
deal more when it buys water Of Cook,
or else why would he be anxious to
build the works himself He expects to
make the works pay for themselves and
handsome profit besides and the con-
sumers of the water will be the ones
who will pay for il all. therefore il
ought to be plain that a town plant
would be cheapest after all. If we build
the water works we will have TO pay
only for the water works; we will get
the water for nothing; If we let Cook
build them we will have to pay for the
works and the water too, and make
Cook rich in the bargain"
Public Perjurers.
"An Alderman told me they could only
vote bonds to the amount of ten per
cent of the assessed valuation of the
town property which he said is 100000
This is only one of the many periured ar.
guments brought up TO cloak a weak
cause. There are thousands of towns
smaller and poorer than Stevensville
that have built their own water works.
The majority of towns nowadays accord
ing to one of the leading construction
companies build their own plants. The
fact is, it is the cheapest way and is
recognized as a principle of economy.
If Stevensville parts with this valuable
franchise it will easily pay five to ten
times as much for water and water
works in forty years as it would, did
il erect and operate its own plant"
Montana news., 1906-07-26

history of the world is raging. Social
lists will be sustaining defeats, winning
victories and perishing by the thousands
in Russia and perhaps in Germany and
Austria while the socialists of Americ.
are meeting at the ballot box the first
direct challenge of the American capital
ist class. The issue of the conflict in
Russia will have great influence on the
conflict in America, and the issue of
the conflict in America will vitally
effect the issue in Russia and all con-
tinental Europe. We are to decide in
the battle before us whether labor in
America is to strike reasonable blow
at the ballot box against the martyrs
of the East or whether IL Is to sustain
and strengthen the international move.
ment in this hour of peril. An Ameri-
can socialist setback at this hour in the
world crisis would mean a severe blow
indeed to the cause of labor the world
over.
The Duty of the Hour.
The duty of the hour is plain. We
must lay aside all personal interests
until after the battle of ballots in No.
Montana news., 1906-07-26
County Campaign.

The Hungarian socialists are waging
a fierce struggle against the land lords
and government to organize the farm
hands. Eight of such unions have been
disorganized by government force, per
secutions are intense. The governmet,
it is believed. is trying TO precipitate
a premature strike so as TO find an ex.
cuse TO massacre the laborers. Twenty
thousand Russians and Romanians have
been imported TO kill the union The
farm hands already have $50 local unions
with 10000 members, and the social dem
ocratic party is standing behind them.
Montana news., 1906-07-26

In the by-elections made by vacancies
since the general elections two years ago,
the socialists have gained three seats in
the German Reichstag at Hanover
where they cast 3l,s03 votes against
30596 by their opponents; in Altona.
Iserlohe the socialists won an unexpected
and decisive victory, and since these de-
feats the liberals have abandoned the
seat formerly held by Eugene Richter
and will put up no candidate against the
socialists.
Montana news., 1906-07-26
The Duty of the Hour.

For more than year socialist speak.
ers acting within their constitutions,
.,.,. -. -. s,..,,-,., =. A.. ,.u
less gang oi on''e "o'uerS I'LL ha'ie' '"'
city administration, and their meetings
have been broken up whenever they have
attempted TO talk on the streets d
p,uu... ,... ...uu...s s.ou,
.s,....- -, 70 H.,
Montana news., 1906-07-26
Great Is
Yellowstone
Put Up For Primaries
Phenomenal Growth of 0rganiza.
tiOn-Inspiring Prospects

Yellowstone county we believe furn-
ishes the index of the present campaign.
In no locality has theere been such a
steady and persistent hammering as in
Billings, and in no locality has there been
such n phenomenal change of sentiment
and such slump to the organized move
ment Billings took no part in the
spring elections; Billings in the inspir-
alton Of the movement now. There are
more men in Billings local today,
thanks TO the citizens alliance and in
tense propaganda, than there were So
cialist votes in Billings last election held
there. Collins, Latimer, Wilson follow
ed quickly in each others footsteps in
the heat of the alliance exitement and
Yellowstone is seething with socialism.
What has been done there can just as
easy be done, II the comrades support
us, in any other locality, and will be
done before the campaign Is ended.
A Strong Ticket.
The local met Saturday evening and
put up the following thoroughly repres-
cntative nominees for primary election,
being the second group Of socialists in
the state to encounter the primary cleo
tion law:
Senator. Adam F. Skirying; Repres-
entative, Alfred r. Jensen; Sheriff, Milo
G. Roberts; Clerk & Recorder, Geo Boyd;
Treasurer, Jesse +. Gilchrist; Public Ad-
ministrator, L. II. Caldwell; Assessor,
John Horne; Commissioner, 0 yr., John
Lundborg; yr,, John Powers County
Supt. of Schools, Miss Baer; Justice Of
Peace, Lewis NJ. withrow, No. Billings
- Hale, So, Billings; Constables, P. Fl.
Farrell. No. Billings; Artha Davy, So.
Billings.
Remarkable Growth.
Local Billings has suddenly doomed up
as one of the largest locals in the state.
From Ave TO dozen members are taken
Montana news., 1906-07-26

enge to capitalism"
The services of Eugene V. Debs has
already been engaged, other speakers of
national repute are being sought after
and a plan for the biggest distribution
of literature including fifty thousand
copies of the appeal of Reason each
each week. has been launched. This all
is being supplemented by signs of help
from the outside.
Jas. NJ. Reilly, national committee.
man from New Jersey has introduced a
resolution to direct the national secre-
tary to put as many Of the national or.
ganizers and lecturers as can be spared
at the disposal of the socialist party Of
Colorado and guarantee their expenses.
Canvasses Of some mining camps In
Colorado showed that an overwhelming
majority say they will vote for Hay
wood.
In idaho.
Idaho socialists have put up a
splendid ticket with Thos. +. Kelley,
a union stone cutter, for governor and
DIR. Titus paper "The Socialist" has
been moved bodily into the state from
Toledo, Ohio, in order TO be at a crucial
point In the battle Of ballots this fall
Idaho, like Colorado, is experiencing an
awakening. All signs point to a better
understanding between organized labor
and the working class party than ever
existed before. "The Unionist" Of Boise
is already practically fighting the social
lists battle. II used nearly one entire
issue TO report the convention.
The Russian Crisis.
The campaign has also an interna'
tional significance It Is to be waged
during perhaps the greatest epoch max.
ing events that ever shook the world
Of labor.
The campaign Of this fall is to be
fought out while the first socialist re-
beIlion against existing society in the
Montana news., 1906-07-26

in each meeting. AT the last meeting
eleven members were taken in raising
the number to 65. Fifty-nine of these
representing new blood brought in since
the campaign begun. II we take thor.
ough advantage of the situation there,
before the end Of the campaign the vote
will be the greatest shock the alliance
has ever experienced. not excepting the
small pox expose.
County Campaign.
But Billings is not all of Yellowstone
county. We are already carrying the
battle to the outlying ditricts. T. e.
Latimer invaded Columbus Tuesday
evening and was listened to by an inter.
ested audience of over 1875. He writes
"many people are on the fence and
enough work will bring them over"
Montana news., 1906-07-26
Remarkable Growth.

Local Billings has suddenly doomed up
as one of the largest locals in the state.
From Ave TO a dozen members are taken
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09
TRIFLING WITH JUSTICE.

of calendar
reached
had appealed from the Honolulu District
assault and battery This
the district magistrate and
everalc
be his with
of
Another in
his and slapped another
the courthouse ceiling
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the blf and
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bring
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itself twnkng without jurisdiction of
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of Hawaii and the
of
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legislation will
fail establish their
a higher their trihng with justce2
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09

The Countess Castelane is the out about Boni
make a fuss about
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09
THE IMPROVEMENT POLICY.

of
sidewalks dingy walls
would be
that being and cared Everybody
a Honolulu
becoming sanitary In
rubbish and filth
leading body
spots
be supervisors
which highways
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failed
will n
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of
to do
it.
wholly a
this could
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produce
o.
Doubtless other suggestions will the Advertisers
the subject public would
of how to make Honolulu attractive
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09
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The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09

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The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09

Chief off
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The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-09
TIE TRoPIc SWITZERLAND

Editor Advertiser: You have hit the
nan on the head with The Tropic
Switzerland" That is the best catch
phrase Yet. BASLE